A slow start

[MoriniMan]

I've had a bodyshell since May/June last year. The donor Herald I bought with it from Gary turned out not to have a recoverable V5, but I found another via a fellow Sammio builder.

The plan is an upgrade to MKII Vitesse suspension, the rear getting a conversion to MGF bearings hubs and shafts. The diff will have to change too.

I'm no fan of Triumph engines and gearboxes, but I want a six cylinder sound. My solution is a Mazda MX3 V6 converted to RWD with an MX5 gearbox. With the vast inlet manifold dumped and replaced with throttle bodies it's a 130bhp+ 1845cc engine that weighs less than a Triumph straight 4. The gearbox ratios are very tall, so a short diff is in order (MX5 1.6 runs a 4.4) and the suitable geared Triumph diffs are too fragile. There's a Subaru 4.444 available and I know that the R160/R180 diffs are a known upgrade.

Progess so far is the Mazda engine/gearbox perched on the first chassis whilst I work out how to squeeze it in (very tight) and a set of machined rear uprights. There are two sets of 15" wires, one set 48 spoke 4" and one set 60 spoke 4.5" plus a set of adaptors.

Given how many other projects I've got to work on, progress is likely to be slow.

[garyh]

Slow but sounds very interesting? Some one else to answer questions. I thought i was taking a long time, mine arrived October!

[Mister Towed]

Welcome to the forum, sounds like you've set yourself quite a challenge...

[tlrtone]

so a nice simple home-build then!

Welcome to the boards, and get some pictures up

[MoriniMan]

Pictures you asked for, so pictures you shall receive.


Shell and first Herrald turn up.


The replacement donor.


MX3 V6 propped up on chassis (That's a liquid Nitrogen tank at the bottom right by the way).


Suspension tower and alternator want to be in the same place.


MX5 gearbox. Starter motor can move to top right of gearbox for more clearance. The adaptor plate was designed for kitcar/MX5 installations.


A BMW (E30) diff is looking like a better choice than the Hitatchi Heavy Industries (Datsun/Subaru) version. It's much shorter which means a better angle for the propshaft given the length of the Mazda box. It also looks easier to mount (probaly with a custom back cover). I always planned to build my own body frame and I pulled a lot of old bench frames out of the metal skip at work.

[garyh]

Will follow this with great interest, be sure to show us how you make all the bits.

[oxford1360]

I'm looking forward to seeing this develop. Will the Flux Capacitor sit inside the hump?

[davecymru]

Looks like you're nearly ready to bond the shell on then!

I look fwd to watching this build with great interest

[Mister Towed]

Excellent Smithers, excellent.

Best of luck getting it all to work, I thought I was being adventurous by fitting a Honda radiator!

[MoriniMan]

I've got the diff sorted I hope. It's a 4.45:1 out of a BMW E30 series and cost the princely sum of £40.

Half the BMW diffs on ebay have been welded solid, apparently it's for Drifting!

[MoriniMan]

A small amount of progress today.

I took the sump and oil pickup off the Mazda engine so it can be modified for the RWD installation and have the engine sitting pretty much where it's going to go.

It will be very tight, but I think it's going to fit without modifying the bonnet. The alternator problem looks like it can be cured with a Daihatsu Hijet item and cutting off the engine mount on the turret. I may even get away with not moving the starter motor.

Whilst moving things around I found the 3.54 diff that was sold to me as an American spec 4.11 (the only strong 4.11), so if anyone needs one, let me know and we can work out a deal.

[Mister Towed]

It's been a while, are you road ready yet?

[MoriniMan]

Not quite

I'm in the process of cutting the sump down.

The following he pictures are from an V6 into MX5 conversion that Claire who made my adapter plate is doing;

This is the general idea, but I'm doing it with a slitting saw on the mill;


The result will look something like this, but with a longer deep section;

It can't be any shallower in the front because that's where the oil pickup tube mounts.

I've scrounged up some 10mm Aluminium plate to make the adapters for the throttle bodies;


Claire has also just sent me the 36-1 ignition trigger wheel to fit the new alloy crank pulley. I've got to trim back the engine front seal carrier and the belt guard to make it fit. The fuel injection ECU (Megasquirt II) is on the bench at work being tested.

I'm probably going to have to make a take-off plate for the oil filter housing. It actually fits OK, but changing the filter would probably be impossible.

I got my old Mondeo tow barge taken away today which left me a bit richer and there's room to strip the second Herald now.

Unfortunately there are a lot of other projects too and I'm without my wing-man because he's just had a third round of heart surgery.

This could take some time......