bit more on the project

mpk490p · June 29, 2006, 08:58:16 AM

Pip at WGT called yesterday and my lower manifold has turned up! finally i can start looking at getting the weber fitted!

Santa Pod was a great event for those who couldnt make it, although there was a lot of series 3\'s there was defentaly interest in my gen 1 which is great when most of the cars there were 8k plus a few mk1 MR2\'s i think the jap show at Peterborough will be a better turn out for some of the old school!!!

Mark

mpk490p · July 25, 2006, 05:13:41 PM

Bit of a strange knocking coming from the front shocks, looking to replace them, does anyone know where you can get top monts from?
think it could be them?
Mark

MikeLMR · July 25, 2006, 05:20:42 PM

for strut tops try
Noltec in Aus
Racing beat/Mazdatrix
G Force Engineering (Jim Susko 1st gen suspension setup guru)
Ground Control in the states

Replacement shocks are getting a bit hard to find (well I struggled)

you have a choice of

Tokico Blues (fast road shock)
Tokico Illuminas (adjustable)
Koni (I reckon the sports are no longer made)
KYB (sort of OEM spec replacements, not uprated but gas shocks rather than oil filled as per standard)
errmm thats about it I think.

I had been told that Mk1 MR2 REAR shock inserts from Koni (they still do the sports) can be fitted with minor mods but you would have to check Ausrotary for all the details.

mpk490p · July 25, 2006, 06:08:41 PM

Thanks Mike like i say not sure of the problem but a load knock when ever i touch a speed bump or rough road, to be fair i did\'nt chage them when i did the car so i will pull them off and have a look, i have some lowered springs to go on anyhow, thanks for the contacts:Thumbsup!
Mark

MikeLMR · July 25, 2006, 06:12:18 PM

if they are the original oil filled ones they are probably shot, if they are the new insert type they might have been installed incorrectly when whoever changed them got them done as you are suposed to shim the insert so that the top nut clamps the insert in tight, no shims = the top nut not clamping the insert and a nasty rattle. It could of course be any number of other things too !

mpk490p · July 26, 2006, 07:36:22 PM

well i can get HP blues for about Â£120 + UK tax import and the Illuminas for about Â£250 + UK tax import (full sets), has anyone got these on there rex?
Koni\'s are Â£60 for fronts plus shipping? +UK tax
KYB are Â£115 + UK tax (full set)
has anyone got these on there rex? any recormendations
Thanks
Mark

MikeLMR · July 27, 2006, 12:17:42 PM

got the KYB\'s on the front of the 323 (Rx7 suspension) and Tokico Illumina\'s on the rx7 ... having not compared them directly to anything else I can\'t really comment. I went with the adjustables as it was a safer bet as they go from a lower damping rate than standard to a high enough rate to cope with much stiffer springs.

I wouldn\'t bother with lowering springs etc. convert the struts to coilovers ... cheaper in the long run and a spring rate change only costs Â£13 a pair

mpk490p · July 27, 2006, 02:06:53 PM

Quote from: MikeLMRgot the KYB\'s on the front of the 323 (Rx7 suspension) and Tokico Illumina\'s on the rx7 ... having not compared them directly to anything else I can\'t really comment. I went with the adjustables as it was a safer bet as they go from a lower damping rate than standard to a high enough rate to cope with much stiffer springs.

I wouldn\'t bother with lowering springs etc. convert the struts to coilovers ... cheaper in the long run and a spring rate change only costs Â£13 a pair

Where did you get yours from Mike? (coil overs) how would that work on the rears?

Thanks
Mark

MikeLMR · July 27, 2006, 04:43:46 PM

coil overs are made up from the kits you can buy. I already had a set purchased but the struts I bought already had set welded on. The spare set will be going on my 7 when I get it back.

Basically the universal threaded tubes are too large a diamter to fit over the standard struts but with a sleave welded to the strut and then a bit of grinding down they fit right over e and can be welded on with no problems.

I got the kit of bits from rally design but the finish of the parts isn\'t the best (they are good but not pretty) TAS used to make nicer ones but they are no longer trading.

I wouldn\'t buy a kit from the states as they are rip off ... much cheaper to buy the parts over here !

MikeLMR · July 27, 2006, 05:08:31 PM

this is along the lines of what I was thinking for the back of mine, but with adjustable platforms welded to the car instead of the location tubes. Basically making the car suit the smaller diameters springs.

mpk490p · July 28, 2006, 08:45:20 AM

That does seem like a better plan Mike, but im no welder and to be honest the car probably isnt used enough don\'t mind spend some money on new shocks, it nice and easy and i can fit them, thanks for the advice though
Mark

mpk490p · August 10, 2006, 11:35:15 AM

just a quick update for all,
PAINT, nightmare!! had some more paint turn up wrong! u have decided to colour match it before it drives me mental so the light covers going to the painters before i go on Holiday and hopefully will be sorted when im back (early Sept)
SHOCKS, after looking at the shocks i found they were new!! turns out the springs had be cut at the top so they wern\'t sitting level, the top mount for the spring was banging agaist the top mount, hence the strange oversteer aswell!!
i have ordered some king springs which should lower here around 50 - 60mm
and should resolve the problem!!
had the fan belt snap yesterday, cut a long story short got one from Halfords which was a better belt with more teeth (this is a week after ordering 1 from Mazda with no teeth which turn up this morning!)
fitted the belt and it has solved the overheating problem, no screaching and she seems to pull better now!

Mark

mpk490p · October 21, 2006, 09:46:57 AM

Hi all,
Not updated my post for a while so here goes!,
King Springs are on there way from OZ and should be here next week
finally got some paint sorted so the car will be going back into the sprayers for the nose cone and a couple of other bits to be sprayed in the right colour + she will be polished for the first time as this was never done due to the paint cock up!
Resolved the problem with her getting a little warm, turns out there was a bag stuck to the rad, (its always something simple!)
other than that she\'s running better than ever, coming up to 6k on the engine so it\'s time for another oil change (so glad i can get oil cheap!)
hope to be at the old skool meet in Basingstoke early for next year
as for the carb, having trouble getting hold of pip at WGT he has all the parts but i dont have any more time off from work so i\'m looking to get it done in the early part of next year as the car will be in the garage for most of the winter anyway

Mark

mpk490p · January 14, 2007, 10:56:08 AM

Hi all, just thought i would update things, decided to take the mesh out from the front as i feel it is still restricting air flow (shame i liked the look) might try and fine some larger holed mesh to see it that is ok
king springs arrived might fit them up next week if the weather holds out, i have still be driving her even though the weathers poo, cant justify having her sat in the garage and not using it! (needs a good clean though!)
brought a series 2 strut brace which would fit ok (if i move the alternator and loose the dizzy!) saw it on ausrotory but sisnt take this into account! may move the alternator down to where the A/C pump was as this should help with the belt pulling the water pump better and better airflow for when the new carb is fitted

hope you all had a good new year and heres to more driving, braking and fixing in 2k7!

Mark

mpk490p · February 26, 2007, 01:26:25 PM

Hi all,
just a update really fitted the king springs so the cars sits nice now, still having a issue with a noisey front end (oh err!) so just ordered some Tokico HP\'s all round from the states, unfortunatly i would be able to make the old skool meet as i will be fitting them!
hope to get the car over to Pip at WGT by the end of April to fit the carb

Mark