1991 Mazda MX5 1.6
Discussion
Thought I would update the thread on how the rear end went from this......
To this.....
Rear suspension, subframe and diff removed from the car eventually. Only one very stubborn bolt that just would not move so ended up having to remove the hub with drive shaft and lower arm attached and cut off the long bolt.
Really crappy design where the middle of the bolt is completely exposed to the elements and just corrodes in place. No amount of heat, impact driver and smacking with a huge hammer would free it so nothing for it but cut it off!
Very lucky that out of all the suspension bolts on the whole car this was the only one that caused me trouble.
The diff looked as if it has been under the sea for 30 years!
Subframe and all arms after the hellish job of removing the bushes, never again.
And back from getting blasted.
Onto the painting and everything was prepared and painted with POR15 and new Super Pro bushes installed.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/RrcedSPS[/url]
Attention then turned to the best part of 6 full days on my back under the car, stripping it mostly back to bare metal and again, POR15 with 2 layers of paint and 2 layers of top coat. Back breaking job but so glad I put the effort in.
It was my 50th birthday last week so decided to splash out on the wee car with some nice pressies!!
I said before I was going to keep the daisy wheels but they looked so lost in the arches with the lower rude height so these are going on.
JR11 wheels in matt black with Pilot Sport 3 tyres.
And new exhaust arrived and fitted.
I must have watched literally a hundred videos of bloody Mx5 exhaust noises! Finally decided on the IL Motorsport system that should be quiet at normal speeds but really come alive when driven hard.
And that’s how it stands now.
I have my welder mate coming to cut open the drivers side rear sill this weekend to see what horrors lie beneath the surface!
Then a few interior mods and full alignment and MOT and just drive the thing!
Not long now!
To this.....
Rear suspension, subframe and diff removed from the car eventually. Only one very stubborn bolt that just would not move so ended up having to remove the hub with drive shaft and lower arm attached and cut off the long bolt.
Really crappy design where the middle of the bolt is completely exposed to the elements and just corrodes in place. No amount of heat, impact driver and smacking with a huge hammer would free it so nothing for it but cut it off!
Very lucky that out of all the suspension bolts on the whole car this was the only one that caused me trouble.
The diff looked as if it has been under the sea for 30 years!
Subframe and all arms after the hellish job of removing the bushes, never again.
And back from getting blasted.
Onto the painting and everything was prepared and painted with POR15 and new Super Pro bushes installed.
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/RrcedSPS[/url]Attention then turned to the best part of 6 full days on my back under the car, stripping it mostly back to bare metal and again, POR15 with 2 layers of paint and 2 layers of top coat. Back breaking job but so glad I put the effort in.
It was my 50th birthday last week so decided to splash out on the wee car with some nice pressies!!
I said before I was going to keep the daisy wheels but they looked so lost in the arches with the lower rude height so these are going on.
JR11 wheels in matt black with Pilot Sport 3 tyres.
And new exhaust arrived and fitted.
I must have watched literally a hundred videos of bloody Mx5 exhaust noises! Finally decided on the IL Motorsport system that should be quiet at normal speeds but really come alive when driven hard.
And that’s how it stands now.
I have my welder mate coming to cut open the drivers side rear sill this weekend to see what horrors lie beneath the surface!
Then a few interior mods and full alignment and MOT and just drive the thing!
Not long now!
Cheers folks.
The plan is drive the wheels off during the summer and back in the garage over the winter to tidy up the engine bay and work out how I can get an ITB set up without the missus knowing!
No interest in Turbo at all and just after a bit more power but need that glorious throttle body noise!
The plan is drive the wheels off during the summer and back in the garage over the winter to tidy up the engine bay and work out how I can get an ITB set up without the missus knowing!
No interest in Turbo at all and just after a bit more power but need that glorious throttle body noise!
My Mum had a stock 1.6 many moons ago.
Lovely fun chassis- but I was always left disappointed by the motor. Just not quite enough power despite the lack of weight. I thought it also had no great character to it when contemporary Hondas were really fizzy and strong at the top end.
Maybe a result of the low compression ratio- great for going forced induction however!
Lovely fun chassis- but I was always left disappointed by the motor. Just not quite enough power despite the lack of weight. I thought it also had no great character to it when contemporary Hondas were really fizzy and strong at the top end.
Maybe a result of the low compression ratio- great for going forced induction however!
Great job you have done.
Been looking at 5s as I fancy something to have a tinker with, have a big soft spot for these as I worked at a Mazda dealer late 80’s when they were on a roll with a great range of cars the 5 followed by the 3 & 6. 323 was a great car also maybe not so much the 121!
Been looking at 5s as I fancy something to have a tinker with, have a big soft spot for these as I worked at a Mazda dealer late 80’s when they were on a roll with a great range of cars the 5 followed by the 3 & 6. 323 was a great car also maybe not so much the 121!
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