End of Stage 1

Another pictureless update - sorry, but visually very little has changed since the last post.

Not strictly true; the brake pipes are all in twisting their way around the chassis like a twisty turny thing, and the rear wiring loom is complete. I'm actually quite pleased with the loom - once past the initial grubby job of unbinding the original and cleaning the adhesive off, modifying the wire bundle, re-binding it with spiwrap and crimping on a few new terminals was satisfying electrical work. I cannot say that I found the brake pipes as satisfying though - contorting them to avoid chassis contact without kinking or collapsing the pipes was fairly painstaking, plus brakes are one of the areas I like to have a good worry about.

So with those things completed I have gone ahead and ordered the completion pack for the kit. This is the pack with all the things that (should) make it roadworthy; seats, seatbelts, mirrors, shock absorbers, lights, etc. I've gone for the black interior with crimson inlays and piping, so I hope it'll contrast nicely with the BRG body, but not to the point of being eye-watering.

Until that pack is ready for collection (hopefully in a few weeks time), there are a few bits and pieces for me to tidy up:

• The propshaft from the MX5 needs modifying by shortening and re-balancing it. Most companies that do this seem to be up the Northern end of England, but I'm looking for somewhere more local than that.

• The alloy wheels need sorting. I've gone off doing them myself a bit - if funds allow, I'm sorely tempted to get them professionally done and rebalanced at the same time.

• The suspension bushings need pressing in. I had a go at this - the metalastic bushings are supposed to be able to be pressed home using a bench vise. I claim otherwise - heaving on a sturdy vise, with cleaned suspension bore just ended up knackering the vise. Reading around, most people either get the bushings pre-installed (doh!) or go for the easier to fit but higher maintenance nylon bushings. I think it's time to look at getting, hiring, borrowing an arbor or hydraulic press that can exert some serious tonnage coz I've got about 16 to do.
  

As part of the ordering of the completion pack I had a couple of interesting discussions with Westfield.

Firstly I had found out from reading Westfield MX5 kit car forums that it doesn't have a heater and some talk had taken place about installing heated seats. I got in touch with Westfield about supplying them some heated seats and then me wiring them in, and they declined due to worries of me electrocuting my buttocks or somesuch. Shame - it'll be a fairweather car (or I'll have to wear plenty of clothing on chillier days).

Secondly I had forgotten to check about the catalytic converter that I had retrieved from the MX5; nowhere could I see instructions on where to install it. The simple answer was that you don't. Westfield can make an exhaust with integral cat if required (and at an additional cost). But apparently it's not necessary on pre-1995 MX5 engines in kit cars. Basically an engine from 1975 to 1995 (with specific exceptions) only needs an emissions test to get through the SVA, from this point on a cat test (and for the specific exceptions on earlier problem engines) and emissions test is required. I hope that my engine will be running clean enough to pass the emissions test following my rebuild of it (ulp) coz I have of course economised by getting the cat-free exhaust. I also need to remember to provide decent proof of the age and source of the engine for the SVA test.