JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Tell us about your project and keep us up to date.

Moderators: a.moore, JackMcCornack

Post Reply
jaf
Posts: 164
Joined: May 13, 2009, 6:04 pm
Building: +221-Haynes-Miata
Location: Missouri

JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by jaf »

Well I guess it's finally time to start sharing. I purchased the donor '90 Miata two years ago, and sold the shell one year ago. Lot's of thinking and building up the "race car fund" resulting in finally starting the frame in June of this year. Check back to this post as I'll upate with the cars specs as they evolve.

'90 Miata 5-speed donor (using all of the usual items)
Frame is a combination of what I feel are the best attributes of the Haynes, Book, the collective LocostUSA forum, and ultimately what I think is best. The big difference that I'm trying to incorporate is to build the frame around the component locations instead of building a frame and then hanging everything on it; load paths from suspension pickup points and driveline components are all tied together.
Kinetic Book Nose, and Haynes Scuttle
90" Wheelbase, 22.5" Dia. Tire, 5" Ground Clearance
Rear: IRS suspension is modified stock Miata dimensions (Track Width=56.6, RC=2.5")
Front: My design with aid of Wishbone (Track Width=55.5, RC=1.725")

More to come.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
jaf
Posts: 164
Joined: May 13, 2009, 6:04 pm
Building: +221-Haynes-Miata
Location: Missouri

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by jaf »

Titles speak for themselves.........
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
a.moore
Always Moore!
Posts: 4081
Joined: November 9, 2007, 3:40 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by a.moore »

Nice looking start to your build.

Any closer pics of the diff mount? It looks very clever.
User avatar
dhempy
Man of Constant Hazard
Posts: 3195
Joined: February 20, 2006, 11:18 am
Building: 1.6 Miata 442
Location: Lexington, KY
Contact:

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by dhempy »

Looks like a good start, JAF!

Is that a rubber tranny mount? I considered using those holes for my mount, but ended up using PPF mounts. Doesn't look you're short for space, but by using that rear mount, a fella could cut off the PPF mount area and cheat almost an inch in clearance.

Keep the pix coming,
-dave
...nowadays people are so intellectually lazy and lethargic that they can't build ANYTHING with their hands. They'll spend hours watching whiny people marooned on an island, but won't spend a second adding anything to the world. -weconway
Visit my [Locost 7 build log]
User avatar
horizenjob
The voice of reason
Posts: 7652
Joined: January 10, 2008, 4:47 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by horizenjob »

Cheers on the vertical front bulkhead, it's a good idea - I hope you get it to work out well. Should be doable with different shape wishbones. My Formula Ford is like that.
Marcus Barrow - Car9 an open design community supported sports car for home builders!
SketchUp collection for LocostUSA: "Dream it, Build it, Drive it!"
Car9 Roadster information - models, drawings, resources etc.
jaf
Posts: 164
Joined: May 13, 2009, 6:04 pm
Building: +221-Haynes-Miata
Location: Missouri

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by jaf »

Dhempy: Yes on the rubber mount......I have the 9.4102, came with two so I have one left over that I could sell. I like it because it keeps the trans. mount symmetrical, and makes the engine mounts do the work. http://www.energysuspension.com/universal-products/link-flange-type-bushings-universal-mounts-isolators.html

A.moore: As requested......My rear axle center line is in-line with the top of the rear bulkhead so the stock 1.6 diff. mount intersects that plane. I cut a 12ga 2x2 tube up to make the upr/lwr brackets and used all of the stock hardware. The tubes are positioned and brackets slightly angled so that I can rivet/bond a shear panel on the passenger side of the trans. tunnel. I'll continue the diagonals fwd along passenger trans. tunnel to eventually join R-Tube..........my interpretation of incorporating the PPF into the chassis.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
JackMcCornack
Posts: 3176
Joined: July 29, 2006, 9:10 pm
Location: Oregon, usually

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by JackMcCornack »

Lookin' good. Are you going to solid mount the "ears" on the diff? I think driveline parts should be individually solid mounted or rubber mounted, but not both...but that's a gut feel opinion rather than a voice-of-experience opinion.

