Pre-fitment test of the steering column grommet and bushing show a clearance issue with the pre-cut hole in the firewall. I'm going to have to elongate the hole some 10mm to make sure that the column won't foul on the firewall.
To hid this particular build crime I'll fab up a cover plate with a centered hole, then rivet that into place once I have the steering column mount in it's final location.
The torque values referenced in the linked document are gleaned from Mazda MX-5 factory service manuals, Ford Sierra Service manuals, and from Fastenal's Tension Reference Guide.
WARNING: UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ALWAYS USE THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATION FOR TORQUE VALUES. The values provided in the linked document are a guide that I am using to help keep my cheese form hanging in the wind. In the absence of OEM torque specifications, I use the general torque specs from Fastenal's Tension Reference guide. I make no claim as to their absolute accuracy nor do I recommend that you blindly use them in your own project.
This document is a work in progress and will change / expand as the build progresses.
Since Saturday I've done three timeboxed build sessions on the GBS Zero. One 90 minute timebox on Sunday morning, two 60 minute timeboxes on Monday after and evening. Only have timelapse of one of the Monday timeboxes.
Starting to build some momentum. Current focus is to get the front end assembled. (Control arms, uprights, brakes, steering rack, etc.) Ran into a small question that required a email to the GBS Workshops.
In the video I make the statement that the shock I'm holding is for the wrong car. This is not correct. This was my confusion about the way GBS manages their stock keeping. GBS have two stock keeping units for the ATR Shocks, one for Ford and one for Mazda; each SKU is a set of four shocks. Between the two SKUs, the front shocks are identical while the rears have different stroke length. Nowhere on their site could I find information conferring this information about the two SKUs but it was confirmed for me by GBS via email. (As of the morning of 8/24/2020.)
My concern was whether or not there might be a difference in front shock stroke length the two SKUs since my car is running Mazda gear up front and Ford gear out back. Would have been nice if GBS used three SKUs instead of two. (i.e individual Front Ford/Mazda, Rear Ford, and Rear Mazda SKUs would have been a little less confusing)
Anyway, that's sorted. Shock installment in the next Vlog.
Not a whole lot, managed to get the front right control arm set installed and shimmed up. That was kind of a fight but it's done now. I need to revisit the other side and re-shim the arms on that side.
The M14 bolts on the upper rose joints require a 12mm hex key. The largest that I had in my tool set was an 10mm hex key. Harbor freight to the rescue.
The next set of tasks will involve installing the hubs, brakes, and shocks on the front and making sure that everything is torqued snug.
NOTE: GBS's definition of "right side" is the right side of the car viewing it from rear. This blog defaults to "left side" and "right side" [when viewed from the rear] instead of "driver's side" or "passenger's side" for parts that are specifically handed relative to the chassis.
Front Suspension Arms
The MX-5 Miata front upper and lower control arms are not handed.
The MX-5 Miata front wing mounts are handed, the higher side going toward the front of the car. (The wing mount that goes on the right side of the car does have a small notch.)
Rear Suspension Arms
The Sierra rear lower control arms are not handed.
The Sierra rear upper control arms are handed. The control arm with the notch goes on the right side of the car.
Rear Uprights/Brake Brackets
The Sierra rear hub carriers are handed. The hub carrier with the notch goes to on the right side of the car.
The Sierra rear brake brackets are handed. The brake bracket with the notch goes on the right side of the car.
The Sierra spacer kit is not required to keep the axles from binding, the brake brackets fill that role.
The information presented here is confirmed by GBS as accurate to my car which has MX-5 front and Ford Sierra rear suspension components.
