Practically Classics Forum

Rich, don't ask permission, just go and get one. You need something to unwind with at the weekend. a project is cheaper than an affair!
Then do all of these things:

Fit a turbo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUKgKtMXec8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt0M-Bs3mDI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8ZDL5eOUtE

install a roll cage (because I suspect with a turbo MX5, you will need one sooner or later)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0BE8zL0jG8

various other upgrades
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXPtUBfeoAk

I love the MX5. SWMBO would sell me if I put another project car on the drive or it would be tempting to have a MK1 1.8 for the summer.

SirTainleyBarking wrote:

TerryG wrote:

kstrutt1 wrote:My son is planning to learn in a rwd car but not for a few years yet, mind you I don't expect there will be much need to catch the rear end on a standard 1098 Minor

You would be amazed how easy it is to get the back end to step out in a minor. Skinny cross ply tyres are great fun, especially in the wet!

Series 3 in 2wd on 750's can do a powerslide around the Sandy roundabout on the A1 . I know , 'cos I was there. I didn't think it was that enjoyable.
Think of the scene in the Wizard of Oz where the farmhouse gets sucked up into the tornado
I may decide to fit some disco steelies, or defender wolf steelies with some nice grippy radials. The current crossplies are cracked beyond reasonable limits anyway

Our minor will be on radials, but given how light the rear is I guess even with these and the low gearing sliding it will be possible.

I have had my 88" series 2 landie rear go in the wet on road biased radial tyres, it is not something I would do for fun! SWB, limited steering lock and a high C of G make it all a bit uncontrollable.

The elan is the polar opposite it's so controlalble you don't even realise you are doing it half the time, the TR7V8 is also pretty controllable (modified suspension), not realy driven the MX 5 that hard , I remember LSD's in the back of 2.8 capri's and my V12 XJS made for a hedge visiting experince not sure how it will affect the MX5.

With an LSD you can write "11" on the road but with an open diff you can only write "1", sometimes accompanied by a very small punctuation mark. That's all I need to know.
(There is a three wheel drive Reliant Robin with a Daimler V8 engine that can write "111" as it launches, but that's just pure decadence and possibly has no place in a forum about cheap, practical old jalopies).

145 profile radials on the back of a mog still slide if you put your foot down on a roundabout (or in the farm yard, Tesco carpark, etc) and it's great. It really annoys the local chavs that their fwd shopping trollys can't do doughnuts but a 50 year old 1.1 morris minor does them easily.
I have done power slides in a mk2 transit which was a giggle (with no load in). As long as you know it's coming, it isn't a problem.

how do you get a 3wd robin? chain drive?

Transits are great for power sliding, the LWB ones are very controllable as well, the 200 horsepower inline 5 cylinder in an unladen chassis cab is a great fun (until all the safety features cut in).

TerryG wrote:....how do you get a 3wd robin? chain drive?

No, shaft drive along the leading arm with gears from a CX500 and a pot joint mounted in the hub with a regular U/J at the arm pivot end that connects to a short propshaft from there to a transfer box which began its career in a Sierra. Back axle is a Volvo 265 one. The only diff is the one in the transfer case.

The thing's evil, it can kill people just because they were looking at it in a funny way.

is it the stig?

No, some say that he runs on LNG and can't even count to 11.

MX5, Rich. Buy one!

need to get permission from the boss or she will cut them off... her dad was a butcher so im not taking any chances... i will get one one day.

Buy a fuzzy pink steering wheel cover so she thinks it's for her then drive it yourself (without the cover on)