Thread: Resto-Mod Micro Car w/Sport Bike Power

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I agree with the other guys, nice work, and a great old lathe! When in comes to heavy tools I find the quality from the past much supperior to what you will pay for anything new these days. I do wood working and really like pre-chinese stuff!

Progress on suspension. Made upper spring/shock mounts from 1/4" thick 6" wide flat bar. In the front, tubing comes up from the subframe to a brace that will bolt in place. It will be removable to extract the struts without separating ball joints and tie rods.

[IMG]20170119_093043_resized by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]20170119_094333_resized by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

The brace will be clamped in place temporarily to determine proper ride height.
Once determined, a flange nut will be welded into the top of the trimmed off tube. Will also weld a plate over the 1 1/2" hole thru which the bolt will go.

[IMG]20170120_093328_resized by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]20170120_102302_resized by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

Heated and bent the ends of the tubes to match the strut angle

[IMG]20170120_123356_resized by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

Started on the rear supports also. Mostly done, just need a couple of gussets.

[IMG]20170120_171918_resized by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

The supports are out from under the car. The front is on its wheels and the rear in on a floor jack waiting for the gussets.

[IMG]20170120_124742_resized by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

http://www.BenModified.com

Part 3 is on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h25zc-lF1bc

The steering is coming together. I wound up using a center steer box from a sand rail with the steering arms from the gen 1 honda crx and the tie rod ends from the miata. Here is the original sand rail setup

[IMG]20170123_145418 by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]


The new arrangement

[IMG]20170123_145415 by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]


Had to open up the holes in the ends of the rack and rethread to fit the honda pieces.

[IMG]20170123_145438 by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]


Assembled with the beginnings of a mounting bracket. I believe that shock boots from a golf cart shock will work on this unit.

[IMG]20170124_151839 by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

The joints are in the original miata location. With any luck, no bump steer. I will cycle the suspension thru its range before welding everything in

[IMG]20170124_125238 by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

Also machined some collars to splice the rear axles

[IMG]20170124_161452 by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

And welded in a couple of pieces of tubing for the cage

[IMG]20170124_160122 by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

http://www.BenModified.com

Took the body off again today to get to a few spots for welding and steering work.

[IMG]20170125_172248_resized by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

Added a few gussets to the uprights that support the front spring upper brace.

[IMG]20170125_172209_resized by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

Center steer mount

[IMG]20170125_172216_resized by Ben Modified, on Flickr[/IMG]

I bolted in the rack system and ran the front suspension thru its travel range with no perceptible bump steer! Sorry, no photo

http://www.BenModified.com