Mazdachris's Spazda Roadster - Page 2 - Drifting forum

mazdachris · 31-05-2008, 08:12

No the pictures suck. The car's starting to look super posh these days compared to how it was when I first got it - damp, leaky, headlights barely worked, had been standing at a garage for ages so was covered in filth and mould.

It's turning into a bit of a credit card skid car though

mazdachris · 31-05-2008, 16:20

driftnething · 01-06-2008, 14:48

love that beast !

good work, bet that handles awsome. i want to poly bush mine too, is it alot noisyer from doing so ??

i would suggest adding a STRUT BRACE

Mattias · 01-06-2008, 15:12

im really liking that

go lower you know you want to!

mazdachris · 01-06-2008, 15:16

There is an increase in road noise, particularly at speed. But it's not huge. These cars are not very quiet anyway, particularly with stiff tyres and hard suspension, so I'd imagine the difference is less noticeable in my car than in a large saloon.

The handling really is amazing now. I could wax lyrical about it. Whether you're drifting or pushing hard, there's a sensation of fine balance to the handling which gives you the confidence to drive it exactly as you want to. It really invites you to attack corners in a positive style.

Increasing the rigidity is the next step I think. I'm going to add front and rear strut braces, plus the Flyin' Miata butterfly brace which should really improve the stiffness and control.

Once that's done, I don't think there's really anywhere else to go in terms of improving the chassis without major surgery, so it'll then be a case of thinking about things like the differential and increasing the power. The trouble I have is that I want to do everything to a high standard using good quality parts, which ultimately means spending a lot of money. Money I don't have, unfortunately.

ringer · 01-06-2008, 17:26

Lovely stuff Chris!
The butterfly brace is well worth it - try an MK2.5 Sport just to see the difference in rigidity, plus if your feeling gay and want even more, a hardtop top can stiffen it up a treat too.

You'll want to add lower strut bracing for sure, but the upper ones are not so important, but they're cheap as chips so depends on the dorrah availible!

mazdachris · 01-06-2008, 17:46

I'm not totally sold on the upper braces either. The front one possibly but if you look at the rear there aren't actually 'turrets' as such, there's just the floor at the rear of the chassis, onto which the shocks and stuff bolt. So it's not like that's likely to bend.

The lower braces bolt to the bottom of the front and rear subframes don't they? at the rear at least, I have what looks like a factory brace bar (don't think the 1.6i got these) but it's kind of flimsy so I may beefen that up with a replacement at some point.

To be honest I want to avoid going too mad with modifying the car, especially the chassis. It's already very good, I just want to get rid of the scuttle shake and then I'll be happy. Money I spend on modifying the car is money I'm not spending on driving it, so I don't want to end up in a situation where I've got a kickass car but no money to go to trackdays or go skidding.

ringer · 01-06-2008, 21:27

Been there dude

To get rid of it*, the best thing to do is as you say fit the flutterby bracing and any underside braces you can think of and a hardtop, and you'll have a new car in terms of feel. To recover funds, you could in theory sell the soft top if it's in good nick, either way with the hard top on you wont need it, and the frame work is surprisingly heavy. Then for final chassis twist prevention, I'd get some triangulation from your rear cage in the form of floor joining door bars by your feet. Anything else that isn't seam welding the car won't make any noticeable difference.

edit: *the shakes, not the car...

mazdachris · 04-08-2008, 20:59

Thought I'd give a mini update to let people know what's going on with the car these days.

Not really done anything major for a while. Done a bit of essential maintenance, the odd oil seal and whatnot.

The front end has had a slightly JDM looking restyle thanks to a square number plate and an OEM front splitter which I think to be wonderful.

And today I've fitted some poly 'void fillers' to my diff bushes, which are basically like the locking collars you can get for Nissan subframes, and that has made a massive diffence to the handling. I've had an issue with it for like, forever, where it never accelerated in a straight line - it'd edge right under acceleration and then left when slowing down. Changed all manner of parts and had the alignment sorted. Finally this has fixed it. Wonderful stuff.

Anyway, have a photo

Ignore the speed holes...

