MK SportsCars RX-5 VTEC
Discussion
Well this post could easily be an edition of War and Peace... But I will get straight to it and condense quite a bit of research/work into some sort of blog.
I've been very keen on building myself a car from scratch since well before I could drive. Many books, DVDs and even build manuals have been bought over the years.
I did try to discuss buying a Caterham at Goodwood many years ago... I'll politely say they couldn't have been less interested in selling me a car. Luckily the third party PR person softened that negative experience.
Westfield was another choice, they had a more diverse engine option list... But most things were out of budget at that stage. I was very reluctant to buy one without a good modern engine and one with a character suited to the type of car. Westfield were great to deal with and I bought a build manual off them to try and make some decisions... but the engines were still an issue.
I was aware of MK at the time, under their previous ownership, however I couldn't find out much information at the time, but it seemed to be "the" chassis to buy from a handling point of view.
Roll on many, many years later. I heard MK Sports Cars were doing a Honda K Series option for a Seven esque car. Time for some research (didn't take much) and out comes the man maths calculator.
The running gear is based on an MX5, which is obviously quite a good thing (think hubs, gearbox, shafts etc)... Plus the K20a2 from an EP3 Civic TypeR. Ultimately two donor cars were required. On paper that sounds like a great combination.
I contacted MK Sportscars and spoke with Andy, who answered all of my queries.
Shortly after that, I bought this Cosmic Grey facelift EP3, the engine donor car.
The contents of the boot, some of which was of value (parts, tools etc etc.) There was a broken Halfords Professional breaker bar, which if you don't know, the range has a lifetime warranty. I took it to Halfords and got a brand new one FOC (I am half Ballymena
)
A quick and cheap oil change was done for good measure.
I couldn't help myself giving it a quick clean.
The cooling system wasn't clean, so was flushed out, SpeedFlush ran through it etc etc.
Driveway filling up at this stage.
A compression test luckily came out with respectable and more importantly even figures.
Up on axle stands, as the strip down starts.
The seats came up really well after a wetvac.
My Dad and I on a pretty cold night removing the engine and gearbag.
Engine on its cradle.
Could that be another car that has arrived?
Gearbag wasn't perfect (syncro issue), but did go on to the ITCC.
Not much in the way of interior left.
Time to clean the engine.
The bare shell.
Many, many more updates to come.
I've been very keen on building myself a car from scratch since well before I could drive. Many books, DVDs and even build manuals have been bought over the years.
I did try to discuss buying a Caterham at Goodwood many years ago... I'll politely say they couldn't have been less interested in selling me a car. Luckily the third party PR person softened that negative experience.
Westfield was another choice, they had a more diverse engine option list... But most things were out of budget at that stage. I was very reluctant to buy one without a good modern engine and one with a character suited to the type of car. Westfield were great to deal with and I bought a build manual off them to try and make some decisions... but the engines were still an issue.
I was aware of MK at the time, under their previous ownership, however I couldn't find out much information at the time, but it seemed to be "the" chassis to buy from a handling point of view.
Roll on many, many years later. I heard MK Sports Cars were doing a Honda K Series option for a Seven esque car. Time for some research (didn't take much) and out comes the man maths calculator.
The running gear is based on an MX5, which is obviously quite a good thing (think hubs, gearbox, shafts etc)... Plus the K20a2 from an EP3 Civic TypeR. Ultimately two donor cars were required. On paper that sounds like a great combination.
I contacted MK Sportscars and spoke with Andy, who answered all of my queries.
Shortly after that, I bought this Cosmic Grey facelift EP3, the engine donor car.
The contents of the boot, some of which was of value (parts, tools etc etc.) There was a broken Halfords Professional breaker bar, which if you don't know, the range has a lifetime warranty. I took it to Halfords and got a brand new one FOC (I am half Ballymena
)A quick and cheap oil change was done for good measure.
I couldn't help myself giving it a quick clean.
The cooling system wasn't clean, so was flushed out, SpeedFlush ran through it etc etc.
Driveway filling up at this stage.
A compression test luckily came out with respectable and more importantly even figures.
Up on axle stands, as the strip down starts.
The seats came up really well after a wetvac.
My Dad and I on a pretty cold night removing the engine and gearbag.
Engine on its cradle.
Could that be another car that has arrived?
Gearbag wasn't perfect (syncro issue), but did go on to the ITCC.
Not much in the way of interior left.
Time to clean the engine.
The bare shell.
Many, many more updates to come.
As you may have seen in the other photos, the next donor arrived. This was the cheapest one I could find locally, which ended up driving really well. I threw the keys to quite a few family and friends, all were amazed at how well it drove. However I naturally only need its running gear.
As a bit of a tweak to shorten the effective gearing, I am mating a separately sourced 6 speed gearbox to the 5 speed differential from the donor car. Painted photos. The gearbox has of course been cleaned, painted and many of the seals replaced.
More movements on the drive way - I bought another MX5, which I initially intended as a keeper (30,000 miles) and drove it daily for a while...
My dad, a mate and I removed the MX5s engine.
Engine bay given a good clean.
Starting into the stripping.
Front and rear hubs are required. Naturally these need a little "refurbishment".
~25 year old grime. The fuel tank hat / pump hanger will be reused.
The diff and PPF out in one piece as it's easier to separate on the ground.
The stripped shell.
As a bit of a tweak to shorten the effective gearing, I am mating a separately sourced 6 speed gearbox to the 5 speed differential from the donor car. Painted photos. The gearbox has of course been cleaned, painted and many of the seals replaced.
More movements on the drive way - I bought another MX5, which I initially intended as a keeper (30,000 miles) and drove it daily for a while...
My dad, a mate and I removed the MX5s engine.
Engine bay given a good clean.
