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Car Forum / Mazda / Mazda Miata / November 2009

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project time lhd -> rhd

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peter - 03 Nov 2009 19:19 GMT
hi,

its getting time for another project and i am thinking of doing a rhd
conversion on a to be obtained miata.  has anyone done this?  i havent
found any detailed sites which discuss a project like this, are there
ones i missed?

Are there any brit's on the list who would like to help me obtain
spares or at least get me i contact with miata "boneyards" in
britian?  i think shipping from au/nz/jdm/th would be excessive

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

from pictures and thinking about it, it seems the following would be
required

dash
wiring harnesses eng/interior
rack and pinion

the following items maybe ambidextious and just need to be re-routed

hood release   (?)
steering wheel (?)
pedals/linkage (?)
master cyl        (?)

i wonder if things like battery placement for weight distribution
needs to be addressed?
your constructive comments are welcomed

i appreciate your assistance on this,

peter in ct
former owner of a '63 rhd mini 850
NetMax - 04 Nov 2009 00:27 GMT
> hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> peter in ct
> former owner of a '63 rhd mini 850

I don't have any help to offer you, however I can't resist asking...
why would you want to do this?
Chris D'Agnolo - 04 Nov 2009 01:49 GMT
Excellent question IMHO ;-) Maybe he's retired and just needs a Miata
related project. They don't break much so he's bored?! Why not buy a classic
British roadster to keep your hands busy and a Miata to drive?

Seriously though, if you wanted a RHD Miata, why on earth wouldn't you just
buy one? Wouldn't the trouble and the expense be less? If it's just for the
challenge, seems like I could think of challenging projects that would
result in an improved Miata. Maybe to Peter, a 'unique' Miata (a one of a
kind, hand built conversion)  IS an 'improved' Miata! I believe I might be
on to something there............

clip:
I don't have any help to offer you, however I can't resist asking...
why would you want to do this?
Lanny Chambers - 04 Nov 2009 05:09 GMT
> Seriously though, if you wanted a RHD Miata, why on earth wouldn't you just
> buy one?

MX-5s for RHD markets may not meet U.S. safety and emissions regs, or at
least not have the appropriate documentation. Which just illustrates, I
suppose, that there's more than one way to build a $40,000 Miata.

Personally, for that kind of money I think it would be more amusing to
drop a Miata off at FM for a V-8 transplant. Might even be cheaper.

Signature

Lanny Chambers
St. Louis, MO
'94C

peter - 07 Nov 2009 18:30 GMT
> In article <401e6$4af0ddd1$97d5b2f4$31...@ALLTEL.NET>,
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> MX-5s for RHD markets may not meet U.S. safety and emissions regs, or at
> least not have the appropriate documentation.

exactly.

Which just illustrates, I
> suppose, that there's more than one way to build a $40,000 Miata.

if it were anywhere near $40k usd,  i would be looking at an m5

> Personally, for that kind of money I think it would be more amusing to
> drop a Miata off at FM for a V-8 transplant. Might even be cheaper.

with the parts i listed, i would not expect more than $2k usd, ( and
expect less), plus time spent.
hmmmm, a rhd 5.0 HO...now there is a thought :)

peter
Rob - 07 Nov 2009 23:02 GMT
> On Nov 4, 12:09 am, Lanny Chambers <la...@hummingbirds.net> wrote: > In
> article <401e6$4af0ddd1$97d5b2f4$31...@ALLTEL.NET>,
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> peter

If you want to do silly things with a MX 5 have a look at
<http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/sema-2009-turbo-rotary-mazda-mx-5-be
gs-to-be-flogged/>

Mmmmm, nice.

There's some pics of my UK registered ex-JDM Eunos Roadster VR Limited
Cambination-A at:

<http://www.flickr.com/photos/34090573@N02/sets/72157612252967816/>

The last photo in this set was taken this afternoon, just after I picked
it up from the paint shop. I had the rear end resprayed (the lacquer
coat had started to peel in a couple of places) and the hard top
re-sprayed body-colour. Naturally, within 5 mins of picking it up it
started to rain (this is Britain after all :-)) so that pic was taken in
the rain. I hope to get some better pics next week - Monday's weather
looks promising.

I'm still a little ambivalent about the body-colour hard top as I really
liked to look of the silver top and Vin Rouge paintwork on the body, but
it really does look magnificent now! The paint guy mopped the rest of
the car which worked much better than I expected and has really bought
up the front end (which wasn't repainted).

Dragging this back on to topic, used MX5 spares tend to be very
expensive over here. I don't know why as there are tens of thousands of
them over here, and the old tin worm does get to them with our salty
roads in winter.

Someone else posted some links to UK sources. Can I add the UK MX 5
Owner's Club forum at <http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/>. You don't
have to be a member of the OC to join (this may change) but you have to
register to post - there are overseas contributors to the Forum, but I
don't think I've seen any Americans on there, yet... and of course
there's always www.ebay.co.uk which normally has loads of stuff in the
parts and accessories section. There may be some reluctance to post
stuff to the States though, even though you'd be paying the shipping
costs. We're an insular nation <sigh>.

