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My car, or at least it's engine, lives again. Apparently a small piece of metal I cracked off the cam cover got got caught on the drive wheel off the crank and jumped the belt putting the timing out. What a pillock I am...
My car has earned the nickname Forrest Gump at the garage doing the welding work as they think when I drive it down the road it will fall to bits like Forrest's leg braces in the movie.
I've hit a "minor" technical problem as the rust in the front is so bad the engine has to come out for the welding work and the garage can't fit it in until the early summer. I have the car back home to do other work, such as fitting the wheel arch extensions, exhaust etc, before it goes back for welding.
I'll post up some pictures at the weekend as it's sitting in the drive sulking at the moment.
Bit worrying, I thought MX5's were meant to be pretty rust free. Considering this one is a lot later than the early mk1's that most people use for a donor.
I've got a 2002 to use as a base but I will take it in for an MOT before I start...................just in case!
Having got Forrest back from the garage time for more filling and sanding...
The wheel arch extensions are fitted. Needs to more work to blend them in but I have to say I think I prefer the proportions with these fitted as I always felt the front was too narrow compared to the back.
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Also did my equivalent of Photoshop and propped up the new wheels to see how they look. It was a bit dark so black alloys aren't going to show up too well.
Anyone know how I can reshape the boot lid? I think the body must be lower on the LHS (as you look form the back) and the boot sticks up by about 10 mm. I tried using a hot air gun but the material is so think it doesn't touch it, especially as it's double skinned.
I'll post up some pictures so that you can see the problem, although it's off having a new exhaust fitted at the moment.
What I did was get the bootlid as right as possible, it was a bit too low one side and too high the other.
I then built up the lid to meet the body and the body was built up to meet the lid. Lots more filling and sanding and it fits right now.
The alternative - I did this with the bonnet. I cut various slots out of the underside skin, clamped it to the right shape (nice and flexible with a single skin) then glued the underside back together with chop strand filler.
Interestingly the bootlid gets a bit closer to the spoiler on the right hand side rear corner, if you browse through some of the photos on here you ccan see that this is a "feature" of this mould!
Thanks guys, I'll give it a go when I get it back. New exhaust fitted, sounds fab. Just need the welding a few other bits and I could have a road worthy car.
The front chassis rails have holes you can fit your hand in. The problem was that when I bought it you couldn't get underneath to see. I think the last owner must have parked
it with the front end in the sea as the radiator needs replacing at some time.
Welding done, exhaust sounds really great. Need to sort out the brakes and some of the suspension bushes then I think it could be ready for an MOT. Woo Hoo!
Welding done, exhaust sounds really great. Need to sort out the brakes and some of the suspension bushes then I think it could be ready for an MOT. Woo Hoo!
If anyone else lives in the York/Hull area I can recommend CSK Fabrications in Pocklington for an exhaust system. From the manifold through to the quad end pipes, including a decat section £370. Much less than I expected to have to pay and all in stainless steel.
In preparation for an MOT I want to replace the bushes on the suspension and have been looking at poly bush kits. There appears to be some bargains on eBay but I'm always nervous that they will last about 10 minutes.
Quick question for all the Spyder builders, have any of you fitted a new cover on to the soft top? Mine is looking a bit ragged and I wanted a mohair one but wondered just how difficult it is to replace, especially as my Mk2 has a glass rear screen.
Quick question for all the Spyder builders, have any of you fitted a new cover on to the soft top? Mine is looking a bit ragged and I wanted a mohair one but wondered just how difficult it is to replace, especially as my Mk2 has a glass rear screen.
I replaced my entire hood complete with glass rear window. Much easier than just a re skin.
Loads on eBay mine cost £160 complete and is in great condition.
My car has earned the nickname Forrest Gump at the garage doing the welding work as they think when I drive it down the road it will fall to bits like Forrest's leg braces in the movie.
eep: 
