JFReturns Mark 1 MX5 Project
Discussion
Another small update - I had noticed that my '5 had a notchy gear change, especially when cold. The gearbox oil was replaced, but this didn't make much difference. Also, the gear knob and gaitor seemed to get pretty hot...
Some research revealed my upper and lower gear boots had almost certainly perished. A quick browse on mx5parts, and two days later a new set had arrived.
This is really easy to replace, but I had problems getting the gear knob off (more about that later). There are plenty of guides around, but here are some of my thoughts:
You need:
- 10mm socket and spanner
- Phillips screwdriver
- Turkey baster or similar
- Old rag
- General purpose oil
First off, remove the centre console and arm rest. No problems here, so long as you don't lose the nuts (put them in the ash tray). However, make sure the car is in neutral before carrying on, as it makes it easier to refit the gear stick:
Take out the four nuts - you will need a small spanner for those near the dash, and remove the upper boot. Marvel at how perished and crap it looks compared to the new one:
Remove the three nuts that hold the lower boots and gear stick in place
Have a rag handy to catch any drips of oil:
New vs. old upper boot:
New vs. old lower boot (note that a little oil will help slide the old one off / new one on):
Take out the old oil with the turkey baster and replace with fresh. Don't overfill:
Refit gear stick making sure that the groove is facing forward. Check the gears engage, then fit the upper boot:
Refit the centre console and gaitor, then go for a drive and enjoy the rifle bolt gear change!
NOTE: All the guides say remove the gear knob first. If you can do this, then bully for you, I couldn't. Instead, I broke the gaitor clip and pulled the centre console (and gaitor) off, then took the entire gear stick out and put in a vice. Came undone easily enough then, and I have no doubt I would have broken something had I kept forcing it. It didn't make much difference to my gaitor either (see above pic).
Overall, a very good mod which I recommend doing.
Some research revealed my upper and lower gear boots had almost certainly perished. A quick browse on mx5parts, and two days later a new set had arrived.
This is really easy to replace, but I had problems getting the gear knob off (more about that later). There are plenty of guides around, but here are some of my thoughts:
You need:
- 10mm socket and spanner
- Phillips screwdriver
- Turkey baster or similar
- Old rag
- General purpose oil
First off, remove the centre console and arm rest. No problems here, so long as you don't lose the nuts (put them in the ash tray). However, make sure the car is in neutral before carrying on, as it makes it easier to refit the gear stick:
Take out the four nuts - you will need a small spanner for those near the dash, and remove the upper boot. Marvel at how perished and crap it looks compared to the new one:
Remove the three nuts that hold the lower boots and gear stick in place
Have a rag handy to catch any drips of oil:
New vs. old upper boot:
New vs. old lower boot (note that a little oil will help slide the old one off / new one on):
Take out the old oil with the turkey baster and replace with fresh. Don't overfill:
Refit gear stick making sure that the groove is facing forward. Check the gears engage, then fit the upper boot:
Refit the centre console and gaitor, then go for a drive and enjoy the rifle bolt gear change!
NOTE: All the guides say remove the gear knob first. If you can do this, then bully for you, I couldn't. Instead, I broke the gaitor clip and pulled the centre console (and gaitor) off, then took the entire gear stick out and put in a vice. Came undone easily enough then, and I have no doubt I would have broken something had I kept forcing it. It didn't make much difference to my gaitor either (see above pic).
Overall, a very good mod which I recommend doing.
Edited by JFReturns on Thursday 26th August 13:57
Another small update of sorts - I have properly restored the paint work to its original condition. Although the pictures in this thread thus far looked good and the paint shiny, as soon as I looked closely or under the garage lights, there were loads of scratches, haze and badness. This upset me.
