Some piccies of progress below.
Looks like I'm not the first to have got behind the dash... half the HVAC panel screws are missing 😂 J-Spec to the rescue.

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Gauges out.

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My high beam light was out, swapped it with another and it worked. Ordered some spares.

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Identified the tacho feed.

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Test fit of gauge pod.

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Changed the face/bezel of the wideband to match (ish) the Autometer gauges.

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Wires for the back of the gauges. Will go to a connector so it's just plug/unplug.

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Little slot dremeled to accommodate wire for shift lights. Nice and snug.

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Cheat mode engaged - half an ISO connector repurposed to get power to the gauges.

So making a start on the wiring loom for the gauges highlighted some issues.
First up - my soldering iron has gone missing. So I bought a new one.
Then - I couldn't find my F crimp tool. So I've bought a new one of those too.
I've also lost one of the bulbs to illuminate a gauge. Autometer stuff is about thruppence in the USA, but to get a replacement here is a nightmare. I've ordered a generic T10 bulb holder in the hope that it will fit ok...

All in all, not much progress! My replacement HVAC screws arrived from J Spec though, so that's all back together and as solid as ever. Phew.

I've also read horror stories of drilling the dash for gauge wiring and destroying the dash loom, so drilled a nice big hole in the back corner - I stuck my head under the dash and noticed I could see the corner, so stuck the hole there. Not sure if I'll bother with a grommet... No reason to have one really.

So once all my new tools and stuff arrives, I'll get down to it and build the loom. It's already all measured up, just a case of sticking it all together. Each gauge will get it's own sub-loom with connector so each can be easily removed from the car without having to undo 3/4 connections.

I hate wiring... If I didn't care so much about doing a professional job and not hacking up OEM wiring so much, it'd be done by now! Still, better to do it right first time.

Made a solid start and now have connectors for all gauges. Going to be a fair bit of excess weight in just slightly too long wires 😂 but I don't have the time or the patience to mess about trying to get it perfect. Plus if I ever need to repurpose anything I can do so without worrying about how short the wires are.

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Spot the home brew vs professionally done

Well after some sort of minor miracle it's all done and in the car. The wideband gauge powers up, the lights come on (or dim in the wideband's case), and the shift lights are programmed. Just need to check that they are getting a signal, as the stall flash function didn't work (I tried that instead of revving the nuts off it!). Another day.

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My loom in all its glory.

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And in the dash.

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Just plug in the gauges and go!

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Shift lights look right at home.

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Also got hold of the pics from taking my daughter out on track at Brands! A few laps of the GP circuit in the race car... I wish I could bottle the joy. I always feel bad that she can't get involved when we go to the track. A few years to go yet.

Nice work, neat and tidy. I'd be chuffed with that.

Quote from: Roj on August 27, 2021, 10:11Nice work, neat and tidy. I'd be chuffed with that.

Thanks! Tried my patience but got there in the end Hope it all works 😂

It works 😁 Finally managed to get some time to take the car out to test the shift lights. It's a bit antisocial to rev the tits off a car in a residential area at any time of the day so hadn't actually checked they worked yet! Happy to report no issues at all.

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Now to get the senders installed so I can test the gauges!

Also now understand why the previous owner disabled the high beam indicator light. OMG it's hard to drive with that in your face 😱

Well done mate

Quote from: 1979scotte on August 31, 2021, 06:46Well done mate

Thanks! Fairly simple on its own but happy with how I've kept it as OE looking as possible

Been a long time without an update... got a few things done but mostly just let life get in the way.
When the fuel crisis started I siphoned the petrol out of the MR2 to use in the daily. And it's pretty much just sat since then.

I got some hubcentric 20mm spacers on the rear, the stance is 100% improved.
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I fitted a fire extinguisher bracket from F4Fabrications, nice product, check them out.You cannot view this attachment.

The bucket seat is out as my friend I was borrowing it from needed it back for his latest fun project, a T Sport Yaris. Had fun getting it in that, genuinely! So much space to work around it! Helped fit a cone filter, oil catch can and charcoal canister delete. Ready for track!

Anyway, I'm looking for a seat now. I have a plastic bucket (playskool- think budget Tillett) but they're not really GT enough for me. Anyone got a Motamec MRX for sale? 😁

All in all, not found a lot of enthusiasm for working on the car lately though, but have been working on a little side project that some of you might be interested in... I have acquired the Formula G Championship! So I'll be running that in 2022 (assuming venues actually reply). The best bit about it is all the gear, timing setups, gazebos etc. so I'm ready for any event!

Exciting development courtesy of Fyse Split Rimz... These rims were in a bit of a sorry state, so they aren't going to be perfect, but new lips were going to be best part of a grand so I'll survive!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYCM8hxoH6p/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Internet point if you can guess the wheel

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Booked myself in for a holiday to a specialist to help get my brakes sorted, fit ARBs, turn up the camber, and get my gearbox swapped for something with shorter ratios!

