Saved from the "Scene" Mk1 MX5 rescue-ish
Discussion
DSGbangs said:
I'm glad you're saving this from the 'scene'.
I just hope I don't take some Armco out first track session. 
Anyway it's a bit darker now so here's the Laser fog light LED Cree thing.
I was worried a red fog light bulb would be too hot for the reverse light chamber so went for an LED to keep the temperatures low and efficiency high.
Nice bit of kit from first impressions.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-CREE-Q5-382-1156-RED...
So I had the idea (I was a little intoxicated at the time) keeping the sixteen inch wheels and have road/track/wet tyres on them and get a set of fifteen inch slicks so if it's dry the car will be an inch lower without getting my C spanners out in the paddock.
Yep that's a bit of a fail because the sixteens with 205-45-16 tyres have a diameter of 56cm and the 8.5/23.5x15 tyres are 58cm total diameter.
4x100mm studs and ET15 so should be a good fit at least.
Anyway two of my favorite things...
"For Racing Purposes Only"
...and...
"Made in England"
Bad news, good-ish news.
Bad...
...I started peeling the lemon. Literally and metaphorically.
It looks a lot better in the photo's than in real life. The surface was keyed for the plastidip to stick and orange peel aerosol finish to start with. Moisture had got underneath the dip and parts looked like the surface of the Moon through binoculars so I gave it a once over with a cellulose soaked cloth and soft polish to get the finish you see.
Good-ish news. When the Payday Fairies visit in a could of weeks I may be rescuing another MX5 from a drifter.
The bodywork looks and sounds to be in better shape than mine so one to get the other on the road and then finish the other perhaps.
Bad...
...I started peeling the lemon. Literally and metaphorically.
It looks a lot better in the photo's than in real life. The surface was keyed for the plastidip to stick and orange peel aerosol finish to start with. Moisture had got underneath the dip and parts looked like the surface of the Moon through binoculars so I gave it a once over with a cellulose soaked cloth and soft polish to get the finish you see.
Good-ish news. When the Payday Fairies visit in a could of weeks I may be rescuing another MX5 from a drifter.
The bodywork looks and sounds to be in better shape than mine so one to get the other on the road and then finish the other perhaps.
I would be tempted to get different wheels rather than the 16'' you have now. Just a thought, but please carry on as you like!
They are off the Mk2.5 Euphonic, they look good but they weigh an absolute ton, and the offset is crap. They would definitely blunt performance and these cars need all of that they can get I think!
They are off the Mk2.5 Euphonic, they look good but they weigh an absolute ton, and the offset is crap. They would definitely blunt performance and these cars need all of that they can get I think!
More lemon peeling today. I thought I would leave it two tone for a moment to see if I like the idea.
The first coat of plastisquit has had an aerosol can stripe sprayed on it. This has reacted to the dip and it doesn't come off as easily. Also where moisture has got under the dip it has taken chunks of paint with it. Especially on the plastic parts. Oh well. New bumpers as well then.
(Yes I'm outside working on a non-Fiat in the rain. Four hours sleep in the last three days. Meh.)
Also the RX8 conversion is on hold as this months budget will be going on the second MX5 (donor) that looks to be in better condition than the car I already have.
Lemon colour, lemon texture, lemon of a car.
Lesson learned. I will never, ever; ever consider a vehicle that's covered in anything other than paint again.
On a lighter note. I don't like the spoilers you get for the hard top and the turbulence they generate makes the front light at speed compared running without a top.
Yet the MG Z-thingy one is probably a bit much.
seany87 said:
I would be tempted to get different wheels rather than the 16'' you have now. Just a thought, but please carry on as you like!
They are off the Mk2.5 Euphonic, they look good but they weigh an absolute ton, and the offset is crap. They would definitely blunt performance and these cars need all of that they can get I think!
I got the 16's because I thought the car had the Mk2 big brake upgrade and fifteens wouldn't clear. The drift rescue donor has spare wheels with it so I'll use the best set out of the lot and sell what's left. They are off the Mk2.5 Euphonic, they look good but they weigh an absolute ton, and the offset is crap. They would definitely blunt performance and these cars need all of that they can get I think!
A good friend of mine has binned his MX5 turbo and asked if he can have my car.
Yes.
That way I won't have to finish lemon peeling and the list of jobs that's getting bigger every time I look at the thing.
So the donor car will become the project car so new title...
"Saved from a Drifter MX5 rescue-ish"
...instead.
Oh, he has no money (amen brother) but he does have my old Punto GT with a Fiat Coupe 16V Turbo engine fitted-ish. That'll either get finished off or donate the engine to my Bravo or a cheap Multipla if I'm feeling humorous.
For now nothing's going to happen until the swap happens or the payday fairies visit. So see you in about a week.
Yes.
That way I won't have to finish lemon peeling and the list of jobs that's getting bigger every time I look at the thing.
So the donor car will become the project car so new title...
"Saved from a Drifter MX5 rescue-ish"
...instead.
Oh, he has no money (amen brother) but he does have my old Punto GT with a Fiat Coupe 16V Turbo engine fitted-ish. That'll either get finished off or donate the engine to my Bravo or a cheap Multipla if I'm feeling humorous.
For now nothing's going to happen until the swap happens or the payday fairies visit. So see you in about a week.
So the Lemon Peel is technically sold and should be collected later today.
Good riddance it has been bodged pile of bodges.
Anyway the new owner asked me to do a favor.
Take the back box off and make a straight pipe for it.
Well I get to keep the back box and if he gets stopped on the way home it's not my problem.
Looks innocent...
...sounds obnoxious.
More good news.
The drift MX5 arrived.
More about that later as it appears Thumbsnap is on strike.
Good riddance it has been bodged pile of bodges.
Anyway the new owner asked me to do a favor.
Take the back box off and make a straight pipe for it.
Well I get to keep the back box and if he gets stopped on the way home it's not my problem.
Looks innocent...
...sounds obnoxious.
More good news.
The drift MX5 arrived.
More about that later as it appears Thumbsnap is on strike.
After re-homing about forty spiders including some rather rare Labyrinth spiders I had a good look round.
Mk2 hood, heated screen and headroom.
Stick on fishnet stocking stuff on the indicators.
Golf wheels up front and star wheels (possibly original MX5 ones) on the back and two inside the car with ruined tyres. Also a set of team dynamics looking 7Jx16's.
Relocated battery, solid floors and sills.
A wash later...
...not completely unpresentable.
My main concern it the green paint over old repairs.
The surface ranges from orange peel to crazy paving.
I'll get a closer look at it this afternoon.
So the plan for this car is not my idea or vision but that of the new owner.
I talked him out of NATO green and we're going for a NATO grey instead with gunmetal start spoke wheels. That's about it. Nothing radical or interesting but I will sneak in a few personal touches along the way.
I talked him out of NATO green and we're going for a NATO grey instead with gunmetal start spoke wheels. That's about it. Nothing radical or interesting but I will sneak in a few personal touches along the way.
There'd be an American flag and Moon buggy on there if it were grey.
The smell of fear or as I like to call it. Paint coming off in clumps on the paper because it's still wet and essence of house gloss.
Yep for a while I thought it was hammerite and was planning the next four weeks of sanding.
A message from the previous owner.
"It's Poundland rattle cans. lol"
Okay not so bad.
I was going to do a little test patch to see what's what but got carried away a bit.
More highs and lows than a Ron Howard film but that's because it's a replacement pannel. I'm feeling a tad optimistic.
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