New owner, lots of Q's to come

[VEX]

Just saying hi to start with.

Just taken delivery of my new tinker toy, MX5 Mk1 115bhp, free of charge from my sister-in-law.

It has a few issues, major one is no power, but free rev'ing above 1500rpm. But I already have a few things I can check, test and replace.

If I can get it going, then the question is, do I repair and restore, or do I kit it and change it into a MEV kit car?

Thats it for now.

V.

[Mike22233]

congrats - fix it and enjoy.

[anonymous-user]

Perhaps check that the timing is correct - I accidentally moved the CAS on my old 1.6 to completely the wrong position and although it seemed to run and drive normally, it had almost no power from about 3000 upwards. IIRC I had set it to something like 2 or 4 degrees BTDC rather than 12 to 14.

[feef]

If it's revving but has no power, then check compression.

[VEX]

That is one of the things I thought of. Could that also relate with low oil pressure and laboured to pick up?

V

[feef]

VEX said:

That is one of the things I thought of. Could that also relate with low oil pressure and laboured to pick up?

V

Quite possibly. If the rings are worn then it could manifest itself as that.

[VEX]

It has done 210,000 miles so they could be a little bit worn!!!!

[drgoatboy]

you can pick up a 2nd hand engine for about £100. Change it out and get enjoying!! (I know easier said than done)

[VEX]

To be honest, if I am going to make it into a MEV kit, I might as well get a new/old one for not much more than that and start again, selling this one as parts.

V.

[feef]

VEX said:

To be honest, if I am going to make it into a MEV kit, I might as well get a new/old one for not much more than that and start again, selling this one as parts.

V.

Break it for parts, but keep things like the gearbox and diff if they can be used in the kit

[pewe]

TBH although the above is good advice I'd be looking at replacing plugs (properly gapped), leads and air filter as the cheapest cost options before heading in other directions.
The coil packs have been known to break down under load and also the CPS can play up but second-hand ones are available relatively cheaply.

HTH.
Cheers, Pewe.

[Tazza 10]

Keep it original, mine has done 93000, recommend new cam belt and water pump as cheaper when both done. Mine is in mint condition, drives like a dream, wouldn't swap it for the world even though registered in 2000 :-)

[VEX]

I have known it for almost 15 years, helped my sister in law test drive it and buy it. But I think at almost 1/4 million miles it could be past it's useful life.

No time to tinker at the moment, give me a couple of weeks and I'll get to it

V

[MX-5 Lazza]

Just about run in then