I've had for a while now what I believe to be an MRS box. It came out of a UK car, no LSD, but felt very different to the UK box I have in my car now. To confirm I have a short ratio box, I attached my patent pending gearbox ratio dial.
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Counting the number of turns of the input shaft per turn of the diff (super easy with an open diff!) I think I have UK gear ratios and a 4.3 diff... I guess that means it's a C50 of some sort, maybe off an early MRS? It has MRS written on the box by whoever the breaker was that supplied it to the previous owner, but it doesn't appear to have the shorter 3/4... Either way, the 4.3 CWP will be a good addition to the track car regardless. I'll pop in a fresh flywheel and clutch while it's apart too, for maximum fun.

I also received an update from the wheel refurber:

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The colour is so good. I can't wait to see these built up!

Took a lunch break to work on the car and decided to start the process of getting the new exhaust system on. So off with the old one!
Everything came off suspiciously easily...

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The fibreglass wrap is nasty, just disintegrated in my hands. Much prefer Funk stuff.

Latest on the wheels - lips are shiny, centres and barrels are painted, and the first one is assembled...

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On a scale of 1 - 10 I am 11 chuffed with how these look. I'm not even fussed about the lack of centre caps!

A few exciting bits arrived in the post too - HEL sandwich plate, with AN10 connections, thermostat and TWO sensor ports. Hard to find one that isn't delivery from China. Also received some fresh ex mani studs and nuts, and a MLS gasket too. I also got a battery for the relocation to the front - I was going to use the OE battery but decided to smaller - but they sent the wrong one, so back that goes. Fun. Guess I'll stick with the OE battery for now!

Job for lunch tomorrow is to get the studs in (do I use threadlock?), and wrap the manifold in Funk's finest, and get it on! Car needs to move under its own steam again soon, it's been toooooo long.

So over the last week I've been using lunch breaks to stand outside in the glorious sunshine to get some bits on the car!
Wrapped the manifold (challenging) using Funk Motorsport titanium lava wrap, it's nice to work with though a little itchy if you get it on yourself! Then I fitted fresh studs, and got the manifold fitted on the car.
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Next up, wrapped a little bit of the silencer (easy):
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Then hung it on the car. Tips need adjusting... 😂
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Finally wrapped the mid pipe (mildly challenging).
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I hung that on the car yesterday, but no pictures as I finished in the dark.
Quite proud of myself that there were no blows the first time round! Just need to tweak the hangers and the tips to get them just so 👌🏻
Just need to fit a seat before Thursday now.

@moca2cv

While I have no intention of modifying my 2, I am always interested in what others do and the way they go about it. I've never wrapped an exhaust but have seen several pictured on here. I seem to remember that others have used Jubilee type clips at each end of the wrap to secure the ends, but non such on yours. What have you done?

Quote from: Joesson on January 16, 2022, 10:45@moca2cv

While I have no intention of modifying my 2, I am always interested in what others do and the way they go about it. I've never wrapped an exhaust but have seen several pictured on here. I seem to remember that others have used Jubilee type clips at each end of the wrap to secure the ends, but non such on yours. What have you done?

They're the steel ties that come with most wrap kits. They're a pain to get tight, a pain to get off too! You don't NEED to secure both ends, if you wrap the Funk stuff tight enough the friction from the overlap is enough. Funk have a good video on their website on how to that I followed.

Thank you @moca2cv , I can now see the ties you used, more subtle than some, a nice neat job.

Quote from: Joesson on January 16, 2022, 14:13Thank you @moca2cv , I can now see the ties you used, more subtle than some, a nice neat job.

Thanks! It's not really as good as I'd like it but it'll do the job
Now to sort everything else 😂

@moca2cv

So, did you use "thread lock" on the new mani studs?

Quote from: Joesson on January 16, 2022, 15:07@moca2cv

So, did you use "thread lock" on the new mani studs?

I did use a little bit, yes! Figured it probably didn't really matter

While I'm waiting for my new seat, I still need something to sit on. Now I only have harnesses a standard seat is just going to be plain dangerous, so I opted to drop in a Playskool FRP bucket seat.

Not ideal, as the seat is very narrow between the mounting points and the Rogue side mounts are better suited to... the shorter chap.

Long story short, right side mount couldn't move to the inside as it would foul the mounting bolt, I've had to fit the seat offset from centre. It will drive me mad, but not much else o can do!

Anyway. Introducing... Darth Vader seat:

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@moca2cv said:
Long story short, right side mount couldn't move to the inside as it would foul the mounting bolt, I've had to fit the seat offset from centre. It will drive me mad, but not much else o can do!



"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to Improve"

With apologies to Sir Walter Scott, 1808

Quote from: Joesson on January 18, 2022, 11:16@moca2cv said:
Long story short, right side mount couldn't move to the inside as it would foul the mounting bolt, I've had to fit the seat offset from centre. It will drive me mad, but not much else o can do!



"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to Improve"

With apologies to Sir Walter Scott, 1808

😂 The plastic seat is definitely not an improvement. And now the supplier has offered a discount on an alternative seat which is available now and I think I prefer... but it's more money. I think I need to put my hand in my pocket! 😁

@moca2cv said:

I think I need to put my hand in my pocket! 😁

The solution to many problems!