:icon_frown: :smash: :wave: hopefully chris reads this on satdy. so was thinking maybe should put hi profile tyres on my 15's so you have wheels all round at the size of the original or at least a high profile like the ones you showed me at the visit. eg 15 with a 60% wall size. think wikipedia has the right size. then can have them changed over when the builds finished that way the ride height will be same both sides if could find out how much to have them done and I can transfer the funds. also was gonna ask would a 17 inch with an et45 fit maybe with a spacer. found some rota rb's. 17/7.5/et45 4x100

I think the car needs some full profile tyres and wheels, some 15" 5.5 wires or steels with spinners of course, not these new fangled 16" with Ultra low profile (that seem to need replacing after the first pot hole.

Can't help but think a 2+2 like the Mk4 Astra convertible would have been a good base car for this project as it has the rear windows already fitted.

http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/P1000084.jpg

yeh maybe. but we culd all do the 'why don't you use a such n such car' debat all day long. it was bad enugh with the rear window thing on here. I say let chris do it his way , how he sees it and how he wants it. the mx5 is his car of choice for lots of obvius reasons so there you have it. he is the man making the kit and taking a gamble with his time and money so if anyone on this forum thinks they can do it better or has better ideas then I am sure no one will objet to them having a go.

I agree with your sentiment Shadow , just not quite how you have put it across !
I think debate on styling etc is healthy . It keeps forums like this interesting. And the fact that people take the time to think about a project like this is flattering to the creator , I am sure.
I do agree that if you constantly catered for every different idea , then the kit would never be viable or profitable - which is the main factor here.
Obviously , the customer has a say in his build but I would think that design decisions would be a joint situation in that case . A combination of style and viability.

The car is looking great by the way and I can picture both traditional ands concept styles of build working equally as well.

I no I can be a bit blunt sometimes but that's me. I just think that pretty much everyone on hear will agree that if they were involved in any kind of projhect or work practise and people kept calling in or messaging them or whateva about them changing there project that they were heavilly involved with whateva you do , a window fitter , builder , mechanic , accountent etc. you would get the hump. I notice that chris stays very quiet during most of these debaits and I wonder if that is becaus he is biting his lip sometimes.
just saying.

Hi Shad! I would'nt say you were blunt! You go for it mate!

I think Chris keeps quiet 'cos he's too busy working his a**se off!!

:grouphug: :eusa_doh: heres. the thing. keep watching and you might like what you see :). if I could find the right gearbox to change the high gear affect of high profile tyres I would. any ideas as to what would fit on the mx5 to allow for the larger radius. mazda mx6 has 15inch wheels with high profile tyres. not sure if can put it on an mx5 as is front wheel drive. but hanging it off the engine will need some work. just ideas. not a mechanic or engine builder. hint, hint.

The mx5 was available with a couple of different gearboxes and as many as 4 different diff ratios.
You should by able to find a combination to suit your tyre sizes and your preferred overall gear ratio s.

I suggested the Astra not as a criticism but because I have one sat in the drive and keep thinking "what could that be turned into?"

Iron oxide? :D

Cruel :smile:

Zagmad
 

If you kept the same rolling diameter, ( larger wheels, lower profile tyres)
the wheel arches would be full, and there would be no need to change gearbox / ratios etc.

Why are you so keen to keep high profile tyres?

I have the same PCD on my SS1s (but the offset of the MX5 wheels mean spacers are required) - I have a set of BMW MINI steels (FWD but I planned on banding them for the SS1) which may work very well on the MX5?

I have an MX5 in the workshop, might drop a MINI steel on and see what it looks like today?

Can I check what everyone hang up is with keeping the wheel size and gear box in ratio is?

Do you really rely on the speedo that much to judge you behavior when driving?

I guess there may be something in the mot but am am not certain as my local station doesn't appear to have a rolling road to test speed against speedo.

Surely you drive about the same speed as the rest of the traffic when in traffic and as fast as you fell happy doing elsewhere?

With a relatively feeble mx5 engine the impact of overgearing will take the edge off the performance, particularly in the range up to 60 mph where we mostly drive. Less of a problem with, for example, a Z3.

:playball: yep thats true as they have wheels up to 19's on. with profile tyres. whiich are the same diameter as say a set of 15's with a 60 profile like the original car it is being made in the style of in eg 50's/60's. plus the arches are quite big and the high profile tyres fill them well as does a set of 17's with a reasonable size profile. big wheels, low profile tyres and hard suspension equals broken wheels.

does anyone have preference on what tailights they are going to use. led or traditional.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psaccb4d7a.jpg

All valid points and opinions people.

From personal experience I was running 225/50/16 tyres on the back of my convertible and never noticed a difference in performance over the stock sized wheels. I know Seanick is running some pretty tall rear rubber, but he does have a few engine "tweaks".

If you are looking for an extreme wheel set up to compare any choices to then check this out, and no I haven't retouched these pictures:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps12ae9803.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps07c65926.jpg

Love it :icon_twisted:

I don't think that the rolling radius is that vital, you can have your speedo recalibrated if needed (and yes, it must "be fitted and work" (not calibrated) for an MOT) - the look is much more important IMO?

