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PostPosted: November 1, 2011, 1:24 am 
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bremms wrote:
That's some nice work!!! Would have been better with duct tape for certain. Congrats on the donor. Another Miata born again.


Oh don't worry, there was no shortage of ductape on the car haha.

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PostPosted: November 1, 2011, 1:26 am 
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Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
Is that a Soviet Yak 18, a Chinese Nanchang CJ6, or something else?


It's a CJ. My father used to maintain and update quite a few of them and a Yak or two. This one just wont leave haha.

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PostPosted: November 6, 2011, 3:07 am 
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Well for some reason the DMV wanted a smog before a non-op??? so I junked the title and didn't pay them a dime! Not even sales tax!

My brother and I have been tearing it apart all week. Basically removing all trim and anything that it doesnt need to run. The idea is to play with it on the dirt road around the house before completley disabling it. It's pretty quick now...
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If you're going to cut through your windsheild with a sawzall, use a wood blade not a metal blade.

And, it has a torsen!
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PostPosted: April 30, 2012, 1:32 am 
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Been working alot on other things. Working 40 hours a week and school. For some reason I have a hard time putting money in this car. Most of it is going into my daily driver 4runner, it needed tires so I decided to get a set of rims off of a newer 4runner before I bought them because I hate my rims and the new ones are an inch bigger so I have to get them with the tires. The new tires are bigger so I need a lift and spacers to fit them. That and the stereo upgrades is over $2k. I think I get the instant gratification out of modifying my truck whereas with the locost it wont pay off for a long time, but I know that in the end it will all be worth it and be 100x better than what I get out of my truck. I just need to put my head down and do the work.

I am becoming more confident that we will not loose our house and therefore am more comfortable with tearing the Miata into a million pieces and rendering it immobile. So that's what I did this weekend. I was inspired by John's miata-based SV clone to pull the body off of the drivetrain.

I didn't want to spend a bunch of time underneath the car pulling wiring out so I cut a big hole in the firewall and sent the cabin harness through to the engine bay to hang out while I pulled the body off.
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Here it is right before I pulled the body off...
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Set the car on cinder blocks underneath the LCA mounts and removed the subframe bolts...
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Then a cherry picker with an engine leveler on it and she pulled right off with ease. The only thing I got caught on was the hook that holds the gas tank from falling on you when you are removing it.
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Then my brother and a friend had to go for a drive. My brother is on the left, if you want to know what I look like just add 2 years to him. People mistake us for twins all the time.
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PostPosted: April 30, 2012, 7:01 am 
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Yo, Taylor-
Thanks for the update. You did a great job of disassembling that Miata! Now, get to work on the Locost! (Heehee...)

I think "the boys" had a good test drive, but it looks like your brother scared his buddy pretty bad in that last picture. Might better tell him to go check his shorts... :rofl:

Seriously, glad you're back at it. It does seem like forever, trying to get it to be a car, but hang in there. Like you said, it'll be worth it!

:cheers:
Good luck-
JD Kemp

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PostPosted: March 26, 2014, 9:21 pm 
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Level 8 Necro poster going for level 9... 8)


BUMP!

What's the latest Taylor, driving it yet?


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PostPosted: September 27, 2014, 1:05 am 
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Wellllll here I go again almost 3 years later. Almost sold everything a few times but I guess this is just one project I don't want to admit defeat on.

Pulled the frame down off the wall today, decided to use the Miata subframe but have a couple questions. How do I locate this thing? I'm assuming as far forward as possible? Would it be worth it if I could modify the subframe a little bit and shorten the wheelbase by a couple inches? Also where should I put it vertically? Should the bottom of the subframe be even with the bottom of the frame?

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I need to offset the trans tunnel toward the passenger side a couple inches. I will have 18.5" wide passenger side and 20" on the driver's side. Is this normal to have asymmetric seat wells? I've never noticed this on another car.

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PostPosted: September 27, 2014, 7:01 am 
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As high as necessary for the tire od and ground clearance you want. As far forward as possible for the fender size plus clearance for the tire od you want. I'd put wheels and tires on with fenders before committing to the axle location.

If it needs to be further forward, trim the subframe to slide it forward. Access to the forward uca pivot can be through the inside of the car with a large grommet/plug over the hole or a circular plate, overlapping the hole by 1/2", with a couple #8 x 1/2" sheet metal screws to hold it on to the rear firewall.

With equal length axles, the diff housing is centered and the pinion is offset. That is normal. One can widen the passenger section of the frame or reduce the compartment size on one side for the offset tunnel.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
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McSorley 442:122x46x14
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PostPosted: September 27, 2014, 1:41 pm 
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Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
As high as necessary for the tire od and ground clearance you want. As far forward as possible for the fender size plus clearance for the tire od you want. I'd put wheels and tires on with fenders before committing to the axle location.


Awesome thanks! I'm assuming ride height should be when the lower control arm is level?

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PostPosted: September 27, 2014, 3:00 pm 
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Level lcas at ride height are what most folks go with.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12


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PostPosted: October 13, 2014, 9:55 pm 
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I'm getting read to weld the subframe to the car but I'm trying to get it to the right height and can't decide where to put it. I have planned to use 205/50R15 for tires but I don't have a set yet. I have a set of 205/60R14 right now.

All places I can find on the internet list diameters for these two tires as .5 inches difference.
205/50R15 - 23.1 inches
205/60R14 - 23.6 inches

I know for truck tires I used to buy 33" tires and they are really only 31" if you measure them. Do I need to account for the same thing in these street tires? Also, all 4 of my 205/60R14s are different sizes and they are all worn out so I can't trust those measurements.

Basically I need to come up with a ground to center measurement to set it at. Any suggestions?

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PostPosted: October 13, 2014, 11:15 pm 
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I have found manufacturers specs to be pretty close to a new tire for street cars. I think if you work off the 23.1 measurement you will be close enough. You could even use your 205/60-14s: a half inch only equates to 0.25" ride height increase, and a minimal change in control arm angle. The car will likely change ride height more from carrying a passenger than that.


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PostPosted: October 16, 2014, 12:39 am 
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Ok so I just used the 23.1" measurement and after a lot of failed attempts at leveling the subframe I made wooden wheels (might need to upgrade in the future) at the perfect height, then leveled it front to back, then moved the chassis around instead of trying to move the subframe to meet the chassis.
Finally have it tacked in place, now it just need to make all the bracing.

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PostPosted: October 16, 2014, 12:53 am 
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Good man, now put alot more bracing in there and you will be set!!

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PostPosted: October 16, 2014, 6:50 am 
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Also, the tire is thinner between the ground than at the top due to the weight of the car and whatever your tire pressure will be.
I wouldn't sweat the difference. I have a set on the shelf I can measure if you want.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12


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