I'd like to see more detail of how you mounted the back of the trans. It looks pretty slick, but leaves me with an urge to peel off the blue painters' tape so I can grok in fullness.
Locost builder and adventurer, and founder (but no longer owner) of Kinetic Vehicles
jaf
Posts: 164
Joined: May 13, 2009, 6:04 pm
Building: +221-Haynes-Miata
Location: Missouri

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by jaf »

Jack: Here's your naked trans. mount pic.....grok till your hearts content. I still need to fully weld it up, grind down the sides, and put a gusset underneath it. And yes.......the diff ears will be solidly mounted, rear suspension mounts are first though. I agree with the solid or bushing mount theory, pick one or the other. If you combine the two you are just asking the solid mounted end to do all of the work.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F
Automotive Encyclopedia
Posts: 8132
Joined: December 22, 2006, 2:05 pm

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F »

If you make the lower forward diff flange removable (by flipping and adding a flange on the frame to bolt to), it will be much easier to remove the diff later. Also, the space between the forward flanges won't be as critical with an adjustable lower.
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
jaf
Posts: 164
Joined: May 13, 2009, 6:04 pm
Building: +221-Haynes-Miata
Location: Missouri

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by jaf »

Rear suspension chassis mounts and diff mount complete. Front suspension chassis mounts complete minus second upper fwd bracket so I can integrate the upper shock mount into it. Front/Rear control arms are next.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
dhempy
Man of Constant Hazard
Posts: 3195
Joined: February 20, 2006, 11:18 am
Building: 1.6 Miata 442
Location: Lexington, KY
Contact:

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by dhempy »

Are you sure you'll get enough droop out of those lower, rear chassis mounts for the front suspension?

-dave
...nowadays people are so intellectually lazy and lethargic that they can't build ANYTHING with their hands. They'll spend hours watching whiny people marooned on an island, but won't spend a second adding anything to the world. -weconway
Visit my [Locost 7 build log]
jaf
Posts: 164
Joined: May 13, 2009, 6:04 pm
Building: +221-Haynes-Miata
Location: Missouri

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by jaf »

Dhempy......Good eye.......preliminary measurements say it will be close, I'll find out for sure when suspension is cycled through full droop. The backup plan is to cut/splice (see black sharpie lines) in new 1" square tube just inboard of the current tube to provide clearance for the lower control arm. This is a trade off to get the side panels on the chassis to run the full length (scuttle to nose) and make for a nice clean gap with the nose, while at the same time providing a nice flat shear panel to help stiffen the chassis.
jaf
Posts: 164
Joined: May 13, 2009, 6:04 pm
Building: +221-Haynes-Miata
Location: Missouri

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by jaf »

Front suspension is almost complete less upper shock mount and some gussets. Lower arms are 1"DOM w/0.5" rod ends and AN bolts, upper arms are 7/8"DOM w/0.375" rod ends and AN bolts. Track width is stock Miata (55.5"), camber is set currently at zero for simplicity, and caster is set at 7 degrees. Enjoy............
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
RebelGT

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by RebelGT »

it may be just the pics, but it looks like you're going to have no droop travel up front?
jaf
Posts: 164
Joined: May 13, 2009, 6:04 pm
Building: +221-Haynes-Miata
Location: Missouri

Re: JAF's +221-Haynes/Custom-Miata

Post by jaf »

The pics are deceptive, and yes droop will be limited by the aft lower control arm mount. All of the pics are shown with the suspension set with a 5" ride height. You can see I mocked everything up with a 1" spacer (square tube piece) to give me what I hope is enough clearance. As it stands right now I have 3.75" of suspension droop before the lower arm hits the chassis.
Look at above post for my contingency plan.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests