alot of Mx5 boys are just try hard show ponies dont worry about that
 
Our OHV bottom ends are stronger than theirs too
 
Keep it all Mazda stock, turbo ecu save money and later you can upgrade ecu if you are not happy with 160-170kws atw but go for budget or factory you are way better off. You will be surprised how well a stock 77mm bore A15 will go with that head and some boost. Id use that block as is and look into water injection for a cheap safety cushion.

Ok
So an update on this projects front.

It has all come to a grinding halt due to a desperate lack of funds.

The panel beater has just told me that my car is ready to collect, and I have a bill waiting for me, which even if it was only $1, its $1 more than I can afford right now for a project car.

On the positive note, I had a good friend come up and help me cut the old bent 4-door up and mount the front end on castor wheels so I can dummy fit parts and test run motors. After rummaging through the shed, I should have everything I need to get it setup.

At this stage, unless its a near Zero cost activity, its not happening unfortunately.

that would involve CASH noooool.... 

Well finally an update.
 
its only been.... another 3 years or so.

 

 

 

 
Pretty happy with the works done. The cash from neil helped to pay for this amongst other ....jobs.
 
I would recommend my panel beater to anyone who wants an honest job. Just wish I had gone to this guy to start with instead of the other gent who stitched me over.
 
Next job - redo the suspension and install rear axle.

That blue is called Anthony Blue.
 
It was taken from a 60/70s Datsun colour card that the panel beater had.
 
Its not the original blue, which is what i was going for, but it is as close as you will ever get.

I have no idea if this is right or wrong, but if it was mine i would be removing the surface rust before assembly.
 
Think id try to get it rust free with the least ammount of scratches as i could.
 
Not sure about what is the best method sorry.

Get a drum for cheap, add old fruits in it fill with water put a lid on it for a month
you will have home made vinegar, soak your axles in it or anything with rust
it will be gone in hours to have a day. Cheap vinegar is underrated for removal
of rust, I soak all kinds of what appear to be rusted out things and come up like
new as long as if its heavy rust just brush it a bit every so often and the vinegar
does the rest. Results are amazing.

Yep just cheapest white vinegar you can find, no brand or equivalent
I use it straight on small things or 10/3 ratio water/vinegar overnight
for axles or longer old jap swods or machetes here in Okinawa
just dip anything rusty in it, put in a tupperware container for little things
or you can use old water pipe with that instant pipe adhesive for a
cap for the bottom as long as you can fit the axle in it.
The drum setup is what I had where I dipped things Id forgotten about
using old fruit scraps persimons, apples, bananas anything worked a treat
that would otherwise be used for the compost bin.
Engine blocks came back like new so did anything that was considered gone.
Coat hangers come in handy for various things just dont dip alloy
or aluminium even chrome in or its gone for good. Unless you want
the chrome off for painting etc.
If you get a little cornstarch mix it with the vinegar make a runny
paste you can spread it on your axles or difficult things, I used to
do that to objects I didnt want to pull apart or dip into the drum.
Let the paste dry and remove with scotch brite or stainless steel wool to finish.
I found vinegar stronger than Molasses, so sometime used molasses from
agriculture store to make the vinegar.

ill post up some before and after pics for reference.
Wont be for another week, maybe after the new year due to the next month of stuff.

heya Bro... 
Metal rescue, seen it, rate it, use it, tip it back in the bottle, use it again, 
bit moody needs to be above 24 deg or something... 
Ebay Rescue
Repco, Auto Barn..