Mk1 with a broken engine, viable project?
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm not usually around these parts, so please forgive my complete lack of knowledge, and the fact I think I might be about to ask some stupid questions.
My dear old Mum broke her bright Yellow 1989 G reg MX5 a few months ago. Apparently the AA man and her local mechanic have told her that the timing chain broke and lunched her engine. So, she has since moved on and got another car, but the poor old MX5 has been sitting in her garden, looking sad for some time now.
She lives 500 miles away from me so I haven't seen the thing yet (and to be honest I don't have enough mechanical knowledge to know what to look for), so I have no idea what state it's in - I drove the thing, probably about a year ago, and it felt a bit tired and a bit slow, but still nice to drive in an open top kind of a way.
She is about to send it to the great scrap yard in the sky, but before she does I'd like to ask if it would make a viable project. I could put say £3K into it (maybe more over time). I don't really have the tools, time, or space to do the big work myself, but since I have been driving a Cerbera for the last 4 years I am very familiar with tinkering with the little things.
I'd probably not be interested in it if after sorting it out it was just the same as it was before, in other words I'd like something a bit more sprightly to drive, and maybe with a slightly more 'hill climb' type look if you know what I mean?
Should I let the car go to Mazda heaven, or should I try and bring it back to life? What are the economics of a resto job when somebody does most of the work for you?
I should add that I'm not planning to make any money out of the project, it is purely for the fun of it, the car would get used on high days and holidays, and now the TVR is on it's way out of the door I would even be able to keep it in the garage.
I'm not usually around these parts, so please forgive my complete lack of knowledge, and the fact I think I might be about to ask some stupid questions.
My dear old Mum broke her bright Yellow 1989 G reg MX5 a few months ago. Apparently the AA man and her local mechanic have told her that the timing chain broke and lunched her engine. So, she has since moved on and got another car, but the poor old MX5 has been sitting in her garden, looking sad for some time now.
She lives 500 miles away from me so I haven't seen the thing yet (and to be honest I don't have enough mechanical knowledge to know what to look for), so I have no idea what state it's in - I drove the thing, probably about a year ago, and it felt a bit tired and a bit slow, but still nice to drive in an open top kind of a way.
She is about to send it to the great scrap yard in the sky, but before she does I'd like to ask if it would make a viable project. I could put say £3K into it (maybe more over time). I don't really have the tools, time, or space to do the big work myself, but since I have been driving a Cerbera for the last 4 years I am very familiar with tinkering with the little things.
I'd probably not be interested in it if after sorting it out it was just the same as it was before, in other words I'd like something a bit more sprightly to drive, and maybe with a slightly more 'hill climb' type look if you know what I mean?
Should I let the car go to Mazda heaven, or should I try and bring it back to life? What are the economics of a resto job when somebody does most of the work for you?
I should add that I'm not planning to make any money out of the project, it is purely for the fun of it, the car would get used on high days and holidays, and now the TVR is on it's way out of the door I would even be able to keep it in the garage.
The guy my Mum bought it off told her that it was a 'special order colour', I thought it was the usual sales BS, but maybe it wasn't? Who knows? It did look nice when it was clean.
She loved it when it was alive, she'd just spent a load of money on a new hood for it, and it was amazingly economical - though she did drive it like a Granny, which I suppose is a meaningless statement since she is an actual Granny, but you know what I mean.
Anyway, I'd imagine rust will be the biggest bugbear, I think you are right that an engine should be fairly easy to source.
She loved it when it was alive, she'd just spent a load of money on a new hood for it, and it was amazingly economical - though she did drive it like a Granny, which I suppose is a meaningless statement since she is an actual Granny, but you know what I mean.
Anyway, I'd imagine rust will be the biggest bugbear, I think you are right that an engine should be fairly easy to source.
skoff said:
Hi All,
I'm not usually around these parts, so please forgive my complete lack of knowledge, and the fact I think I might be about to ask some stupid questions.
My dear old Mum broke her bright Yellow 1989 G reg MX5 a few months ago. Apparently the AA man and her local mechanic have told her that the timing chain broke and lunched her engine. So, she has since moved on and got another car, but the poor old MX5 has been sitting in her garden, looking sad for some time now.
The AA man is mis-informed, and the local mechanic should know far better.I'm not usually around these parts, so please forgive my complete lack of knowledge, and the fact I think I might be about to ask some stupid questions.
My dear old Mum broke her bright Yellow 1989 G reg MX5 a few months ago. Apparently the AA man and her local mechanic have told her that the timing chain broke and lunched her engine. So, she has since moved on and got another car, but the poor old MX5 has been sitting in her garden, looking sad for some time now.
The MX5 engine doesn't have a chain, it has a belt. It's also a non-interference engine, so if the belt has indeed snapped - which is entirely possible - the engine will be fine once a new belt is fitted.
