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MX5 Wind Deflector

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prlee
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MX5 Wind Deflector

Postby prlee » 19 Sep 2011 18:51

I was given a MX5 (mk2 I think) wind deflector today, thought it might encourage the other arf to have the roof down more often (complaints about hair). Looks very easy to fit, I will need to make a simple bracket and use the seat belt anchorage on the parcel shelf to secure it. But not sure about the hood stowage, I can think of a couple of alternatives but I wondered if anybody else had fitted one.

I know they are effective as the guy who gave it me had a MX5 and it worked well, this one was a spare he had.

This will be one of my winter projects for the car.

Pete
1981 Carmelian Red 2 litre DHC - out for the summer.
Polybush, KYB shocks, electric fan, electric windows and electronic ignition roller bearing struts and anti-dive kit - otherwise standard
1979 Pageant Blue Spitfire 1500 - In hibernation - Engine overhaul needed.

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FI Spyder
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Postby FI Spyder » 19 Sep 2011 23:08

The MX5 windblocker for MkII slides up and down to stow it out of the way. To get it to work that way would take some engineering.

I used a BMW Z3 wind blocker with brackets under the seat belt bolts (no holes drilled in car). It works well even with hood cover installed. The hood clears it when putting it up and it folds flat against the back shelf to stow it out of the way (something MX5 doesn't do). I reversed the BMW brackets upside down to attach to brackets. This may give you some ideas.

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- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT
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prlee
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Postby prlee » 20 Sep 2011 17:40

I don't think I can fit the wind deflector in front of the seat belt mountings, its width means it would interfer with the belt operation.

I was thinking about fitting it directly behind the set belt mounting and slightly raised to allow the hood and hood bag to slide underneath.

The deflector is solid and has a flap that folds up. I dont think its a problem if the whole thing does no lie flat and there is a storage pocket on it.

Fully raised it should not be visible in the rear mirror, at least thats the intention.

Pete
1981 Carmelian Red 2 litre DHC - out for the summer.
Polybush, KYB shocks, electric fan, electric windows and electronic ignition roller bearing struts and anti-dive kit - otherwise standard
1979 Pageant Blue Spitfire 1500 - In hibernation - Engine overhaul needed.

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FI Spyder
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Postby FI Spyder » 20 Sep 2011 21:45

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by prlee</i>


Fully raised it should not be visible in the rear mirror, at least thats the intention.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My top bar lands in the middle of the mirror, not particularly good but the hood/cover fits nicely under it like it was made for it. A good byproduct of top bar in the middle of the mirror (I discovered last Thursday coming back from club meeting) is it blocks out much of the headlights shining in the mirror.[8D]



- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT
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mb4tim
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Postby mb4tim » 21 Sep 2011 12:50

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by FI Spyder</i>

My top bar lands in the middle of the mirror, not particularly good but the hood/cover fits nicely under it like it was made for it. A good byproduct of top bar in the middle of the mirror (I discovered last Thursday coming back from club meeting) is it blocks out much of the headlights shining in the mirror.[8D]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The rear hatch spoiler of my Prius does the same thing [:D]

-Tim
http://www.morSpeedPerformance.com
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prlee
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Postby prlee » 16 Oct 2011 14:32

Instead of installing the wind deflector over winter I decided to do it now, this is partly because the Spitfire project is getting a bit bigger.

After sometime looking for the best place to fit it I decided it had to be in front of the seat belt mounts to allow for the soft top to be properly folded away and the hood cover fitted. This meant some brackets had to be made and the deflector modified to avoid fouling the seat belts.

It can be easily be removed if no longer required and there were no modifications to the car.

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The top of the deflector folds up when wanted.

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With the flap up it is still quite low and is just out of sight in the rear view mirror.

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And has a couple of handy pockets on the front.


I took it for a test drive today, does seem to reduce the amount of wind in the cockpit, but the acid test is when er indoors tries it.

I don't mind the wind myself so I don't have to raise the flap if I don't want to, but it may make cold winter days a bit better by keeping more heat in the passenger area.

There is less noise from behind as you might expect,



Pete
1981 Carmelian Red 2 litre DHC - out for the summer.
Polybush, KYB shocks, electric fan, electric windows and electronic ignition roller bearing struts and anti-dive kit - otherwise standard
1979 Pageant Blue Spitfire 1500 - In hibernation - Engine overhaul needed.