The pic above is a perfect example - it's a totally different look to the original MX5 and a totally different look again to the original 250 - which probably would have been 80 or 82 profile on 15" or 16" rims (depending on year) - it's all about the rubber to wheel ratio :becky:

OK, I admit I dont like LEDs on "classic style' cars, and dont like modern interpretations, BUT I've just found the exception, that looks fantastic, its still the MX5 I presume but there is no way to tell. I love it also.How close is the curve of the lights to the body curve.

Err, that aint no MX5, that be a Corvette...

Agree with Ollie.

For those non-English native speakers reading this forum Ollie is using the word "be" in the subjunctive mood.

For the native English speakers, you will not have a clue what I am talking about..

I really like that Corvette with the Neo-Retro style and the modern looking front and rear lights.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps07c65926.jpg

KerrrrrChingggggg!!!!!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1i8fT7re8H...255B2%255D.jpg

You can't ever make wheels fill the arches too much.

:noidea: that before you is a corvette. what you see is a corvette.
anywho, anyone know what size was used on the original. some say 16 by 5 but no wall size is mentioned. say if i put a 16 by 7 on what profile would then match the original. eg 60% of 5.

sites like http://www.willtheyfit.com/ give a visual representation of sizes and calculations for rolling radius etc

Suspension travel would be very limited if did fill arches. i would like my speedo to show the true speed and have a comfy journey. The rolling radius has been matched to the original 14's that would be on the mx5. but have 15's instead. after going on wikepedia the original car mk1 had 16's so would like to match that but taking in account they will be 7 inch not 5 wide. i do like period cars but would like to make the finished lights a bit different. everything else will be stock. thats if can get the right balance otherwise just revert to plan b.

I believe that the original wheels were 72 spoke Borrani nickel plated steel wire wheels 6.00-15 front & 7.00-15 rear - changed to 6.50-16 front & 7.50-16 rear in 1963.

original tyres were Dunlop R5/R6 (which are still available) - no profile given but 80/82 was standard at the time.

mk1 is in refererence to the amz v1.

80% thats way high. think im going to have to take them to the tyre shop and have them play with some options. im fitting them on rota rb's so similar style to minilites. but a bit of dish on them. was looking at wire wheels but thought id simplify the design to just 8 spokes instead of 72. bit like a period mod as is frenched tailights.

http:// <a href="http://s250.photobu...ps6cihsbq7.jpg[/IMG]

225/55 R15

Speedo reads a bit slow, about 6mph.
I have a GPS.
1.8l, cam advance, induction kit, de-cat exhaust,
Reflashed ecu. Goes plenty quick enough. Between 5.5k to 7k. It goes bonkers!

:typing: did you mean the speedo goes wrong or the acceleration is awesome. i was thinking of maybe getting the diffeerential changed or the speedo to allow for the different diameter of tyre. lots of saving and time juggling to do.

Ssorry, what I meant was the Speedo reads about 6mph slow, but I have a GPS which gives me accurate speed for when it matters.
With these Tyres which are taller, it goes very well, as it has been tuned a bit.
However I never drove it as standard so can't really compare it!!!

Now, what colour...........:eusa_wall:

Looking at grey or burgundy. Bit like the rossa colour that's in the colour thread. Thinks its a few months to go till the car takes shape so i think I've done well to break it down to two colours. VW pure grey. Its not metallic but has a certain fiat v8 zagato look.
was looking at doing two tone claret grey ,mirrors,grill that kind of thing. Accents of chrome on the wheels. Id upload pics but i don't know how and don't know if a.m will do anything yet so have to put designs and shapes on paper.

Id like to be a kit car shell designer but i don't have qualifications. Lots of donors out their that could do with the tribute treatment. Chris has got great skills. I think once the right size tyres are on the build will go well. Then the scaleing down can begin stretch or not stretch etc.

Thought id ask. If anyone has noticed the change. Compare first pics with last pics, what's the different. Check door sizes and bonnet height. Who prefers which? Alongside the period wheels. Any feed back would be great. Maybe something to discuss in the new year. I had a few to drink and mentioned in an email bout depth of the side profile of the kit. It changed, rather know if others like the change. Don't want to be held responsible for changes:-(

:spit: :der: Note to self don't email when drunk or on an empty stomach. :-)long walks round the new forest require lots of liquid refreshment to keep you going and when you get back to the campsite. No one told me burgers took so long on a bbq specially late September.

Yes i know blah!blah!. But its true. It can work both ways. Just requires adaption of screen scuttle drain to be molded and an adapter added. Sorry brain wont stop wurring. Any way till next year.

:der: :ranger: i was thinking the other day . would it be be possible to have a banner made up the same size of the donor with a picture of the build car on it to get outline match. just ideas. ive contacted a printer company via email no reply yet. be nice for the shed. luckily the sheds 20ft by 10ft :-)and 7ft tall.