Keep the car, spend £100 on a timing belt kit and a new waterpump (WP is behind the belt so makes sense to replace whilst there). And enjoy the cheap car. I can change the timing belt in about an hour, but for a 1st timer budget 1/2 a day, it's very easy to do.
I think any non FI'd 5 will feel tired and slow compared to a TVR Cerbra btw. You need to rev the b
ks of the 5 engine to give it some urge, don't be afraid to hit the revlimiter in every gear, it only really wakes up above 4.5k.And if it's been driven by a granny most of it's life it'll be all coked up, so a good trashing will clear it's throat nicely.
Edited by Richyvrlimited on Friday 3rd June 11:10
Richyvrlimited said:
The AA man is mis-informed, and the local mechanic should know far better.
The MX5 engine doesn't have a chain, it has a belt. It's also a non-interference engine, so if the belt has indeed snapped - which is entirely possible - the engine will be fine once a new belt is fitted.
this is what i thought too! the timing BELT is non intrusive to the engine. new belt on and your back on the road.The MX5 engine doesn't have a chain, it has a belt. It's also a non-interference engine, so if the belt has indeed snapped - which is entirely possible - the engine will be fine once a new belt is fitted.
Edited by Richyvrlimited on Friday 3rd June 11:10
As above. IF what's happened is the cam belt has snapped. Just fit a new one + gubbins for pennies.
However if the engine is actually lunched I'd think a new engine could be found for less than £600.
Autolink have a 1.8 one for £475
http://www.autolinkmx5.com/engine-18-bp-complete-u...
However if the engine is actually lunched I'd think a new engine could be found for less than £600.
Autolink have a 1.8 one for £475
http://www.autolinkmx5.com/engine-18-bp-complete-u...
Richyvrlimited said:
The AA man is mis-informed, and the local mechanic should know far better.
The MX5 engine doesn't have a chain, it has a belt. It's also a non-interference engine, so if the belt has indeed snapped - which is entirely possible - the engine will be fine once a new belt is fitted.
Keep the car, spend £100 on a timing belt kit and a new waterpump (WP is behind the belt so makes sense to replace whilst there). And enjoy the cheap car. I can change the timing belt in about an hour, but for a 1st timer budget 1/2 a day, it's very easy to do.
I think any non FI'd 5 will feel tired and slow compared to a TVR Cerbra btw. You need to rev the bks of the 5 engine to give it some urge, don't be afraid to hit the revlimiter in every gear, it only really wakes up above 4.5k.
And if it's been driven by a granny most of it's life it'll be all coked up, so a good trashing will clear it's throat nicely.
Well, that IS a turn up for the books! If that's all that's wrong with it then that would be great! To be fair she lives up in the middle of nowhere in Scotland, and her local mechanic is a retired chap who restores tractors, so it's possible he didn't do too much research on the car.The MX5 engine doesn't have a chain, it has a belt. It's also a non-interference engine, so if the belt has indeed snapped - which is entirely possible - the engine will be fine once a new belt is fitted.
Keep the car, spend £100 on a timing belt kit and a new waterpump (WP is behind the belt so makes sense to replace whilst there). And enjoy the cheap car. I can change the timing belt in about an hour, but for a 1st timer budget 1/2 a day, it's very easy to do.
I think any non FI'd 5 will feel tired and slow compared to a TVR Cerbra btw. You need to rev the b
ks of the 5 engine to give it some urge, don't be afraid to hit the revlimiter in every gear, it only really wakes up above 4.5k.And if it's been driven by a granny most of it's life it'll be all coked up, so a good trashing will clear it's throat nicely.
Edited by Richyvrlimited on Friday 3rd June 11:10
By FI I assume you mean Fuel Injection?
I also like the idea of giving it an Italian tune up...
Now I need to work out how to get the thing down to Somerset...
Thanks for the info!
If it's an '89 1.6, I might have an engine available....
My track car is going V8 eventually, so I have a 60'000 mile engine to get rid of at some point.
Pretty sure I've seen complete engines on ebay for £100 - £200, they're cheap, and readily available.
A doddle to change as well, the engine bay is mahoosive in a '5, so plenty of room to play with. Complete engine swap should take less than a day, with basic tools and an engine lifter (or block and tackle).
My track car is going V8 eventually, so I have a 60'000 mile engine to get rid of at some point.
Pretty sure I've seen complete engines on ebay for £100 - £200, they're cheap, and readily available.
A doddle to change as well, the engine bay is mahoosive in a '5, so plenty of room to play with. Complete engine swap should take less than a day, with basic tools and an engine lifter (or block and tackle).
skoff said:
Well, that IS a turn up for the books! If that's all that's wrong with it then that would be great! To be fair she lives up in the middle of nowhere in Scotland, and her local mechanic is a retired chap who restores tractors, so it's possible he didn't do too much research on the car.
By FI I assume you mean Fuel Injection?
I also like the idea of giving it an Italian tune up...
