My digital speedo finally arrived! So using the supplied connectors, I wired it up and turned it on!
I did have a couple of issues though…
There is a single indicator warning light (although the manual is an older version and has 2) so connecting both indicators to this point means that they all flash instead of the desired side. This was easily resolved with some diodes.
Second issue was getting an RPM signal as the Mazda uses a direct connection to the igniter and the digital dash specifies not to do this, so I had to get a signal direct from the cam angle sensor.
Once all this was in place, I calibrated the different sensors to give sensible values based on the (very) limited reference points from Mazda.
Radish then came for an inspection.
Some odd jobs next including adjusting the pedal positions:
Putting the foam onto the driver’s seat:
Repainting the cam cover:
Torquing up various bolts and covering the relevant ones with rubber covers.
Drilling a hole for the steering column to pass through the bulkhead. I made this bigger than Westfield specify and it is only just big enough.
Now that all the electrics work, it was time to tidy up the wiring in the dashboard.
Arrggggh!
All of these wires were about 40 cm too long so I cut and re-soldered every one before insulating and covering in conduit.
Gradually getting there:
Bracket for the vehicle speed sensor which I will run off the joint from propshaft to diff.
As I will have no windscreen, I bought a new helmet which is also Snell approved. I could only find 1 helmet that fitted and it is XXL!
At the same time, I ordered some wheels which arrived a few days later:
Gear stick gaitor is now in place and bolted down and the tunnel top is now complete. I still need to sort out the handbrake gaitor as the movement is more than the original can work with.
The main part still missing is the steering column! I phoned Westfield after Easter to order the lower column and they told me that due to a supplier change, they couldn’t get one for AT LEAST 6 weeks (and with Westfield that means a lot more than 6 weeks). I told them that I was getting close to a finished car, and asked for any help in getting one or making my own but they weren’t very helpful and didn’t even want to tell me the spline pattern.
After a bit of research and some measurements, I found that the splines are 14mm with 36 splines. Thankfully, Car Builder Solutions do a column with this, although the length would be wrong. I ordered this, plus a tube also sold by CBS for extending the column.
Unfortunately, the tube requires drilling (or the column needs turning down) to fit and my local engineering company were not very interested in the work…
So another search and I found a tube on Ebay that was the right OD and ID. I ordered this and when it arrived it fitted perfectly! After cutting the column in half, it is all mocked up and ready for welding
Hopefully the welding will be done in the next couple of weeks so I will get on with other jobs for now. Here is my dashboard with a radiused edge added that I will cover in foam for a padded effect.
As I finished this, it started to hail heavily, in late April!
There are lots of bits still to tidy and prepare for IVA but I now have all the parts to make the car driveable, and it is time to look at booking the IVA test. Hopefully it will be on the road soon.
Kit's Kit Car 