Help Needed! Mk 2.5 Rust

Author
Discussion

chimpnumber2

Original Poster:

15 posts

116 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Hello all,

Firstly apologies - my first post on pistonheads and im a relative "newbie" to looking after my mx5 properly.

Have had a mk2.5 for 3 years now, but only recently started "properly" looking after it. As part of that, I've done a few checks for rust and am a little concerned on my findings. I'd like to get your opinions - is it terminal!? What can I do to fix etc

I read the post here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gAssing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
and so am thinking about waxoyl and slapping that on it everywhere - is that the solution or is some of my rust too far gone?

I've also found some rust on the paintwork - the underside of the body underneath the door? How do I go about sorting that? sand it down, fill it, apply some rust proof paint, respray?

Answers welcome and apologies if ive asked some stupid questions!

Chris

1. Bodywork Rust



2. Rear Diff Rust



3. Underside rust





MattS3

1,896 posts

190 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Underbody rust is pretty common on the Mk2 and 2.5's.
A wire brush and some waxoyl wil tidy it up.

The sills are a bigger issue, budget £250-£300 per side to have professionally repaired.
Once you see the rust, they're already well shot.

As has been said before, 2 types of sills on an MX5, ones that need doing soon, or ones that have just been done.

This guys website has a load of images and knowledge. http://www.themx5restorer.co.uk/

Specifically sills right here http://www.themx5restorer.co.uk/pages/projects/mk2...



chimpnumber2

Original Poster:

15 posts

116 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
thanks Matt - much appreciated. ill be ordering some waxoyl later today then and thats this weekends job! Same for the rear diff?

As for the Sils - appreciate the link - ill get in touch with them. Are there any other people you know of that would do this kind of restore work?

Thanks again.

Chris

Flatinfourth

591 posts

137 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
There's a risk, through no fault of your own that you are about to do things in the wrong order. Speaking as a restorer of classics at all levels of value and plenty of MX5s, and as an owner too,it's very important to prioritise carefully.

Any serious structural rust in the sills and wheel arches needs dealing with well before waxing starts, as the wax is flammable in the path of a welder, even more so if cavity wax is used, which it should be. There's no road salt about, no need to panic.

Sill and wheel arch rust varies wildly from car to car and can indeed sometimes be resolved for £250 to £300 per side, but if you are unlucky,it could be £1,000 per side if the inner sills, outer quarters, inner arches, floor-to-sill joints have gone too, the corrosion can even be five layers deep on a Mk2.5. If so you need to know that before you spend anything on the car and potentially waste your hard earned salary!

Black waxing is a great idea, but applying it with a brush only coats what you can see. It is a quick and therefore inexpensive process to have a better quality wax than waxoyl applied with a proper gun, and sprayed hard into those areas that are out of reach to a brush.The finish looks utterly professional too, and enhances the value of the car.
Once the underside is done, a similar gun with a probe extension can be used to do the inner arch and box sections with high quality cavity wax.

Planet Claire

3,316 posts

208 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
chimpnumber2 said:
Are there any other people you know of that would do this kind of restore work?
Where are you based? But any good coachworks/body repair shop should do a good job, so get some local recommendations too.

Flatinfourth

591 posts

137 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Planet Claire said:
chimpnumber2 said:
Are there any other people you know of that would do this kind of restore work?
Where are you based? But any good coachworks/body repair shop should do a good job, so get some local recommendations too.
Think I ought to get to a Bracknell Nutz meet now i've actually got my own Mk1 here, as i'm only in Sandhurst!!!

Try to use a body shop that likes photographing its work, I have a lot of MX5 internals pics.

Planet Claire

3,316 posts

208 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
I'm in Sandhurst too, in which case I can recommend RA Body Repairs on the Vulcan estate. Both me and the OH have had sills and other work done there.
http://ravehiclebodyrepairs.co.uk/

He's done lots of MX5s so knows all about the problems.

Yes, get yourself along to the Bracknell meet, next one on Thursday 21st August.

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Helen - Flatinfourth isn't the OP wink

Planet Claire

3,316 posts

208 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
Helen - Flatinfourth isn't the OP wink
Doh!

RT Phil

248 posts

215 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Before you rush to get the sills done check the front chassis legs and make sure they're ok

chimpnumber2

Original Poster:

15 posts

116 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Planet Claire said:
Where are you based? But any good coachworks/body repair shop should do a good job, so get some local recommendations too.
Based in reading... know anyone thats experienced with this sort of mx5 work around there?

Flatinfourth

591 posts

137 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Planet Claire said:
I'm in Sandhurst too, in which case I can recommend RA Body Repairs on the Vulcan estate. Both me and the OH have had sills and other work done there.
http://ravehiclebodyrepairs.co.uk/

He's done lots of MX5s so knows all about the problems.

Yes, get yourself along to the Bracknell meet, next one on Thursday 21st August.
Just to clear a couple of things up, very aware that Claire is not the OP, also very aware that the MX5 corrosion issues dealt with at RA are subcontracted to me.This was done initially within their workshop, now in my own around the corner. John is now not keen to do welding repairs.

MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
RT Phil said:
Before you rush to get the sills done check the front chassis legs and make sure they're ok
This if rust has set in here which they do its time to call it a day on the car.

oilslick

901 posts

185 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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MG CHRIS said:
This if rust has set in here which they do its time to call it a day on the car.
You can buy repair kits now, link below:

http://www.themx5restorer.co.uk/pages/parts-for-sa...

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
Peter - are you saying you have a workshop in Sandhurst and you do MX5 welding repairs? Always useful to know!

bazza white

3,550 posts

127 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
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I'd look at your chassis rails too, likely they may need work.

Flatinfourth

591 posts

137 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
Peter - are you saying you have a workshop in Sandhurst and you do MX5 welding repairs? Always useful to know!
Exactly that! I'm Always very happy to have an MX5 here, whether for corrosion, paint, mechanical work or modification. Drop by any time, we're in what used to be the Sandhurst Tyres unit in Vulcan Way.

Peter


MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
Do you also do under-sealing? I could do with getting mine done, especially inside the chassis legs to keep them in one piece.

skinny

5,269 posts

234 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
Peter, sent you a message smile

hopefully I'll be along to the next Bracknell meet too

Flatinfourth

591 posts

137 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
Do you also do under-sealing? I could do with getting mine done, especially inside the chassis legs to keep them in one piece.
Hi,yes, but I always use spray applied black underbody wax, never underseal. If a car has been extensively restored then an owner might want black anti-chip finish, maybe even body coloured too, but on a car that is to be used hard black wax is the way to go.