Now I need to work out how to get the thing down to Somerset...
Thanks for the info!
www.shiply.com I used that when I got my MR2 transported but that was only from WSM to Devon so was fairly cheap.By FI I assume you mean Fuel Injection?
I also like the idea of giving it an Italian tune up...
Now I need to work out how to get the thing down to Somerset...
Thanks for the info!
alternatively go up there to visit, take a new belt and a socket set and do a belt change while she's distracted
MadRob6 said:
www.shiply.com I used that when I got my MR2 transported but that was only from WSM to Devon so was fairly cheap.
alternatively go up there to visit, take a new belt and a socket set and do a belt change while she's distracted
Got to be cheaper like you say to get it fixed up there.alternatively go up there to visit, take a new belt and a socket set and do a belt change while she's distracted
Wonder if there's a local mobile mechanic who'd do it for the OP on the driveway, ready for his arrival?
Guys, this is all great news! Thank you so much... Now I know why the MX5 is held in such high regard.
Even worst case scenario sounds a lot cheaper than I could have ever imagined.
I am due to go up in the next few months to put put up a prefabricated garage (basically a big shed), so I think I will have a go then, got to be worth a go for £100 (of course I might not be able to wait that long). If that doesn't work then the new engine sounds well within budget, I might even have a go myself, if you lot promise to answer my dumb questions
Even worst case scenario sounds a lot cheaper than I could have ever imagined.
I am due to go up in the next few months to put put up a prefabricated garage (basically a big shed), so I think I will have a go then, got to be worth a go for £100 (of course I might not be able to wait that long). If that doesn't work then the new engine sounds well within budget, I might even have a go myself, if you lot promise to answer my dumb questions
Munter said:
Got to be cheaper like you say to get it fixed up there.
Wonder if there's a local mobile mechanic who'd do it for the OP on the driveway, ready for his arrival?
The trouble is she lives about 15 miles inland from Stranraer, and there isn't much around that area. I think I might struggle to get a mobile mechanic, but I will definitely look into it. I actually fancy having a go myself, I'm not a complete numpty with mechanical things (only a partial numpty), and it's not like I have anything to lose?Wonder if there's a local mobile mechanic who'd do it for the OP on the driveway, ready for his arrival?
skoff said:
The trouble is she lives about 15 miles inland from Stranraer, and there isn't much around that area. I think I might struggle to get a mobile mechanic, but I will definitely look into it. I actually fancy having a go myself, I'm not a complete numpty with mechanical things (only a partial numpty), and it's not like I have anything to lose?
There's plenty of guides available on the net for the timing & WP belt change. The hardest bit is keeping the cam sprockets lined up whilst you fit the belt, and that's not actually hard - if you see what I mean.www.miata.net/garage is your friend.
If it's an '89 you need to take a good look at it before buying the cam-belt kit. It will have the Light-Weight Sports Crank (otherwise known as short-nose crank) which if not serviced perfectly can lunch the keyway on the end of the crank which if bad enough does mean a dead engine. This can be easily diagnosed if you can feel any movement at all in the crank-pulley.
A 2nd hand engine for a 1.6 is a lot cheaper than £600. The last couple I've seen sold have gone for around £200. There are loads around so prices are generally low. In fact there is one for sale here for £80!. It's a short-nose crank engine but for £80 it's fine.
A 2nd hand engine for a 1.6 is a lot cheaper than £600. The last couple I've seen sold have gone for around £200. There are loads around so prices are generally low. In fact there is one for sale here for £80!. It's a short-nose crank engine but for £80 it's fine.
MX-5 Lazza said:
If it's an '89 you need to take a good look at it before buying the cam-belt kit. It will have the Light-Weight Sports Crank (otherwise known as short-nose crank) which if not serviced perfectly can lunch the keyway on the end of the crank which if bad enough does mean a dead engine. This can be easily diagnosed if you can feel any movement at all in the crank-pulley.
A 2nd hand engine for a 1.6 is a lot cheaper than £600. The last couple I've seen sold have gone for around £200. There are loads around so prices are generally low. In fact there is one for sale here for £80!. It's a short-nose crank engine but for £80 it's fine.
I see, I think as will have limited time whilst up in Scotland, it might be best to get the car back down to where I live, so I can take my time rather than rush things and waste money on parts that I won't ultimately need.A 2nd hand engine for a 1.6 is a lot cheaper than £600. The last couple I've seen sold have gone for around £200. There are loads around so prices are generally low. In fact there is one for sale here for £80!. It's a short-nose crank engine but for £80 it's fine.
Good advice there thanks.
Richyvrlimited said:
There's plenty of guides available on the net for the timing & WP belt change. The hardest bit is keeping the cam sprockets lined up whilst you fit the belt, and that's not actually hard - if you see what I mean.
www.miata.net/garage is your friend.
That's a good link, thanks.www.miata.net/garage is your friend.
I know what I will be reading this weekend...
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