A bargain or an MX-5 shaped money pit?
Discussion
Cfnteabag said:
No it has got the correct connector cable with it
Good stuff, just wanted to check 
Have fun with the car, You should be able to get it to a workable and reliable state for not too much money.
Double/tripe check the state of the cills around the rear wheels and the box section in the engine bay around the ARB mount. they're a nightmare for rot. (I've replaced the latter and am in the process of sorting the former).
Bear in mind that they rot from the inside out, so if you can see surface rust / bubbling then it's in a terrible state on the inside.
Well it turns out the manifold is beyond saving!
Everytime I walked past the mx5 since monday I sprayed the exhaust bolts with a release spray and it paid dividends! The manifold came straight off with no dramas!
I took it into the metalsmith today and even before I went in I knew what the outcome was going to be! Getting it off showed it was even worse underneath and has been repaired before!
So I am looking to put it back to n/a for now unless I can find a reasonablly priced turbo manifold! It will definitely be going back turbo as the turbo is in perfect condition and I love the idea of having a turbo'd mx5!
Everytime I walked past the mx5 since monday I sprayed the exhaust bolts with a release spray and it paid dividends! The manifold came straight off with no dramas!
I took it into the metalsmith today and even before I went in I knew what the outcome was going to be! Getting it off showed it was even worse underneath and has been repaired before!
So I am looking to put it back to n/a for now unless I can find a reasonablly priced turbo manifold! It will definitely be going back turbo as the turbo is in perfect condition and I love the idea of having a turbo'd mx5!
Richyvrlimited said:
As I said, it's a typical eBay manifold, complete junk.
Speak with sturvo on mx5nutz. He'll sort you out. I seriously doubt you'll find cheaper either.
Sounds like good advice to me from someone who clearly knows these cars well. There are always costs on getting cars that have standing for some time, brakes, discs exhausts and so on. From the decription and pictures from the OP this still seems a damned good buy to me, fantastic bargain in fact. The interior condition and with service history and sensible mileage? Outstanding value and I do wish the OP well. Should come together by the Summer and hopefully provide exactly the fun motoring the OP is seeking. Stick with the car, OP, I can see years of happy motoring coming from this purchase. Best of luck to you, well spotted ad very well negotiated indeed!Speak with sturvo on mx5nutz. He'll sort you out. I seriously doubt you'll find cheaper either.
Yes, the manifold is junk.
I still stand by my original idea - return it to standard (engine wise).
You need an exhaust manifold - tha will be pennies from a breaker.
You are running Emanage piggyback, so you already have the AFM in place.
Get the car running, MOT'd and on the road.
Then get the manifold sorted and turbo back on.
I still stand by my original idea - return it to standard (engine wise).
You need an exhaust manifold - tha will be pennies from a breaker.
You are running Emanage piggyback, so you already have the AFM in place.
Get the car running, MOT'd and on the road.
Then get the manifold sorted and turbo back on.
unfortunately the 1.8 is longer than the 1.6 but thank you anyway.
I am still toing and froing what to do! I want to keep the turbo but I cant afford to do it properly at the moment! But at the same time its not exactly cheap to get it back to naturally aspirated!
I was working on my land rover today and thinking I really want the mx5 on the road!
I am still toing and froing what to do! I want to keep the turbo but I cant afford to do it properly at the moment! But at the same time its not exactly cheap to get it back to naturally aspirated!
I was working on my land rover today and thinking I really want the mx5 on the road!
Cfnteabag said:
unfortunately the 1.8 is longer than the 1.6 but thank you anyway.
I am still toing and froing what to do! I want to keep the turbo but I cant afford to do it properly at the moment! But at the same time its not exactly cheap to get it back to naturally aspirated!
I was working on my land rover today and thinking I really want the mx5 on the road!
Sounds like the dreaded 'too many cars' syndrome that has bugged me for years. Still well in double figures which is absolutely crazy. SWMBO is permanently boiling over and that is not good at all. Very very frosty in the Mornings! I am still toing and froing what to do! I want to keep the turbo but I cant afford to do it properly at the moment! But at the same time its not exactly cheap to get it back to naturally aspirated!