Starting into the stripping.
Front and rear hubs are required. Naturally these need a little "refurbishment".
~25 year old grime. The fuel tank hat / pump hanger will be reused.
The diff and PPF out in one piece as it's easier to separate on the ground.
The stripped shell.
Shortly after the MX5 shell sold, I jumped onto the plane, along with my dad, to get a factory tour of MK Sports Cars and a spin out.
Here are a few quick photos from the visit. I naturally took quite a few photos and videos, more of the details to help make some decisions for me.
What I would say is, noting I've been out in quite a few Caterfield style cars over the years... Build quality was high, don't expect squeeks or rattles... But more importantly, the chassis was incredibly resolved, stable and supple. I don't doubt the inboard front suspension helps, but I was incredibly impressed.
Here are a few quick photos from the visit. I naturally took quite a few photos and videos, more of the details to help make some decisions for me.
What I would say is, noting I've been out in quite a few Caterfield style cars over the years... Build quality was high, don't expect squeeks or rattles... But more importantly, the chassis was incredibly resolved, stable and supple. I don't doubt the inboard front suspension helps, but I was incredibly impressed.
So delivery day!
While I was keen as a badger to do a road trip to collect the kit and drive it back to Northern Ireland. It worked out much cheaper to get it crated and couriered to me.
However I did confirm with the courier several times that I did not have a forklift at my house... which became a bit of a joke any time I had to state that over the phone.
Luckily IFS were able to accept the crate and deliver it to me.
Anyway, space was made in the garage, despite having several on going projects...
Delivery has been made. if it helps anyone, it took four adults approximately twenty minutes to unpack the crate at the side of a lorry, place the chassis onto axle stands and remove the extremely heavy crate.
Quite a few boxes and parts.
The crate itself, quite a bit of money in the timber used for the crate. Which I have reused already.
I paid to get the brake and fuel lines ran.
Tyres were part of the kit too.
Another view of the chassis, note the pedal box and reservoirs installed.
RPM range should be adequate for the time being.
I can't wait to get tinkering with this.
Compomotive CXRs in a gun metal finish.
At least I'm a Ford fan.
Roll cage removed for some dry fitting and riveting.
I've completed a lot of work already, but a great deal of time will be spent refurbishing the old parts, engine etc.
Many of these will be treated to a "while I'm in there" approach.
While I was keen as a badger to do a road trip to collect the kit and drive it back to Northern Ireland. It worked out much cheaper to get it crated and couriered to me.
However I did confirm with the courier several times that I did not have a forklift at my house... which became a bit of a joke any time I had to state that over the phone.
Luckily IFS were able to accept the crate and deliver it to me.
Anyway, space was made in the garage, despite having several on going projects...
Delivery has been made. if it helps anyone, it took four adults approximately twenty minutes to unpack the crate at the side of a lorry, place the chassis onto axle stands and remove the extremely heavy crate.
Quite a few boxes and parts.
The crate itself, quite a bit of money in the timber used for the crate. Which I have reused already.
I paid to get the brake and fuel lines ran.
Tyres were part of the kit too.
Another view of the chassis, note the pedal box and reservoirs installed.
RPM range should be adequate for the time being
.I can't wait to get tinkering with this.
Compomotive CXRs in a gun metal finish.
At least I'm a Ford fan.
Roll cage removed for some dry fitting and riveting.
I've completed a lot of work already, but a great deal of time will be spent refurbishing the old parts, engine etc.
Many of these will be treated to a "while I'm in there" approach.
chrisgtx said:
Bookmarked.
Thanks TGCOTF-dewey said:
Following. I always thought the issue with CTR engines was they didn't work longitudinally in a 7 due to the direction of rotation?
Hence why the S2000 lump was the favourite for Westfield and others.
I did read quite a few threads reporting many technical issues. Most were totally inaccurate Hence why the S2000 lump was the favourite for Westfield and others.
Its ultimately, HondaK20 - Adapter Plate - MX5 Gearbox.
However it is quite a tall engine, taking in the sump etc. Remedied on the MK cars with the bonnet scoop.
Now the options are available, the world is your oyster...
TGCOTF-dewey said:
Following. I always thought the issue with CTR engines was they didn't work longitudinally in a 7 due to the direction of rotation?
Hence why the S2000 lump was the favourite for Westfield and others.
You are thinking of the B series engines, such as the mk1 Integra Type R, they rotate the wrong way and give 5 reverse and 1 forward in a RWD application. With those engines in a transverse application the engine was in front of the passenger and gearbox in front of the driver, when sat in a RHD car, all other FWD cars are the opposite with the engine in front of the driver.Hence why the S2000 lump was the favourite for Westfield and others.
I'm looking forward to seeing updates here, as I have a "spare" MX5 NB on my drive which was too good not to buy for £500 recently. I already had 1, as does my son, so the doner spare parts have been really useful, but I have all the running gear just sitting there waiting to go into something like this!
Are MK based in Braintree in Essex?
Are MK based in Braintree in Essex?
Rich135 said:
I'm looking forward to seeing updates here, as I have a "spare" MX5 NB on my drive which was too good not to buy for £500 recently. I already had 1, as does my son, so the doner spare parts have been really useful, but I have all the running gear just sitting there waiting to go into something like this!
Are MK based in Braintree in Essex?
They are indeed in Essex. Well worth a visit.Are MK based in Braintree in Essex?
Worth a ride out in one and you will get an idea what to expect.
If you are speaking with Andy or Neil, you can request the referral discount from Neil in Belfast
.keo said:
Just seen this thread, looking forward to updates. Fair play op!
Many many many many hours spent in the garage. I'm pretty familiar with the K20, but I may have spent quite some time fixing things that wern't broken .Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff