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PostPosted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:05 pm 
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And so it begins..

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Last edited by geeksteve on Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Project Lunacy
PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 8:28 pm 
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Gotta love the mx5 lumps for cheapness and reliability :) i'll be watching this particularly how you sort the gearbox crossmember. I have a set up ready to drop into something and it nearly went into my failed sprint but Ive given the slant one more chance lol.
There are topics about on getting the gearstick further forward as its a very long box. I'l dig some info out if you like.

Tony

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 Post subject: Re: Project Lunacy
PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:23 pm 
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Well recognised ;) Have done some basic stripping down today (oh matron).

Here we have the lucky donor (rotted beyond use)
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And the willing recipient. Still needs paint doing, but want to finish engine testing etc first so I don't destroy new paint. Spent the past few months welding it up, no filler/niceness done yet!..
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Removed old mount and re-threaded all the spare holes on the block. Some of them will be used for the new mounts. Note shape of the sump - probably going to be a challenge.
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Same on this side, and power steering removed. All the exhaust heat shield botls, and the lambda sensor came out first time.
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This is the challenge. Can shorten by 10cm by doing this http://the-mite.com/mite18.htm but may not be enough for a dolly.
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Many challenges ahead including:

Fitting the bloody thing in there
Gear stick position
Sump
Prop
Speedo
Diff ratio
Radiator, and where the hell that goes
Bodywork...

Injuries so far include:

Many cuts
A black eye from the engine crane a few months ago
Splinter in eye (somehow got round goggles)

I'll keep both lists updated..


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 Post subject: Re: Project Lunacy
PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 5:23 am 
Hmmm rear bowl engine sump, that might interfere with steering rack. I had to convert to a front bowl sump on my xe conversion. Depends how tall the engine is but i would search out a front bowl sump solution. Ian


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 Post subject: Re: Project Lunacy
PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:41 am 
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Rumour has it a Mazda 323 GTX sump is suitable.


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 Post subject: Re: Project Lunacy
PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:46 am 
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You got lucky with the lambda. The last lambda I had to remove (when I had to change the front exhaust sction on the Astra) was a pig of a job but It came out without too much drama.

How about a bit of background on your Dolly and how you came to the decision of fitting the MX5 lump? Didn't somebody else attempt this conversion before? I'll have to add this thread to the list of "modified" theads.

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Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm at The Old Brickworks, Wakefield Road, Drighlington, Bradford, BD11 1EA

1972 Dolomite 1850 auto (NYE 751L - Now for sale)
2003 Volvo XC90 D5 SE (PX53 OVZ - The daily driver)
2009 Mercedes-Benz W204 C200 CDI Sport (BJ58 NCV - The 2nd car)
1991 Toyota Celica GT (J481 ONB - another project car)
Former stable of SAY 414M (1974 Toledo), GRH 244D (1966 1300fwd), CDB 324L (1973 1500fwd), GGN 573J (1971 1500fwd), DCP 625S (1977 Dolomite 1300) & LCG 367N (1975 Dolomite Sprint) plus 5 Acclaims and that's just the Triumphs!

Check my blog at http://triumphtoledo.blogspot.com
My YouTube Channel with a bit of Dolomite content.

"There is only one way to avoid criticsm: Do nothing, say nothing and BE nothing." Aristotle


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 Post subject: Re: Project Lunacy
PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:03 am 
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My engine and box was getting distinctly ropey so it was going to be swapped anyway. Body needed so much welding it wasn't going to pass another MoT (and from what I've found, shouldn't have passed the last few!). I wanted to make something a little different so I decided an engine swap might perk it up a bit...

Fast forward a few weeks and a friend asks if I want a working MX-5 that's rotten as hell for £350 - rude not to ;)

Steve


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:44 pm 
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Tiny bit of progress today:

Split the engine and box apart. I'm hoping this will make the engine easier to manoeuvre for test fitting / mount design etc. Obviously it'll be re-fitted to check mounts are ok and the gearbox isn't in an odd position after. (Yes that is a wood chisel, and a tailors tape measure..)
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My amazing photography skills
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All safely tucked away for when I need to steal the loom and other bits off it.
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The pile of stuff I cleverly placed in front of the Dolly..
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Next step is to dangle the engine into the engine bay and roughly hold it in the right place and take some measurements. At that point I'm going to knock up some dummy/temporary engine mounts (roughly tacked together scrap, with oversized bolt holes for adjustment etc). That should let me get the weight of the engine onto the rubbers and make sure everything sits ok. At that point I'll attach the box and drop that in too, bolt the engine to the mounts and then lift the back of the box up and down to find a suitable place to mount the gearbox mount.

How hard can it be?....

Steve


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PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 8:24 pm 
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Another day, another tiny step... Ignore any paint in these pictures btw, it'll all be coming off when the shell is sorted. Going to become a lovely shade of orange once I've finished chopping it around.

Discovered my engine crane is exactly the wrong width, hits the suspension.. Had to put wheels up on blocks.
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Suddenly it's all looking less terrifying!
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Andddd then I realise I definitely need that front-bowl sump :(
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However size wise, all good. Depending on the size of the rad I find I can bring it forwards a bit.
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From inside looking up the clutch, you can see how much it needs that sump. I think the gearbox will clear once the engine is a bit lower. I've done some measuring and with the 10cm shortening the gearstick will land exactly where the re-enforcing bit is in front of the handbrake.. Lets hope I can nudge it all forwards a bit or there's going to be some metalworking there to re-engineer the floor :(
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All in all, feeling pretty positive though!


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PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 11:54 pm 
Nice pics and write up. Cant wait till its finished :D


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:13 pm 
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"Men should never measure anything - it only leads to disappointment" - Some guy

Made a jig to represent the front engine mounts today, it looked like this... Ooo err.
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Alternator, that's something I hadn't seen coming. Still have a few reservations about sumps, but have a gentleman up north digging a suitable one out of his shed so hopefully I should have that at some point to put my mind at ease. As for the alternator... I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I've spent the evening alternately moving between "it's going to fit PERFECTLY" and "Oh god I've made a huge mistake" every 5 minutes or so. May stop looking at it until I get the sump : :?

Steve


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 9:40 pm 
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Its definitely been done before, by Nico who's now running a supercharged MX5 in it. Pretty sure there's a write up in the resto section. The car loks very mundane in a sort of dysentery beige but apparently goes well enough for the axle to be giving problems! It was at Retro Rides Gathering a couple of years ago.

steve

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PostPosted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 10:02 pm 
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Its mentioned by Nico in a thread "MX5 Supercharged Dolomite" in the competition section. There are a couple of pics of the car but none of the motor in situ. However there is a reference to another thread by the guy who built it, I haven't found that yet!

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 11:56 pm 
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However size wise, all good. Depending on the size of the rad I find I can bring it forwards a bit.
Image

Lets hope I can nudge it all forwards a bit or there's going to be some metalworking there to re-engineer the floor :(
It'll have to come forwards a bit if you're thinking of refitting the original heater blower and ducting.


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 12:39 am 
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Quote:
Quote:
However size wise, all good. Depending on the size of the rad I find I can bring it forwards a bit.
Image

Lets hope I can nudge it all forwards a bit or there's going to be some metalworking there to re-engineer the floor :(
It'll have to come forwards a bit if you're thinking of refitting the original heater blower and ducting.
Not a chance sadly... Any more forwards and the sump is on top of the sub frame and then the bonnet wont shut..

(Unless engine sits low enough for a narrowed duct over the top)


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