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FI Spyder
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Postby FI Spyder » 16 Oct 2011 19:49

Seems about 3 inches lower than mine as it would have to be as it`s solid on top, about right as mine comes into middle of mirror but yours is wider. The wind stream hits me on the hair (not head) but that is as it comes over the windscreen and a function of how high I sit in the car nothing to do with wind blocker I think. Wife hasn`t been in car since I installed it so don`t know how it affects her.



- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT
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silverseven
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Postby silverseven » 17 Oct 2011 01:06

looks fantastic Pete .....maybe the best alternate OEM deflector yet!

Ron.
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prlee
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Postby prlee » 17 Oct 2011 10:10

I have a some finishing to do to complete the job, paint the brackets and modifiy the side trim pieces for the deflector to cover the screws, and something to cover the rough edges.

It certainly stops the majority of the wind that comes back inbetween the head rests.

Pete
1981 Carmelian Red 2 litre DHC - out for the summer.
Polybush, KYB shocks, electric fan, electric windows and electronic ignition roller bearing struts and anti-dive kit - otherwise standard
1979 Pageant Blue Spitfire 1500 - In hibernation - Engine overhaul needed.

Image Image Image

FI Spyder
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Postby FI Spyder » 17 Oct 2011 15:16

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by prlee</i>

I have a some finishing to do to complete the job, paint the brackets and modifiy the side trim pieces for the deflector to cover the screws, and something to cover the rough edges.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Paint may wear off too easily. I'm thinking of getting my brackets powdered coated. Haven't got a quote yet but maybe this winter.



- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT
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prlee
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Postby prlee » 17 Oct 2011 16:37

Thanks for the tip, have been thinking about powder coating the Spitfire suspension bits so could do the brackets as well.

Pete
1981 Carmelian Red 2 litre DHC - out for the summer.
Polybush, KYB shocks, electric fan, electric windows and electronic ignition roller bearing struts and anti-dive kit - otherwise standard
1979 Pageant Blue Spitfire 1500 - In hibernation - Engine overhaul needed.

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Hasbeen
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Postby Hasbeen » 18 Oct 2011 01:39

Looks great. It is surprising how little does a lot with these things. The one on the Honda S2000 fits just between the head rests, is only about 6" high & no more than a foot wide, & is most effective.

On the desire to get your lady to go topless, mine was much more inclined to loose her top when she was 24 than she is now at 60.

As far as open top motoring goes, I have found her much more amenable since I started carrying a nice head scarf, & a good quality cap with her favourite football teams motive on it, in each car.

Finding a number of different ways to say how young she looks, when decked out this way has helped considerably. It is so nice to have her sitting there with a smile, & enjoying the trip. Previously she reserved a special look, like a thunder cloud, about to rain on my parade, for when the top went down.

So well done with the handy work, & good luck with the hidden objective.

Hasbeen

prlee
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Postby prlee » 19 Oct 2011 18:00

Thanks Hasbeen, she didn't like the idea of a scarf - don't know why.

Used it last night, there is little air movement in the cockpit, still some wind around the top of my head at motorway speeds, it was a bit cold yesterday but the cockpit stayed warm with heater on full blast.

Pete
1981 Carmelian Red 2 litre DHC - out for the summer.
Polybush, KYB shocks, electric fan, electric windows and electronic ignition roller bearing struts and anti-dive kit - otherwise standard
1979 Pageant Blue Spitfire 1500 - In hibernation - Engine overhaul needed.

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trekcarbonboy
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Postby trekcarbonboy » 19 Oct 2011 18:41

Looks like a very nice install.
My wind deflector comes in the form of a rear glass and a solid roof, and the wife still has no desire to go for a ride in it. Something about the "smell". I don't know what she's talking about. Smells GREAT to me![:D][:D]

Craig '75 2.0 FHC
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FI Spyder
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Postby FI Spyder » 20 Oct 2011 15:24

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by prlee</i>

Thanks Hasbeen, she didn't like the idea of a scarf - don't know why.
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Usd the line my wife's friend told her, it gives her that Grace Kelly look.[8D][:D]



- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT
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