Project - Max5/Ma5da Race Series 2011 Prep

[FIGJAM]

After debating getting back into a 200sx (and still haveing my engine sitting in the grage waiting to go) I decided to get into racing. I wanted a series with very tight regs, rear wehhl drive and close racing with a focus on the driver not the car.

So I got me one of these and have until Spring 2011 to get it up to regs. Will be updating as I go:

http://i.ebayimg.com/10/!Bz4o3o!BGk~$(KGrHqZ,!gwE)CeEF04IBM(9ZHHbsQ~~_12.J PG

http://i.ebayimg.com/19/!Bz4o5GwBGk~$(KGrHqZ,!h!Ew5KeelPZBM(9ZQnl5w~~_12.J PG

http://i.ebayimg.com/23/!Bz4p!!QCWk~$(KGrHqZ,!h4Ew5Cnom2WBM(9Z5Lsh!~~_12.J PG

[FIGJAM]

Well I made a mistake I have never made before, I didnt check the car over properly. It was from ebay and I had already won it, it was cheap, a girl was selling it, they had a nice house, I traveled quite a long way to get it.

Got it home, lifted some carpets and got a bit of a shock

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g197/Tommy200sx_photos/P1060868.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g197/Tommy200sx_photos/P1060867.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g197/Tommy200sx_photos/P1060866.jpg

Its had a smack at the back, looks like its just panel damage but was repaired by a retarded monkey as where they cut out the old panels they have done a ceap welding job and not bothered to match up the pannels or weld in any new metal leaving some big gaps!

Looks like the welder will be out earlier than planned :(

[Simaroon]

thats gutting, they could have atleast welded metal between the panel gaps :eek:
on the bright side, at least you was planning on doing work to it anyway and wont be too bad if repaired properly

[FIGJAM]

Yep, I hate to see work like that, as its being raced I probably wont spend ages getting it right as one shunt later and it will all be buggered anyway. I think the plan will be to take some Zintech sheet and patch up the holes to make sure the rigidity is back in the shell. There is an MX5 at the local breakers of I may go and cut out the areas I need from that and patch it in.

I always check these things but I guess you spend more time when your spending 8K than if your spending £700

[MarkR32]

Good luck with the build buddy be very interested to see how it turns out

for a point of interest check this out

http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=45768

[Evilchap]

Good luck with this mate ;) Paul Sheard Autos are a good place for parts and advice I reckon if you head to the Ma5da forums there's lots of people with useful knowledge who can help out.

They're a friendly bunch off-track, but it's a bit like dodgums on track by all accounts :D

[FIGJAM]

Lol thats what i ehar hence not too worried about some panel damage. If it gets smashed up I'll get get an MOT fail from ebay and transfer over the parts.

Roll cage is £1k + VAT wich is a bit steep but ho hum.

[Jonny]

Nice repairs :wack:

Autolink are also reasonably close to you and are a great source of info / spares :)

Does the cage have to be specific make etc, or just up to regs?

[Madda]

That's awesome news mate. I'm well jealous, I'd love to enter the series! Uber :cool: !

Most of my modding knowledge is way outside of what falls within the regs, but if I can help with anything, give me a shout :thumbs:

[colinjy]

hope you've given them bad feed back

[MarkR32]

doubt the sellers knew it was there .. they would not have known it was NOT repaired at all ..

[baker_001]

:eek: Didn't realise it was that bad when you said about it the other weekend! Still, like you say its cheap enough to find another car anyway. If you need a hand at any point then give me a shout :thumbs:

[Kyle @ H-Dev]

Wow, I wasnt expecting it to be that bad when you told me over the phone. Let me know if you need a hand, i'll come down for a weekend and we can have a good go at it :thumbs:

[FIGJAM]

Yep I suck, really can't believe i didnt check it out. Oh well.

Just ordered up some mild steel sheet 0.9mm and Zintec to weld up the holes. smallets I could get is 6ft by 3ft so that should keep me going for a while

[Madda]

cant see photobucket in work, so only just looked at the pics. OMFG, not a nice surprise :(

[FIGJAM]

Got to work on it a bit more this weekend. I decided that given the bodge that had taken palce, I had 2 options take the whole thing back (both rear Quarters off, re do boot floor etc) or just patch it up.

As its going racing I sent for the latter. Welded in some .9mm mild steel plate and primed. Also cut out the bits that had been left, spot welded any loose sections that couldnt be easily accessed to add strength (went for a 6mm plug and weld). Just shaping the sheet to fit the 20cm gap that is left then prime and paint. Should only take a couple of hours, so all in not that bad.

It aint going to look sexy but atleast i wont be worried about being crashed into when I take it racing.

[PGD]

Good project, I await the updates :)

Have you decided which series your entering yet?

[Kyle @ H-Dev]

Any updates?

[FIGJAM]

Lol, I wish. HAvent even had time to sell the SR20 yet :(
Hoping to sort some stuff out once Xmas is a bit closer and work will hopefully calm down a bit