My 1990 MX5

[JoeyD]

Hi! I'm Joe.
I'm new to the forum and thought I'd start out by posting some pictures of my new car/project.

It's a UK 1990 Mazda MX5 1.6 on a set of rock hard budget coilovers.
I picked it up for under £1000 and as such it does require a bit of work! I've ordered a new clutch, and have started attending to the paint work. The roof does let a bit of water in, but I can live with that for the time being...
Anyway, here's some photo's!


Just after picking it up by j0eyD, on Flickr


MX5 by j0eyD, on Flickr


MX5 by j0eyD, on Flickr


MX5 by j0eyD, on Flickr


MX5 by j0eyD, on Flickr


MX5 by j0eyD, on Flickr


MX5 by j0eyD, on Flickr


MX5 by j0eyD, on Flickr


Today, I made a start trying to correct some of the paintwork. As you can see in my photo's, the drivers side sill is covered in overspray. I used a combination of hammerite smooth and satin, and then lacquered over it to give this result:


Painted sill by j0eyD, on Flickr

Much better!
I'll keep this thread updated as I go as I know the previous owner was keen to see where it goes. So far, I've absolutely fallen in love with it! By far the best car I've owned so far; really looking forward to getting properly stuck into renovating it!

[JoeyD]

Thanks! Yeah, I set out to get a white one - it does really suit them. Either that or red looks good in my opinion

[JoeyD]

Thanks! I thought someone else had beaten me to it, but they didn't show up to view it - so I got lucky

Riknos said:

Yup, white mk1 owner here too

I love Jap cars in white, definitely suits most of them the best. Good luck with the project. Where is your roof leaking from exactly? As if it's the window seals it should be a pretty easy fix (and one you want to do before autumn / winter arrives..)

It's around the corners of the roof - above the windows. There are also a couple of tears in it, probably just get it replaced as the rear screen looks like it's seen better days too!

I had my first spin tonight! Haha, need an LSD and lots of practice in an open space!

[JoeyD]

Ohh, yes please Andy!
PM'd.

[JoeyD]

Small update:

Got a new clutch fitted today; massive improvement!
Also painted the wheels this weekend which resulted in my first c*ck up for this project... I intended to paint them bronze, but as I was in a bit of a rush in the shop I picked up brown instead without realising FFS. So now I'm rolling with wooden wheels


bks by j0eyD, on Flickr


DSC_0858 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

Oh well, I should be buying a set of MiM's wheels this week as a temporary fix for the horrible stance - no point in buying really nice wheels just before winter tbh...
I've ordered a JDM rear numberplate holder, an offset front numberplate holder and a pair of square import plates - so they'll be going on this week, too. Also this weekend, whilst sat waiting in a carpark, I was messing with the steering wheel and pulled the centre cover off to reveal it's got a momo horn already fitted which is pretty cool!


DSC_0853 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

Only thing that's bugging me at the moment is I can't get it any lower - the rear adjusters have plenty of thread left to go down, but the spring isn't even in its seats (no helper springs in either) - so I presume it's just on the bump stops? Would chopping these rectify this? Or am I going to have to modify the top mounts and just raise the adjusters?

More random photo's:


DSC_0865 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr


DSC_0866 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr


DSC_0851 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

[JoeyD]

Thanks for the kind words!

[JoeyD]

Wee bit of an update:

I ordered a JDM plate recess a few weeks ago, and that came this week, along with a new set of plates and front plate holder. So I think I'm Kind of legal now... lol

Before:


MX5 by j0eyD, on Flickr

After:


DSC_0638 by j0eyD, on Flickr

Rear before:


MX5 by j0eyD, on Flickr

And after:


DSC_0635 by j0eyD, on Flickr

Going to do a rear bumper chop soon to get rid of that gash fog light - just wire it up into the reverse light. Then I neeeeeeed some wheels!!

[JoeyD]

NotKenBlock said:

Might you be keeping your old wheels or looking to pass them on at a reasonable price

??

Depends what is a reasonable price

I'll need to find some to new ones to replace them though!

[JoeyD]

Just thought I'd mention on here - This car has been stolen between Saturday night and tonight from Manchester/Salford.
If anyone sees it in the area, or anywhere, please get in touch on here!

Gutted

[JoeyD]

I can wrap this up now: car was stolen at 8pm on Monday night from behind my apartment in Manchester, it was then found burnt out two miles away at 11pm.


Absolutely gutted.

R.I.P

[JoeyD]

Cheers fella!

The wooden gearstick is long gone now - along with the rest of it! lol.

[JoeyD]

Probably won't be getting another car for at least a year or so now... it's made me skint!
I can't imagine insurance will offer me any more than £3/400 for it, and my insurance will be sky high now.

But I'll have another MX5 when I can afford it, for sure!

[JoeyD]

Thanks mate! I'm proper gutted.
Just shows how easy old cars are to steal, really. Should be a warning to other MX5 owners too TBH!
Removable steering wheel boss & a hardtop would probably improve security ten fold...