Mattt

8 hours ago, Dell'orto said:

The MX5 diff would splinter behind a 3S, NA6 diffs pop with the shitty B6, the NB ones aren't heaps better. 

Get an RX8 and pillage it, renesis and 6 speed would go OK in a light car. Rear end is probably a bit too wide though 

From what I've read the nb torsen diff will handle up to 350whp. If that's the case it's plenty for a 3S. 

1 hour ago, shrike said:

Considered going for an electric powersteering setup by using a corolla/GT86 or prius electric steering column?

How strong are MX5 diffs and how much power are you after? Id be looking at GT86 rear end and front components as well

3SGE are getting old in the tooth now as well, if you are going to a newer engine something like a 2GR might be fun? or if you want to stick with 4pot there are a few newer options (depending on if you want port or direct injection)

Also if the 12a goes you could look at going to a 13b or a renenis option, still lots of places sell rebuild parts. How long do you think the 12a will go for?

Mx5 diffs are decently strong. Theres heaps of options of factory lsd, aftermarket lsd and diff ratios.

 The beauty of the beams is that its a very well known engine that has been done heaps of times and has a tonne of aftermarket support. I can buy an off the shelf wiring loom for the link with the plugs and everything for the ITBS ready to go. The adapters are off the shelf. And parts are cheap as chips. Plus the 6 speed comes attached to most of them. I think the beams will lay down around 180hp atw with itb and cams but will make much better torque through the rev range. Also, they're pretty bloody cheap. 

I hadn't considered the electric steering option, but I was wanting to go with a rack so the mx5 seemed fairly easy, but may still require alot of thought 

The biggest issue with my car is its fucking narrow. Mx5 disk face width is about 200mm wider than the corona. Not much is as narrow with IRS. Also, again mx5 stuff is cheap, readily available and has huge aftermarket support. 

For reference, the corona is 950kg from the factory. The mx5 is 1050. The corona is 1150 wide to the disk face, the mx5 is 1350. I will have to run flares or push the arches out to get the wheels under. A certain amount of camber will help as well of course  

So I've got a few disgusting ideas rolling around in my head. The first is that I'm going to fit an mx5 IRS set up to this thing. 

Second is I'm considering seeing if I can make the mx5 front subframe and suspension fit so that I can utilize all the aftermarket parts available and also swap to a power steering rack.

Last is I'm considering swapping out the 12a for a beams 3sge with ITB. I feel like the beams might be a more appropriate engine for the car. As much as I love the rota if it goes boom I'm going to have a hell of a time rebuilding it being a 12a. I think the 3sge will be more reliable and have a heap more low end torque. Talk me out of it.......

Ok so a bit of a better update. Someone suggested yanking the gear lever while giving the car a boot load and I managed to pop it out of 3rd. I changed out the fluid and found no signs of metal so was hopeful. I realize at this point that the box has issues but hoped if I drove it like a normal human it would suffice until I could get the car legal and then spend money on the fun things like IDA, electronic dizzy, light weight flywheel and new gearbox. Unfortunately after going out for a test drive the noise that I thought was ujs seems to have got worse and once it warmed up it jammed in 3rd again. I managed to get it out again but obviously this is going to be a continuous issue. For now I'll leave it as I need to pull the box and engine out to weld up the inside of the gearbox tunnel anyway so hopefully I can have a nice new box sitting there to swap out. In the meantime I'll push forward with all the other things on the list. I've put off the lowering for now as I wasn't sure where the gearbox was at. Will book it in for middle of the month probably. 

Fuck it. Killed the gearbox. Its stuck in 3rd. Will pull it out and strip it down. 

Managed to get most of another job ticked off over the last couple of nights. Running the handbrake cables internally. Due to the fact that the cables were already rubbing on the driveshaft and that the cars going in for more lowering in a few weeks I decided to get creative. Everything's working nicely. I will have to make up a cover and some little mounts for the cover so that it can be removed if it needs any repairs but the majority of its there. Its nice to be getting these things sorted. Hopefully the cert man doesn't shit himself

Oh and this

Managed to get it outside for a wash

Started on the tunnel and finally got some trim parts painted!

Got this started yesterday. Decided to start with the plates for the seats. So I can tack them in to stiffen things up when I take out the top hat stiffener. Much better seating position now for someone of 6’3” however the mrs might not be able to drive it anymore...

No, but I’ll be cutting it out piece by piece and welding in temporary bracing as I work my way along. Not to mention the likelihood that when they made the disgusting mess of a tunnel originally that nothing would have been braced. It will probably allow the car to sit more naturally when I cut that abomination out haha

So I’ve been waiting for weeks now to get my grill, mirrors trims and stuff back from the painters before taking the car home but he’s been flat out and I’m getting it done for free so I’ve decided while the cars sitting at work to get into the main fabrication work. 
Pulled everything out to start dry icing the floor tomorrow after work. 
Then the plan is to cut the entire gearbox and driveshaft tunnel out, fit all new stuff done properly and that gives extra clearance for the driveshaft when I drop it lower. Then I’m cutting the channel out that runs the width of the car and I’ll fold up a 3mm plate that welds straight to the floor for the seat rails to bolt to which will give me about 60-70mm drop in seat height so my head won’t touch the roof and also stiffen the floor back up since I’ve taken the stiffener out. Wish me luck 

Maybe  it’ll look better with wings rather than wheels?

Yeah fair call man. I’m happy to sort something out I’m just not 100% on when I’m going to be doing the interior. There’s a bit of work in the old girl yet.

50 minutes ago, datlow said:

Shit yeah A+ speedy work

wheel colours looks good imo,

Ling/

And then have a matchingish bike

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/listing/2702552033

Hahaha! It’s even got similar colour wheels. Consider me moist. 

Thanks man. I really appreciate that my car can be inspirational. I will be having new door cards made although my vinyl is peeling at the bottom so not sure if it’s of any use to you or not?

on that note have you got a RH rear pillar vent internal cover? It’s the metal cover that goes on the inside of the vents on the pillars I only seem to have the LH one for some reason.