Rusty sills (MX5) - where to fix?
Rusty sills (MX5) - where to fix?
Author
Discussion

markbbb

Original Poster:

362 posts

270 months

Thursday 11th July 2013
quotequote all
So, I spotted my old MX5 up for sale at our local garage the other day and stopped to have a poke around it. Turns out the guy that bought it from me had quite a lot of work done to it (new soft top, radiator, stereo, speakers, nardi steering wheel, etc etc). So I bought it back for pretty much what I sold it for - result! Very VERY happy to have it back.

Unfortunately it does has quite a lot of rust on the sills, and wheel arches.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good place to take it to get it the rust removed, fixed up, and repainted as I think it might be a "keeper".

I'm in Leeds, so local would be good

cornet

1,471 posts

185 months

Thursday 11th July 2013
quotequote all
Sheffield local enough for you ?


I can highly recommend Roddisons http://www.mx5-racing.co.uk/ having had sill done there recently.


http://deepcarautobodies.co.uk/ also comes recommended by many people.

snotrag

15,596 posts

238 months

Thursday 11th July 2013
quotequote all
Ditto those two.

probedb

824 posts

246 months

Friday 12th July 2013
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You could also try Steve at MX5 Motors in Doncaster... http://www.mx5motors.com/

markbbb

Original Poster:

362 posts

270 months

Friday 12th July 2013
quotequote all
Brilliant - thanks everyone!

wildoliver

9,293 posts

243 months

Friday 12th July 2013
quotequote all
I've also done a few MX5s now, and just about to start on another one, sills, rear arches and front chassis legs.

While the mainstay of my work tends to be old Porsches and Mgs (odd mix I know) I do understand the issues these MX5s suffer, key being making sure the problem in the sills is cured before banging new metal in there, often that problem is the drains filling the sills up with water.

Also do be warned the rot can go very deep very fast, the last one I welded up I ended up having to go right in to the rear bulkhead.

Chucking outer sills on is cheap, but doing the job right isn't.

sprocketman01

99 posts

237 months

Friday 12th July 2013
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Always happy to see an MX 5 (Sprockets and Spanners of Bradford), weld it properly and rust proof it to make sure it doesn't come back!! PM if nec 01274 522111

giblet

9,136 posts

204 months

Tuesday 16th July 2013
quotequote all
sprocketman01 said:
Always happy to see an MX 5 (Sprockets and Spanners of Bradford), weld it properly and rust proof it to make sure it doesn't come back!! PM if nec 01274 522111
Sorry to hijack but do you rustproof any cars or just MX5's? My barge could probably do with some protection before winter.

GC8

19,910 posts

217 months

Tuesday 16th July 2013
quotequote all
probedb said:
You could also try Steve at MX5 Motors in Doncaster... http://www.mx5motors.com/
Will be cheapest.

Dan_1981

18,052 posts

226 months

Tuesday 16th July 2013
quotequote all
When I had my 5 I had work done by all three of the guys mentioned above

Steve @ mx5motors did a lot of regular work, servicing, water pump etc.

Rodders did me a few emergency jobs (very local) to me and he also recommended Dave at Deepcar to me who ended up doing my sills.

Would be more than happy to recommend all 3 of them.

Mostro

729 posts

234 months

Saturday 20th July 2013
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In Leeds I can recommend Matthew Sykes of MKS Classic & Sports http://www.mksclassic.co.uk/ at the top of Cockshot Lane/Stanningley bypass.

He'll give you an honest assessment of what does/doesn't need doing, and the options between short-term fix and long-term resolution.

He had an MX-5 in last time I was there, along with a Maserati Merak being rebuilt from a basketcase... coolthumbup

sprocketman01

99 posts

237 months

Saturday 20th July 2013
quotequote all
giblet said:
Sorry to hijack but do you rustproof any cars or just MX5's? My barge could probably do with some protection before winter.
Hello Giblet, yes I do rustproof anything (and everything!!) the more hot waxy goo we can get in there the better!! Give me a ring 01274 522111 Paul