EDnovaStarlet · 04-08-2008, 21:17

those wheels do look mint!

my mate Steven Rutter had one of the rear turbo versions that went like stink with 178BHP at the wheels and it was a uk car!

mazdachris · 04-08-2008, 22:28

I've stopped noticing the wheels now when I look at the car. I keep thinking it'd be nice to really slam it, but I don't think that's such a swell idea when it's currently handling so perfectly.

Still got a bit of an issue with it losing oil pressure on hard runs so I'm going to change out the oil filtr and give it a flush before thinking about oil pumps etc. Fingers crossed it's just a knackered filter.

The UK BBR Turbo cars are very cool. I wouldn't mind getting one at some point. My car's begging me to fit a turbo but I'm not going to. I like how it barks and wails.

jamie k · 04-08-2008, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazdachris

My car's begging me to fit a turbo but I'm not going to. I like how it barks and wails.

Same ehre, but i love to pull 3rd in the dry one day.

I do like this mx5 though

Captain Muppet · 05-08-2008, 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamie k

Same ehre, but i love to pull 3rd in the dry one day.

I do like this mx5 though

3rd gear mx5 drifts rock. I mean real third gear, not the namby-pamby 50mph rolling burnout Nissan rubbish

I've learnt to always subtract a gear to translate someone else's track description.

I loved thrashing my car as NA, but I'm starting to really like the whistle-chu-chu-chu thing now it's got a hair drier on it.

Chris - Your car is damn near perfect now, glad the void fillers fixed the diff thing. Did you get away with cutting them to fit or did you drop the diff all the way out?

mazdachris · 05-08-2008, 08:52

Yeah they put up a bit of a fight. I had the biggest kitchen knife I could find and was putting all my weight on the damn thing and it was just laughing at me. Then I thought sod this for a game of soldiers and busted out the sheers. Even then, took a lot of effort to cut.

I don't know what kind of a difference it'll make with them cut. I'm just thinking probably none.

I just fitted some new Axxis Ultimates as well.

Like you say, it's getting close to being perfect now. Though every time I'm under the car I'm getting concerned that it's looking a bit tatty now. The subframes could do with a bit of refurbishment and my frame rails are looking an absolute shambles.

Other than that, I'm a couple of bracing parts and maybe a hard top away from having the perfect handling Roadster.

Though I'm still mulling over the idea of selling it. Thing that's putting me off is that the least I'd sell it for is 4 grand and I think people might say it's overpriced. Even though I'd be taking a massive loss on the thing.

I dunno. I'll make a decision over the next few months. For now, I'm looking forward to just skidding the thing with its newly secured diff.

project a · 05-08-2008, 10:10

nice!

im still working in Shanghai....i miss my 5

Captain Muppet · 05-08-2008, 10:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazdachris

...Though I'm still mulling over the idea of selling it...

Again? Madness. Keep it forever. What would you replace it with that has:
* The handling.
* The driftability.
* The pop-ups.
* The plausible deniability of intentional sideways driving: "It's never done that before officer, maybe some shampoo leaked from the boot on to the tyres".
* The huge supply of cheap parts.
* All the stuff you've just spent a billion pounds fitting.

Plus gay stuff like reliability, convertible roof and chicks liking it (nothing gayer than attracting chicks).

mazdachris · 05-08-2008, 10:54

Yes yes I hear what you're saying, and I agree. But part of me wants something massive, with lots of cylinders and turbos and flames and suchlike. Something that can do rolling 7th gear burnouts at 100mph

Drifting a Roadster is hard work, and while it's definitely exciting and rewarding, it can also be pretty frustrating when I see people on their second or third drift day effortlessly smokign thier way round the big track at Pod while I'm sat there thinking "I could do that!" were it not for my car.

But I do love it, and when I'm going full tilt, I can drive it like an extension of my own body. No turbo barge is going to give me that.

I just can't make my mind up.

Silverfang · 05-08-2008, 18:28

Chris, you sold this car once already and you had an S14 for a few months, you said it yourself that be it's quick, it wasn't fun to drive!

If i had your car, i'd be probably looking at upping the powarz as the next area of improvement, it's a cracking car from all the work you've put in (with a bit of help from me

) already, a little bit of tidying and fixing those final few niggles will give you a decent base for turbo'ing / supercharging / Throttle bodies...

jamie k · 05-08-2008, 20:34

Mate, don't sell up. Just cheat a little and add a turbo or charge it for some extra kick.

