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Good one. I had the same issue, could not figure out why, and it was the headlights on the abs bumper.
I plan to bond my rear on this weekend, so we will both be bonding xxx
currently gluing on headlining, but its 3 degrees in here and the stuff won't spread!!
For me it was the front inner wing brackets, left them in case they assisted in supporting any future inner wings, they need to go. That sorted on the subject of wheels, I have a bid at the moment on some 16 inch Aston Martin wire wheels, could be a steal at the price but need to find 80mm splined hubs to fit or adapt to the MX 5 hub. Thinking head on, but any advice would be welcome.
I have bids on two sets of wheels both ending soon. one for a set of 5 Aston Martin DB6 wires with a bit of rust at £50, the other for Genuine Ferrari 14 inch alloys at £150 in need of refebishment, both seem cheap but will require hubs or adaptors, the diameter of the inside splined wires wheels is 80mm, is that the same as Jaguar axel stubs?
They went for 250? Cheap at twice the price!
New minilites are about 140 each...custom order, plus tyres....
They actualy failed to sell the week before at £200, but I was working on the car and forgot to bid, then it ended while I was at work and I was sniped in the last few seconds, guted. Did some research they were Renault 5 Tour de Cours special editions circa 1982, found a new set for sale in Spain without tyres for 1350 euros!
I think 17s are a bit big. You will need really low profile tyres that will look gay.
Re EBAY, I think last minute bids are fun, but a waste of. Time. If you want it just stick in yr mac budget then walk away!
Rear bonded up, not impressed with the ss cs rivets, some snaped off too soon and will have to be ground off a but, they did not bite into the fiberglass as I expected, knew I should have bought shares in plastic padding when I took this on. On the subject of wheels, I was out bid on the DB6 wheels at £112, so at least now I can scrap my old brake disks, and stop thinking about how to attach splined shafts. Still bidding on the 14 in genuine alloys, 17's would be too big for the arches. Options still open.
You can countersink the GRP, that will help when rivetting.
You will need to use a "heat gun" (domestic paint stripping type) lightly over all of the GRP to show up any voids that may be lurking under the gelcoat surface. When the trapped air expands under heating it will push up a blister in the surface which needs to be picked out and filled. Degrease and key up all surfaces before applying any filler.
Use "ISOPON P40 GLASSFIBRE BRIDGING COMPOUND" (or similiar) to make up differences in levels between GRP and metal surfaces. We use "U-pol Easy One" Body Filler after that and then a finer stopper to finish.
Now you tell me about the heat gun trick, I ll use it on the front, just bought the original Frerraril wheels Now need to work out a spacer / adapter 100/4 - 108X5.
I did enquire about a five stud to four stud adaptor. Its very tricky as one stud has to be machined very close to the other, especially when the stud pcd is so close. It may not be possible hwell:
It took me a month of searching to find my wheels!
Now you tell me about the heat gun trick, I ll use it on the front, just bought the original Frerraril wheels Now need to work out a spacer / adapter 100/4 - 108X5.
The heat gun thing is done on the outer surface gel coat after the panels are installed, so you are still fine on the rear.
These were sold as 14 inch wheels but look bigger with the tyres, just measured the rims as 15 inch two are fitted with tyres that are 205 70 VR 14 bit confused by this but ditching the tyres for new ones anyway, its shame the name will be painted over.
A quick clean and a rub down, a coat of U-POL HIGH #5 primer filler and thats one down four to go, professional referb £40-£50 per wheel, I admit these are just in need of paint due to age, I would have them done if there was any curbing etc.
hwell:
