build diary
<< | show individual entries | >>January 21, 2004: 
Lots of excitement at the shop as we tear apart the packaging.
Ken and Steve hard at work.
entry 42
All unpacked, Ken and Steve go for a test drive.
Yes, they're both tall.
entry 43
This isn't good.
The nose cone is cracked. It was well packed and protected, but apparently one of the shippers walked on it! CMC is sending a replacement.
entry 44
The frame damage from shipping.
The radiator support is tweaked and one of the suspension mounting points is bent. A simple repair.
entry 45
Bill welds on the roll bar.
It's shipped unattached to keep the size down.
entry 46
The angles on the roll bar supports were not quite correct.
entry 47
How to install an engine in a Seven.
Tools required: two guys.
entry 48
Installing an engine.
entry 49
Almost there!
entry 50
Our spare engine is now "installed".
I believe this process will be a little more complicated when the engine is actually dressed.
entry 51
At this rate, we'll have it done in no time! These are not the wheels that will be used on the final build and I suspect the track is a bit on the wide side.
entry 52
Now it's my turn to go for a test drive!
"Oh no, that invisibile sealer from POR-15 doesn't work the way I thought it did. Now I have to wear pants when I drive!"
entry 53
Disassembled once again, it's into the truck we go.
entry 54
The first puzzle - brackets for floor-mounted pedals.
But the Miata pedals are hinged at the top. Hmm. Turns out the Miata pedals will not fit with the exception of the accelerator.
entry 55
January 22, 2004:
CMC is sending a replacement nose due to the damage.
They tell me they've never seen a crate get pounded like that. It's the first time they've used SAIA for shipping and will definitely be the last. Nothing that was damaged is going to hold me up.
Last night, I started work on the suspension. Cleaning up threads, doing rough assembly and generally familiarising myself with the design. The control arms are solidly made and will offer a bewildering amount of adjustment for alignment. It'll take me a while to get this thing dialed in but it's going to be an excellent learning experience. The upper ball joint hole in the front uprights needs to be drilled out in order to fit the rod end - that was done this morning.
More thoughts on brakes - I think I'm going to fit a pair of Wilwood pedals for the brake and clutch. This will also let me run two separate master cylinders for the brakes with a balance bar - a better way to do brake balance than using a proportioning valve. Given the fact that my old master cylinders probably need a rebuild (the downside of getting a donor car that's been wrecked for 5 years), it's not going to cost much more. Hey, I got the donor for free so I'm not complaining!
entry 56
Cleaning up the threads in the control arms before installing the rod ends.
entry 57
While the kit didn't come with instructions (it's a very early one), these labels sure helped to clear up some mysteries.
Thanks, CMC.
entry 58
I put together the rear suspension for general layout.
Looks like I will need a bushing for the top of that upright - CMC had said no, but I think that might have been a bit of a miscommunication. I happened to find two bushings that were exactly what I needed kicking around Flyin' Miata.
entry 59
In order to install the upper control arm, I need to drill out the tapered hole for the upper ball joint used in the stock suspension.
Careful measuring makes sure this hole is straight!
entry 60
Make sure you use lots of cutting oil if you want to keep your drill bits.
The little burning pieces of metal make fun smoke trails this way, too.
entry 61
January 23, 2004:
I assembled the suspension last night using the correct bolts and with a bushing for the rear upper control arm.
Now the car is on its wheels! There are some tight tolerances for the parts, such as the balljoint mount on the front lower arm. Everything fit very well with minor tweaks required - a millimeter here and there. Now I can bounce the frame up and down and do other childish things, as well as figure out the geometery of the steering rack mount. I should point out that I've decided to use a different rack than CMC usually does, so that's why it's not a simple bolt-up like it usually would.
Once the car was rolling, I decided to start hanging body panels to kill a few minutes. It's part of familiarising myself with the kit. The aluminum floor panel apparently missed the boat so I'll have to get CMC to send it out. More of a problem is that the transmission tunnel cover was bent a bit wrong, making it impossible to fit. Everything else sits right in place and I'm starting to get a good idea of how this will look when it's rolling. No photos until tomorrow though be.
entry 62