In the ever on going debate of function vs. form there always seems to be one or the other. I choose both. I'll start this post with the ap1 helical diff install and how that goes on a 1.6 car. So most of this kinda fell into my lap so I can't really tell you how much this'll cost. I was given an ap1 helical diff and a 1.8 miata housing. Step 1 and 2 down. You're required to use mazdaspeed axles which I purchased on the cheap through a friend. You also need a 1.8 driveshaft as usual, which a picked up from a local junk yard. I went ahead and decided that I would replace the old worn out stock bushings with some Garagestar delrin diff mounts.
You can see the new housing on the right loaded up with the ap1 diff and Garagestar diff mounts.
This is the mazdaspeed outer joint that goes into the hub. If you look at the picture below you can see the difference in the flat section that inserts into the hub is shaped much different than the 1.6 axle.
In order to make the mazdaspeed axles work with the 1.6 spindles/hubs I had to remove a pretty good amount of material to allow the axle to seat into the spindle/hub.
After playing with a precision cnc tool(grinder) for a bit I was able to make everything fit properly. A picture of the diff mounted up and axles in.
Next I installed some Garagestar rack risers. I was getting some really bad bump steer and figured I would give these a shot. Much cheaper and easier than a a legit bump steer kit.
Very easy install. Just unbolt the rack, slip in the risers and use the new, longer hardware supplied.
After install it was time to align it. Since the risers bring the rack up it causes some serious toe out.
A friend of mine here has managed to come up with some pretty rad things to do with sheet aluminum. He built me a wing and we also installed that. We used rivnuts to install the wing and the supports.
Alex doing his thing. Also decided to test fit his Borbet Type a's on the car for funs. They're 16x9 +15 with 10mm spacers.
More to come for the exterior of this thing. Something thats crucial in building a car for me is to not have an overall plan. What happens as an outcome, I consider to be, organic. It just happens. Building a car can be an art form. You just have to let it be.
Stay original.
Be cool. Stay rad.