I was working on my land rover today and thinking I really want the mx5 on the road!
Since we now spend six months a year (Winter) in Italy I cannot even get around to repairing/restoring/spoodling any of them until spring has well and truly sprung! I will be doing a headless chicken impression come early May getting kit cars on the road. It's hard work but there we are.
I have said my piece on your conundrum. I would get the car back in good order and then OTR. I appreciate the ciost concerns. Best of luck again, doubtless you will resolve this somehow. Nice car to have to worry about!
I do not post on here much, mostly a lurker !
Doug at G19 Engineering does heavy duty turbo manifolds
http://www.g19engineering.com/view.php?cat=25&...
Doug at G19 Engineering does heavy duty turbo manifolds
http://www.g19engineering.com/view.php?cat=25&...
Cfnteabag said:
unfortunately the 1.8 is longer than the 1.6 but thank you anyway.
I am still toing and froing what to do! I want to keep the turbo but I cant afford to do it properly at the moment! But at the same time its not exactly cheap to get it back to naturally aspirated!
I was working on my land rover today and thinking I really want the mx5 on the road!
The MK1 manifold is no use anyway, it'll bolt to the head fine, but won't line up with the rest of your exhaust. Just FYI.I am still toing and froing what to do! I want to keep the turbo but I cant afford to do it properly at the moment! But at the same time its not exactly cheap to get it back to naturally aspirated!
I was working on my land rover today and thinking I really want the mx5 on the road!
IMO if the car isn't a daily driver it's pointless spending money short and long term, just do it right the first time.
This is going to be a bit of a daily driver as well now that I have sold my van and am having to cycle to work!
A bit of an update to keep it fresh while I wait for parts!
Ive ordered a replacement manifold from austrialia of all places but I will be looking to add some sort of extra support for the turbo. I have also ordered the rest of the parts I should need and today I am draining the old fuel out.
I have a couple of weeks leave at the end of the month and my aim is to get at least one of my projects, if not both if them on the road!
A bit of an update to keep it fresh while I wait for parts!
Ive ordered a replacement manifold from austrialia of all places but I will be looking to add some sort of extra support for the turbo. I have also ordered the rest of the parts I should need and today I am draining the old fuel out.
I have a couple of weeks leave at the end of the month and my aim is to get at least one of my projects, if not both if them on the road!
Right, Oz manifold on and everything back together, dead fuel drained via fuel filter and refilled with 10litres of the finest unleaded. At first it wouldn't start at all, then it would start and die then it would start and run for a few seconds and now it has run until up to tempurature but after about 5 mins of idling it just dies and won't restart for about a minute. It will rev freely when it is running and when it dies it gives no warning it just cuts out like you have switched off the key.
Has anyone any ideas?
Has anyone any ideas?
andburg said:
Check around the cold side of the turbo for leaks behind the air flow meter and its connections would be where I'd start.
Probably a good suggestion. However second guessing starting and running probems with modern ECU management systems is really not the answer. What do the Management systems indicate on the car itself? That is where I would start, personally. Best of luck: once she comes together I think you will love this car. Bloody good buy!Right.
The time has come for me to move on both my projects, I think!
My Land Rover is up for sale as I cant afford to spend so much time working on my projects and now my wife is back at work I need something on the road.
What I want to repolace them both with is a Defender ideally, trouble is everytime I go to list the Mazda or look at it I keep thinking what a good car it is and I should keep it! Then I find a Defender I want and it swings back the other way!
Last night I started writing the advert and listing all the things its got on it and I was thinking again what a bargin it is!
Arrrrgh its driving me crazy!
The time has come for me to move on both my projects, I think!
My Land Rover is up for sale as I cant afford to spend so much time working on my projects and now my wife is back at work I need something on the road.
What I want to repolace them both with is a Defender ideally, trouble is everytime I go to list the Mazda or look at it I keep thinking what a good car it is and I should keep it! Then I find a Defender I want and it swings back the other way!
Last night I started writing the advert and listing all the things its got on it and I was thinking again what a bargin it is!
Arrrrgh its driving me crazy!
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