At some point down the road i want to change the engine on mine but i wont be changing the car

Hammond · 05-08-2008, 20:37

love this MX, nice and subtle yet still looks hard. btw chris; your sig made me roffle!

01-06-2008, 14:48	#23 (permalink)
driftnething touge runner Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cornwall Posts: 164	mmmmm love that beast ! good work, bet that handles awsome. i want to poly bush mine too, is it alot noisyer from doing so ?? i would suggest adding a STRUT BRACE

01-06-2008, 21:27	#28 (permalink)
ringer Trackday Films Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London - Nurburg Posts: 1,034	Been there dude To get rid of it, the best thing to do is as you say fit the flutterby bracing and any underside braces you can think of and a hardtop, and you'll have a new car in terms of feel. To recover funds, you could in theory sell the soft top if it's in good nick, either way with the hard top on you wont need it, and the frame work is surprisingly heavy. Then for final chassis twist prevention, I'd get some triangulation from your rear cage in the form of floor joining door bars by your feet. Anything else that isn't seam welding the car won't make any noticeable difference. edit: the shakes, not the car... Last edited by ringer : 01-06-2008 at 21:50.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

31-05-2008, 08:12	#21 (permalink)
mazdachris Jam Hot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MK Posts: 2,190	No the pictures suck. The car's starting to look super posh these days compared to how it was when I first got it - damp, leaky, headlights barely worked, had been standing at a garage for ages so was covered in filth and mould. It's turning into a bit of a credit card skid car though

31-05-2008, 16:20	#22 (permalink)
mazdachris Jam Hot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MK Posts: 2,190

01-06-2008, 15:12	#24 (permalink)
Mattias dangleberry Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sittingbourne, kent Posts: 430	im really liking that go lower you know you want to!

01-06-2008, 15:16	#25 (permalink)
mazdachris Jam Hot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MK Posts: 2,190	There is an increase in road noise, particularly at speed. But it's not huge. These cars are not very quiet anyway, particularly with stiff tyres and hard suspension, so I'd imagine the difference is less noticeable in my car than in a large saloon. The handling really is amazing now. I could wax lyrical about it. Whether you're drifting or pushing hard, there's a sensation of fine balance to the handling which gives you the confidence to drive it exactly as you want to. It really invites you to attack corners in a positive style. Increasing the rigidity is the next step I think. I'm going to add front and rear strut braces, plus the Flyin' Miata butterfly brace which should really improve the stiffness and control. Once that's done, I don't think there's really anywhere else to go in terms of improving the chassis without major surgery, so it'll then be a case of thinking about things like the differential and increasing the power. The trouble I have is that I want to do everything to a high standard using good quality parts, which ultimately means spending a lot of money. Money I don't have, unfortunately.

01-06-2008, 17:26	#26 (permalink)
ringer Trackday Films Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London - Nurburg Posts: 1,034	Lovely stuff Chris! The butterfly brace is well worth it - try an MK2.5 Sport just to see the difference in rigidity, plus if your feeling gay and want even more, a hardtop top can stiffen it up a treat too. You'll want to add lower strut bracing for sure, but the upper ones are not so important, but they're cheap as chips so depends on the dorrah availible!

01-06-2008, 17:46	#27 (permalink)
mazdachris Jam Hot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MK Posts: 2,190	I'm not totally sold on the upper braces either. The front one possibly but if you look at the rear there aren't actually 'turrets' as such, there's just the floor at the rear of the chassis, onto which the shocks and stuff bolt. So it's not like that's likely to bend. The lower braces bolt to the bottom of the front and rear subframes don't they? at the rear at least, I have what looks like a factory brace bar (don't think the 1.6i got these) but it's kind of flimsy so I may beefen that up with a replacement at some point. To be honest I want to avoid going too mad with modifying the car, especially the chassis. It's already very good, I just want to get rid of the scuttle shake and then I'll be happy. Money I spend on modifying the car is money I'm not spending on driving it, so I don't want to end up in a situation where I've got a kickass car but no money to go to trackdays or go skidding.