So, armed with a shelf full of polishes I spent three days working out the best combination - all by hand. I will do a proper thread on my findings soon, but here are a few pics to show the success:
Before:
After:
And a few gratuitous shots from this morning, as it's the first time the '5 has been in the sun light since the work was done and I got carried away with my phone
So, armed with a shelf full of polishes I spent three days working out the best combination - all by hand. I will do a proper thread on my findings soon, but here are a few pics to show the success:
Before:
After:
And a few gratuitous shots from this morning, as it's the first time the '5 has been in the sun light since the work was done and I got carried away with my phone
Project MX5 has been put on hold - she is tucked up in a garage and has been declared SORN 
Sad times, but having a peek of this outside my house cheers me up
I was meant to trade the '5 in, but could not bear to see it go. Who knows what I'll do in the future, maybe fix the wheel bearing (last job), put it through an MOT and sell it in the summer.... or maybe just keep it.
Sad times, but having a peek of this outside my house cheers me up
I was meant to trade the '5 in, but could not bear to see it go. Who knows what I'll do in the future, maybe fix the wheel bearing (last job), put it through an MOT and sell it in the summer.... or maybe just keep it.
Tiny update - I went and checked on the '5 yesterday and she started up first time! I had a massive pang of regret at making her SORN, such a great car. But at least I haven't sold up...
Also gave the Scoob a quick clean, got quite a bit to do in terms of correcting the paint work, but overall she ain't bad.
The headlight lenses are a bit cloudy - does anyone know the best way of cleaning them? I presume they are plastic so glass polish would be no good....
Also gave the Scoob a quick clean, got quite a bit to do in terms of correcting the paint work, but overall she ain't bad.
The headlight lenses are a bit cloudy - does anyone know the best way of cleaning them? I presume they are plastic so glass polish would be no good....
Another check up on the '5, once again she started on the button! Took a few seconds to clear her throat then was idling away nicely. Got her up to temp and loosened her up a bit. Very tempted to swap the Scoob for the '5 over the summer months!
The Scoob itself has proved to be fantastic so far. No oil usage, starts nicely and still feels very fast. No mods yet, but I have started on the paintwork - about half way through the detailing (done boot and roof). The colour comes up lovely.
Here is a before and after...
The Scoob itself has proved to be fantastic so far. No oil usage, starts nicely and still feels very fast. No mods yet, but I have started on the paintwork - about half way through the detailing (done boot and roof). The colour comes up lovely.
Here is a before and after...
The time has come that I have to sell my beloved '5 as I now have an s2000 and cannot justify keeping both
However, I'm not sure what price to put it up for. I've checked the classified and the prices vary. Here are some details:
- I will put on 12mths MOT, 6mths tax and a fresh service
- New hood
- TR Lane rollbar
- New discs and pads all round
- New dampers/springs all round
- New water pump and clutch slave cylinder
- New cat back SS exhaust
- Paperwork limited, only a few old MOTs and the work I've done
- 121,000 miles
- '91 1.6
- Sills/arches good
- Tyres have a few thousand miles left
- All work done by Freelance Mazda
- Paintwork excellent
How much should I put it up for?
However, I'm not sure what price to put it up for. I've checked the classified and the prices vary. Here are some details:
- I will put on 12mths MOT, 6mths tax and a fresh service
- New hood
- TR Lane rollbar
- New discs and pads all round
- New dampers/springs all round
- New water pump and clutch slave cylinder
- New cat back SS exhaust
- Paperwork limited, only a few old MOTs and the work I've done
- 121,000 miles
- '91 1.6
- Sills/arches good
- Tyres have a few thousand miles left
- All work done by Freelance Mazda
- Paintwork excellent
How much should I put it up for?
Update...
MOT today *gulp*. She has been sat in my Nan's garage since October, but she started on the button and only needed tyres pumping up. All fluids fine.
Sooooo, I just got a call from the garage - she failed on one thing, a tiny hole in the sill which they will repair for £100. Everything else is fine, some small advisories like tyres which I knew about. Result!
Bump on the price question, I'm still not sure what price to put her up for...?