If you want any photos of specific RHD stuff on my car let me know,
either here or on my gmail.com email address which has robrait before
the @ sign, and I'll do my best to get the right pic and post them onto
Flickr, Photobucket or wherever (as long as it's stopped raining).

Signature

Rob - Shropshire
So many cats,
So few recipes...

Carbon - 09 Nov 2009 01:10 GMT
>> Personally, for that kind of money I think it would be more amusing
>> to drop a Miata off at FM for a V-8 transplant. Might even be
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> expect less), plus time spent.  hmmmm, a rhd 5.0 HO...now there is a
> thought :)

Actually the Flyin Miata folks are using LS3 Corvette engines. They come
with 430 HP stock (480 with the $300 cam upgrade) and with their
aluminium blocks they don't upset the f/r weight distribution. I am
guessing that one of these would be a lot of fun to drive.

FM has a half dozen build diaries up for this conversion. Interesting
reading.

http://www.flyinmiata.com/V8/index.php
Lanny Chambers - 09 Nov 2009 05:59 GMT
> FM has a half dozen build diaries up for this conversion. Interesting
> reading.
>
> http://www.flyinmiata.com/V8/index.php

And don't miss the autocross videos. For the sound, mainly.

Signature

Lanny Chambers
St. Louis, MO
'94C

peter - 07 Nov 2009 18:23 GMT
> Excellent question IMHO ;-) Maybe he's retired and just needs a Miata
> related project. They don't break much so he's bored?!

i have seen pix of rhd's and i like the look...something different.

>Why not buy a classic
> British roadster to keep your hands busy and a Miata to drive?

i have had brit cars/bikes....i find it easier to just whack my thumb
with a ball-peen hammer

> Seriously though, if you wanted a RHD Miata, why on earth wouldn't you just
> buy one? Wouldn't the trouble and the expense be less?

unlikily...i suspect an imported mx5 would not meet us safty/emission
reg's.  with an existing north american car, i would not have to
worry.

> If it's just for the
> challenge, seems like I could think of challenging projects that would
> result in an improved Miata. Maybe to Peter, a 'unique' Miata (a one of a
> kind, hand built conversion)  IS an 'improved' Miata! I believe I might be
> on to something there............

yes, i do think you are on something :)

peter
Chris D'Agnolo - 07 Nov 2009 20:39 GMT
That's funny! Hey man, go for it, I'm all for you baby! I hope you do a cool
thread with pics and everything like the guy did with the white RX7, that
was nice! Seriously, keep us posted

Chris
99bbb

On Nov 3, 8:49 pm, "Chris D'Agnolo" <cdagn...@windstream.net> wrote:
> Excellent question IMHO ;-) Maybe he's retired and just needs a Miata
> related project. They don't break much so he's bored?!

i have seen pix of rhd's and i like the look...something different.

>Why not buy a classic
> British roadster to keep your hands busy and a Miata to drive?

i have had brit cars/bikes....i find it easier to just whack my thumb
with a ball-peen hammer

> Seriously though, if you wanted a RHD Miata, why on earth wouldn't you
> just
> buy one? Wouldn't the trouble and the expense be less?

unlikily...i suspect an imported mx5 would not meet us safty/emission
reg's.  with an existing north american car, i would not have to
worry.

> If it's just for the
> challenge, seems like I could think of challenging projects that would
> result in an improved Miata. Maybe to Peter, a 'unique' Miata (a one of a
> kind, hand built conversion) IS an 'improved' Miata! I believe I might be
> on to something there............

yes, i do think you are on something :)

peter
peter - 09 Nov 2009 00:31 GMT
> That's funny! Hey man, go for it, I'm all for you baby! I hope you do a cool
> thread with pics and everything like the guy did with the white RX7, that
> was nice! Seriously, keep us posted

i shall but dont expect anything soon
Christopher Muto - 04 Nov 2009 04:09 GMT
peter, here is a thread from the rx-7club forum that shows the difference in
the firewall that would need to be addressed.  of course they are dealing
with at a rx-7 and not a miata but i would image the issues are pretty much
the same.
http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=860596

> hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> peter in ct
> former owner of a '63 rhd mini 850
peter - 07 Nov 2009 18:24 GMT
> peter, here is a thread from the rx-7club forum that shows the difference in
> the firewall that would need to be addressed.  of course they are dealing
> with at a rx-7 and not a miata but i would image the issues are pretty much
> the same.http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=860596

ahh, useful info.

thanks i'll look at this tomorrow.

peter
Annie and Chris Lang - 05 Nov 2009 14:19 GMT
Hi Peter

As a 'Brit on the list' you might like to try MX5 Heaven
:- http://www.mx5heaven.co.uk/

or Autolink
;- http://www.autolinkmx5.com/mazda-mx-5-parts-8-c.asp

Or just browse through the UK MX5 club forum's on
:- http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/

Good luck

Regards
Chris
peter - 07 Nov 2009 18:27 GMT
On Nov 5, 9:19 am, Annie and Chris Lang <annie-ch...@zetnet.co.uk>
wrote:
> Hi Peter
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Or just browse through the UK MX5 club forum's on
> :-http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/

more useful info.

thanks,
peter
 
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