Hi, been gathering parts together over the last few weeks to build my rwd micra. I did fancy doing a mini but there's lots about and are more expensive than a micra to buy with the same amount of rust
Finally found a micra and picked it up last night, didn't plan on getting much time this weekend to make a start but i have had a few hours, managed to stip all bits from inside out i dont need, exhaust and heat shields off, shafts half out, engine and box dropped in one need some more time to get it out tomorrow hopefully. Few pics of car progress today, pics of bits sorted to come.
stripped inside to sell bits i dont need. thinking of keeping carpet door cards full dash etc in.
on patch that needs welding. exhaust and heat shields to be removed more to sell.....
Engine and box nearly out just a few bits to disconnect at the rear and pull loom through. bay should clean up nicely looks like oil leak has protected the bay :face:.
Sprocket and oil/grease can made by Douglas from westgarage engineering. Very well made, all to size a good tight fit and top man, very helpfull.
mx5 lsd shafts and uprights etc. will possibly need a shaft shortening as its about 5" wider than the micra track. should sit flush with arches on standard offset 13" steelys.
I have got a 1.3 16v Micra , this looks interesting , will be watching .[/QUOT
Thanks, i got the 1l as the cc is exactly the same as the bike engine :thumb:.....
few pics of bits done today, pulled the engine out, and the loom through was a bu**er to get through bulkhead.
excuse the poor quaity pics. One seat all in, and harness will probabily end up back out sometime, getting all the front end and front interior sorted before i start with the running gear in the rear.
tidy up wiring read for cutting rear end out hopefully wont need that much.
new cross member to replace, wishbones in the making. and boot floor cut box welded in place for wishbone and diff carrier. found wires to wire up to r1 clocks full beam, indicators and illumination.
Sweet!! Looking good! Should be much more fun to drive with the engine in the boot, as it was pi55 poor on the way to yours when you bought it. lol
The rear suspention arms are looking quite sexy too , keep up the good work.
If anyone knows how i can post pics with writing underneath them as now i can only do it seperate to the text using the attach function. If i drag them into this box they dont upload. Tonights update to follow of a few more bits done.....
Updates of todays progress, doesnt seem like have done a great deal but im slightly ahead of where i wanted to be and did some running around. Made a start on the cross member, one side is free to beremoved just need to drill spot welds on t'other side. Rear top wishbone re made and opposite made. Waiting on coilovers which will be here tommorow so i can get the back end possibly done with more strengthening bits in, have ordered a mirror so i can use a lazer level for toe and caster etc of rear end or at least get it very close for a proper 4wheel alignment.
Also picked the diff bearing carriers up and fitted them, ready to make brackets and adjusting bars to tension chain tommorow. Its nice to see the rear uprights with wheels on all roughly aligned.
Tommorow should see diff out of the way, more bracing for rear end, coilover mounts, x member replaced, possibly fuel tank, battery maybe radiator all mounted up, old fuel and brake lines removed from under car. And then onto the engine mounts if theres enough hours in the day. And decide where to mount the harness eyes.
Not a bad day really to say i did some running about and welded some bits up on a polo....
got all the front in for tank, rad and battery needs a few more braces.
Replaced x member all shiney and red.
Fit chain drive diff alligned and tacked up.
Coilys rough position for tommorow.
And gear lever finished and fitted.
Only a few hours tommorow so hoping to get diff/chain tensioning bars made up and fitted, hopefully coily mounts and more bracing to the rear end ready for engine cradle making and fitting.
Thanks for all your comments everyone finally getting some lol. Need to get some better quality pics on doesnt help been inside. Supposed to be making engine cradle now but im on here.... best get back to it its a square frame with bushes to chassis. not sure i like it being all square just keeping it all simple all easily removable etc. My bender wont do the tube im using and theres not much room to play with for clearance with chain etc. should be okay once done (later hopefully ready to be lifted in tommorow).
Picked up some 1/2 inch unf bolts for the reargaz coillys, might eventually do front and double wishbone it so it handles a bit better and lower, bottom wishbone would be easy to fab but top may prove a bit more difficult....
Cheers, should be fun... theres a smart car r1 conversion company here Smart Car + Suzuki GSXR = Ultimate Tuned Smart - Smartuki they say under 5 seconds, dont know what sprockets there using or weight of theres. I saw another smart that weighed 750kg and did 60 in low 4 seconds. So anything under 5 is a big plus think mine will weigh around 800kg will weigh her when done.
Update for today some more running around and didnt start till gone 1 was doing some fencing.
Struggled with motivation but i managed the following.
Diff tension arms might move the right one down a bit so its level with the left hand side one.
Squared off the tube using washers just to try as an idea for adjustment so not using stilsons. Not sure if i like them.
Coily bottom and top brackets roughly made, all bits will be rounded and shaped when i strip it back to paint it. Bottoms tacked in place a tube to make and some misallignment top hats to order so the rose joint part is wider than the body if that makes sence. Top is just tacked just to get an idea of where it will go and so i can make all the supporting bars etc around it.
Engine frame in progress not sure if i like it just square but think it will be ok when in only time will tell. hopefully engine will be in tommorow and rear coillys brackets all done and braced up.
Didnt manage to post last night as internet was playing up, heres some more updates..... Just had the car partially on the floor to try and crack the driveshaft nut but with no look even with heat. Will get that of tommorow.
Saw how much it was sat on its ar##se and might end up double wishboning the front so i can use the gaz coillys ive go spare. Should handle better then and be pretty low.
Engines in loose managed to get it in in frame on my own awkward lump to lift, got some backets to make up for the bushes for engine frame to sit into.
Frame tacked up few more bits to add yet
Shame exhaust will just foul here, will modify exhaust or frame waiting on some madrel bends to make exhaust, wanted it to sit in diff frame or near but is going to have to go above coilover as just cannot get it through anywhere.
Also coilly mounts still to finish off tommorow hopefully and possibly gear linkage on engine frame bracket (other end is complete). Possibly run new brake lines tommorow so the engine bay is nearly finished some filler to rub down, give it a good clean spray it then just to put bits back in but all that wont happen tommorow.
Thats it now for a few days back to work! Cleaned all bay today and got it on all 4's... Ready for spaying the bay soon. Needs coiily mounts moving lower a bit as when compressed too far.
Coil mounts need moving a bit, then she will sit around 2-3" higher than that. Front to sort out, not sure where to go either double wishbone so i can use my other gaz coillys or try some mx5 full front legs to see how it sits, trouble is not having much weight in front springs are far too stiff even when im stood in there which will equate to fuel tank full and battery rad etc and tank wont always be full. More to come on that.
Had a few hours over past couple of days, and managed to fit drivers seat, spray bay and finally fit fuel tank, pump, batt, rad exp tank etc. And had a hand today after doing some welding to refit front end a much needed motivation starter cheers
Ordered the correct weight springs for the rear, front sorted going to test then buy some springs that are the correct lbs etc for the front.... rear springs should be here for weekend hopefully then can finally finish mounts at the rear. Engine mounts to be sorted for the weekend aswell when i get some m14 bolts for the panrod (engine bushes). why not 12 or 16's?
all cables converted easily to run longer cables for the clutch and throttle. need to come up with something for clutch spring.
engine cradle and mounts primed up.
Exhaust header exup valve removed and blanked off. Started to fit oil baffle plate but didnt fit at all and was supposed to so have ordered another and some exhaust gasket rings. Engine will probably be back in tommorow in its frame, then ready to pipe and wire in and drill air filter plate to fit carbs.
thats really cool my mate really likes these wee cars
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