MOT today *gulp*. She has been sat in my Nan's garage since October, but she started on the button and only needed tyres pumping up. All fluids fine.
Sooooo, I just got a call from the garage - she failed on one thing, a tiny hole in the sill which they will repair for £100. Everything else is fine, some small advisories like tyres which I knew about. Result!
Bump on the price question, I'm still not sure what price to put her up for...?
Hmmm, I don't have the standard exhaust any more. Besides, the stainless steel one looks so much better that I'm sure most people would prefer it to the rusty old peashooter. The rollbar is staying too.
She is all cleaned and freshly waxed, and I've got a massive pang of regret Really do not want to sell, even tempted to get rid of the S2000 instead!
I've tried taking some pictures today but it is a bit overcast so will try again tomorrow. I'm still amazed by how good the paintwork is, truly is better than most cars that are a third of her age!
She is all cleaned and freshly waxed, and I've got a massive pang of regret
Really do not want to sell, even tempted to get rid of the S2000 instead!I've tried taking some pictures today but it is a bit overcast so will try again tomorrow. I'm still amazed by how good the paintwork is, truly is better than most cars that are a third of her age!
I've put her up for £1700 and will see how we get on. I know I can't link directly to my advert, but I would appreciate it if you chaps could click the link in my profile to check it, in case I have missed something or if it is just crap?
Wish I could keep both
On a more positive note, the sun came out so you can really see how good the paint looks in the piccies:
Wish I could keep both
On a more positive note, the sun came out so you can really see how good the paint looks in the piccies:
Rocketman105 said:
Honesty shines through, good pics and priced keenly - I'm surprised you've not heard anything!
(dunno if it's just the market in general but last year I sold a Pug 205 in a week, and this year my Jimny took nearly a month before I had any calls - it was agonising!)
Good luck!
Thanks mate (dunno if it's just the market in general but last year I sold a Pug 205 in a week, and this year my Jimny took nearly a month before I had any calls - it was agonising!)
Good luck!
Urgent question chaps!
Someone from France wants to come and buy my '5 on Sunday. Immediately I was suspicious as the email was obviously translated online, and why would someone want a RHD '5 in France? He is in North France about 200km from Kent.
He is asking for my name and address, registration number and copy of my V5 for insurance purposes. Does anyone know if this sounds right?
He doesn't speak English but has got a friend to call me twice, and has sent me an image of the cash and a copy of his ID!
Should I send him my details? Am I being overly paranoid?
Someone from France wants to come and buy my '5 on Sunday. Immediately I was suspicious as the email was obviously translated online, and why would someone want a RHD '5 in France? He is in North France about 200km from Kent.
He is asking for my name and address, registration number and copy of my V5 for insurance purposes. Does anyone know if this sounds right?
He doesn't speak English but has got a friend to call me twice, and has sent me an image of the cash and a copy of his ID!
Should I send him my details? Am I being overly paranoid?
Hmmmm. I normally do too, but if this guy happened to be in England I wouldn't hesitate to send my address.
They have called a few times too and sent several emails with pictures of the cash next to the French ID. He is asking for my address (fair enough if he needs to get here) and a copy of the V5 for French insurance purposes.
I'm trying to figure out what harm it could do to send these details...?
(Thanks for the replies both).
They have called a few times too and sent several emails with pictures of the cash next to the French ID. He is asking for my address (fair enough if he needs to get here) and a copy of the V5 for French insurance purposes.
I'm trying to figure out what harm it could do to send these details...?
(Thanks for the replies both).
Another phone call, he sure is persistent. He has agreed to pay a £100 deposit via PayPal to prove he is a genuine buyer. If I receive this, then I will let him have my address and copy of V5.
I think this is the best way forward
EDIT: Deposit has been received....
I think this is the best way forward
EDIT: Deposit has been received....
Edited by JFReturns on Friday 3rd June 12:34
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