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Been quiet for the past week or so, my kit attived last Friday as promised by Chris. Cheers mate, all intact and well packed. Since then the weather has been awful so not much work done. I managed to find some wheels this week, 16 x 8's with a 20 offset, so spacers for the rear end. Think they will look good. Came with 4 nearly new tyres and not a mark on them, got them for a good price too. I have got some of the chassis welding done, hoping it is going to stay dry this afternoon and evening so i can get the rest done, doesn't look promising tho!
Nice wheel choice - whats your plans for colour tri, etc?
Sorry for being unadventurous but going Ferrari red. I am building it for a mate of mine so what he says goes. For the interior I am going for mk1 tombstone leather seats with the nardi wooden steering wheel, handbrake and gear knob. Nothing too exciting but that is what he has opted for. Just need some decent weather now, p***ing down again this afternoon
Well I had half a day of decent weather on Saturday, and a full day on Sunday. So removed the radiator and set to on the chassis legs. End result - all front end welding done, undersealed and radiator back in. New shocks arrived tonight (front NS was misting so thought I would change them while I was doing the springs anyway), so hoping to get the suspension back together and it sat back on its wheels tomorrow night (weather depending), then we are ready to trial fit the front end and start making some headway!!!
Todays daft questions:
1. Has anyone managed to use the MX5 bonnet and boot release / lock with the 250 kit?
2. I presume you use a seal of some description around the bonnet frame, anyone got any links to a suitable fleabay listing?
Well I had half a day of decent weather on Saturday, and a full day on Sunday. So removed the radiator and set to on the chassis legs. End result - all front end welding done, undersealed and radiator back in. New shocks arrived tonight (front NS was misting so thought I would change them while I was doing the springs anyway), so hoping to get the suspension back together and it sat back on its wheels tomorrow night (weather depending), then we are ready to trial fit the front end and start making some headway!!!
Todays daft questions:
1. Has anyone managed to use the MX5 bonnet and boot release / lock with the 250 kit?
2. I presume you use a seal of some description around the bonnet frame, anyone got any links to a suitable fleabay listing?
Cheers folks.
Kitscar solutions for the bonnet seal, and plenty of other stuff too
Well I got my good weather yesterday evening, so the front end is back together. New shocks, new springs (30mm drop), new anti roll bar drop links (had to cut the old ones off, the nuts were seized solid). Had a bit of a measure up tonight and lined up inner wing extensions etc. Weather forecast is good for tomorrow so after work I am hoping to get the front end on, lined up and marked ready for fitting at the weekend.
Thought for today - I need a far bigger garage. Getting really annoyed with working on the drive and being restricted by the weather!!!!!!
you don't hang about look forward to the update pics
Lol, cheers Leigh. When you get in the 'zone' you have to go for it. Had another good couple of hours tonight, had a trial fit of the front end, got the inner wings ground back ready for the extensions to be bolted on, got one fitted. Hopefully dry tomorrow, and I have a lunch time finish so hoping to have a good couple of hours at it. If I do, then second wing extension fitted, front end back on and start bonding / riveting / bolting. Came to the conclusion tonight that I need lazy tongues, plier type rivet guns are way too much like hard work!!!!!
Couple of pictures for you all:
12 - some of the rot in the chassis leg, by the time I had cut it back to good steel it was 6 inches long and both sides and the bottom of the leg, both sides of the car!
15 - Welded and undersealed (it ain't pretty but is good and strong!!!), and the new springs and shocks.
16 - Got some Mk1 tombstone seats this week, Immaculate, drivers bolster good and firm - £280, RESULT!
17 - Tonights 'dry' fit of the front end. I am feeling quietly confident!
Have fun with the front end. I put one on a MK2 and had to remove quite a bit of the fibreglass around the engine bay to get it to fit. I then had to cut out the inner skin on the bonnet to get that to fit.
Have fun with the front end. I put one on a MK2 and had to remove quite a bit of the fibreglass around the engine bay to get it to fit. I then had to cut out the inner skin on the bonnet to get that to fit.
Might have just been me being cack handed though.
Hmmmm, now I'm not feeling so confident. You wouldn't have a pic or 2 would you?
Hmmmm, now I'm not feeling so confident. You wouldn't have a pic or 2 would you?
Your kit was trimmed to fit the Mk2 shell, so you should only need to do some minor fettling. Here's some pics of it fitted to our stripped out Mk2 shell. Please ignore the wheels in the arches, the shell is sat on top of a Spitfire chassis:
Has anyone managed to use the MX5 bonnet and boot release / lock with the 250 kit
You can use the original MX5 boot latch as shown (this was a uk model so had no cable release). Fitting the external key is a great back up if the cable release fails.
You can also use the MX5 boot seal, you may need to do a little grinding to the rain gutter upstand to remove some thickness and height to allow the rubber to sit correctly.
Thanks Chris, I thought you had trimmed my kit ready to fit the Mk2. Thanks for the tips on the MX5 boot release too, I think I will be incorporating that idea.
Will be giving you a call early this week, see if my rear window is in stock yet?
Got home Friday just after lunch, and of course it was raining!!!! Typical! Anyway it didn't last long, so I got the second inner wing extension fitted, front wheels on and the car off axle stands, got the front end 'placed' on. See pic 20. I have got to say I am happy with those wheels and the look! I set too and measured up and started cutting out for the headlight bowls. Not a bad Friday night. And to make it even better I sold my rear bumper! Result.
Up and at it early Saturday and came up with a good idea. Now the front end is on, why not concentrate on the rear end, get that ready for fitting, get the rear end on so that at I can get my garage back! See pic 24. So I stripped the back end, fuel cap off, fuel filler neck dropped out, aeriel removed, see pic 21. Then set about the rear suspension - shocks out, new springs fitted (30mm drop), springs back in, new set of anti roll bar drop links fitted (had to cut them off, rusted solid). Then a mate of mine turned up so off to the pub!!!!
Sunday - a little later starting due to last nights festivities. I started on the 'slight' rot to the rear drivers side sill, see pic 22. At least I managed to save the inner sill - see 23. Got it plated, just need to grind back the weld and fill the (many) holes before slapping on some underseal. A good weekends work.
The weather forecast is fairly good for this week so hoping to have the back end on by next weekend.
My apologies if I gave you any concerns. I didn't realise Chris had made a specific kit for the MK2. When I bought mine I had to quite a bit of "fettling" to make the Mk1 kit fit the MK2. The front is super low with the mods I had to make though ;-)
My apologies if I gave you any concerns. I didn't realise Chris had made a specific kit for the MK2. When I bought mine I had to quite a bit of "fettling" to make the Mk1 kit fit the MK2. The front is super low with the mods I had to make though ;-)
No worries mate. It was only after I went back to your original build thread I realised you were one of the first to build a Mk2. Chris did all the prep for mine before he shipped it. If mine turns out half as good as yours looks I will be happy.
Annoying question for today - Any tips on wing mirrors? If I use the standard MX5 mounts, I make the base 70mm? Has any one found any that bolt from the outside with that foot print? Or are people welding up the existing holes and drilling out for a different base?
Hi check out Winguard door mirrors on ebay i got them for my GTO which is eunos based . They fit with selftappers and cover the hole under the mirror i will try to upload a photo for you ,enjoying your build Ned
Hi check out Winguard door mirrors on ebay i got them for my GTO which is eunos based . They fit with selftappers and cover the hole under the mirror i will try to upload a photo for you ,enjoying your build Ned
Thanks Ned, ordered a set. They will do the job rightly. Top hint, appreciated.