04-08-2008, 20:59	#29 (permalink)
mazdachris Jam Hot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MK Posts: 2,190	Thought I'd give a mini update to let people know what's going on with the car these days. Not really done anything major for a while. Done a bit of essential maintenance, the odd oil seal and whatnot. The front end has had a slightly JDM looking restyle thanks to a square number plate and an OEM front splitter which I think to be wonderful. And today I've fitted some poly 'void fillers' to my diff bushes, which are basically like the locking collars you can get for Nissan subframes, and that has made a massive diffence to the handling. I've had an issue with it for like, forever, where it never accelerated in a straight line - it'd edge right under acceleration and then left when slowing down. Changed all manner of parts and had the alignment sorted. Finally this has fixed it. Wonderful stuff. Anyway, have a photo Ignore the speed holes...

04-08-2008, 21:17	#30 (permalink)
EDnovaStarlet RWD Carless Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 585	those wheels do look mint! my mate Steven Rutter had one of the rear turbo versions that went like stink with 178BHP at the wheels and it was a uk car!

04-08-2008, 22:28	#31 (permalink)
mazdachris Jam Hot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MK Posts: 2,190	I've stopped noticing the wheels now when I look at the car. I keep thinking it'd be nice to really slam it, but I don't think that's such a swell idea when it's currently handling so perfectly. Still got a bit of an issue with it losing oil pressure on hard runs so I'm going to change out the oil filtr and give it a flush before thinking about oil pumps etc. Fingers crossed it's just a knackered filter. The UK BBR Turbo cars are very cool. I wouldn't mind getting one at some point. My car's begging me to fit a turbo but I'm not going to. I like how it barks and wails.

05-08-2008, 08:52	#34 (permalink)
mazdachris Jam Hot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MK Posts: 2,190	Yeah they put up a bit of a fight. I had the biggest kitchen knife I could find and was putting all my weight on the damn thing and it was just laughing at me. Then I thought sod this for a game of soldiers and busted out the sheers. Even then, took a lot of effort to cut. I don't know what kind of a difference it'll make with them cut. I'm just thinking probably none. I just fitted some new Axxis Ultimates as well. Like you say, it's getting close to being perfect now. Though every time I'm under the car I'm getting concerned that it's looking a bit tatty now. The subframes could do with a bit of refurbishment and my frame rails are looking an absolute shambles. Other than that, I'm a couple of bracing parts and maybe a hard top away from having the perfect handling Roadster. Though I'm still mulling over the idea of selling it. Thing that's putting me off is that the least I'd sell it for is 4 grand and I think people might say it's overpriced. Even though I'd be taking a massive loss on the thing. I dunno. I'll make a decision over the next few months. For now, I'm looking forward to just skidding the thing with its newly secured diff.

05-08-2008, 10:10	#35 (permalink)
project a spl dori master Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: kent Posts: 254	nice! im still working in Shanghai....i miss my 5

05-08-2008, 10:54	#37 (permalink)
mazdachris Jam Hot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MK Posts: 2,190	Yes yes I hear what you're saying, and I agree. But part of me wants something massive, with lots of cylinders and turbos and flames and suchlike. Something that can do rolling 7th gear burnouts at 100mph Drifting a Roadster is hard work, and while it's definitely exciting and rewarding, it can also be pretty frustrating when I see people on their second or third drift day effortlessly smokign thier way round the big track at Pod while I'm sat there thinking "I could do that!" were it not for my car. But I do love it, and when I'm going full tilt, I can drive it like an extension of my own body. No turbo barge is going to give me that. I just can't make my mind up.

05-08-2008, 18:28	#38 (permalink)
Silverfang No longer K1 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UH's workshop / Milton Keynes Posts: 1,006	Chris, you sold this car once already and you had an S14 for a few months, you said it yourself that be it's quick, it wasn't fun to drive! If i had your car, i'd be probably looking at upping the powarz as the next area of improvement, it's a cracking car from all the work you've put in (with a bit of help from me ) already, a little bit of tidying and fixing those final few niggles will give you a decent base for turbo'ing / supercharging / Throttle bodies...

05-08-2008, 20:34	#39 (permalink)
jamie k -NightWalkers- Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southwales Posts: 394	Mate, don't sell up. Just cheat a little and add a turbo or charge it for some extra kick. At some point down the road i want to change the engine on mine but i wont be changing the car

05-08-2008, 20:37	#40 (permalink)
Hammond oh, snap! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Canterbury Posts: 4,961	love this MX, nice and subtle yet still looks hard. btw chris; your sig made me roffle!