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MadaboutKitcars

This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.

MX5 mk1 and 2 parts interchangability

13 Jan 2014, 7:41pm
Can someone advise me on some parts I would like to swap over on a mk1 & mk2 MX5 for a mx250c build I am contemplating.
I would rather use a later mk2 build for the car.
Can I fit to a mk2, Mk1 doors and front wings?

The front wings to make the front less bulbous, I'm sure I can reshape the rear wing to suit the mx250 kit rather than modify the kit again to make it less bulbous at the bottom.
I would also like to fit mk1 doors as they don't have the bulge at the rear but I think the early door handle looks much more in keeping with the look of the mx250.
If the mk1 doors fit the mk2 will the door latches/locks work?
Would the mk2 door cards fit the mk1 doors?
13 Jan 2014, 7:59pm
The doors to me look completely different so I wouldnt of thought so. not sure about the wings but again i wouldnt of thought so.

It was easy enough to bond the front end onto the existing wings on the mk1 and im sure its not much more trouble with the mk 2.
13 Jan 2014, 9:03pm
Oh well there goes that cunning plan.
13 Jan 2014, 10:01pm
with a user name like that you shuld be buying the car Tribute are currently offerin on another thred on here !
13 Jan 2014, 10:04pm
Mk 2 is wider by the way , so doors wont swap easily.The mark 2 is a wider outer body on the same inner one basically , or so I beleave. you can fit the kit by blending the front wings onto the stock ones lik the earliar kits were done. rear I thing goes strait on. I think a mk2 version wiould be cool. you get the better spec , better driving car and they are getting as cheap as the mk1s now.
13 Jan 2014, 10:34pm
That was my thought about the mk2, just think that the mk1 door handles are in keeping. I used to have a series 2 e-type roadster and a Giffith, hence the user name, seems unique so I don't have to remember multiple user names as I have a memory like a sieve.
Been looking through the builds and am a bit concerned that boot and bonnet hinges and catches, don't seem to have a decent solution at the moment. The boots and bonnets also look as if they need a lot of work to get the correct shape.
Also looks as if fitting the headlight covers could be a problem, most of the headlights look as if they sit proud which would mean the covers would not fit.
13 Jan 2014, 10:56pm
I'm putting the convertible kit onto a MK2 Jaguartvr and it's more work but I quite like the different look compared to others built on the MK1 base. I quite like the handles as well as they are colour coded so you can hide them once it's painted.
14 Jan 2014, 8:27am
It is possible .
I've converted a MK1 to MK2 several years ago.
It wasn't that difficult.
The rearend of the frontwings will fit like a glove.
You can bolt on the doors with the hinges (both MK1)
using the same assembly holes on the MK2.
You have to reshape the rearwing ,and the
reinforment underneath.The door will fit perfectly.

succes with your conversion.
14 Jan 2014, 9:45am
The bonnet and boot hinges where a doddle, I used the original bonnet and boot hinges from the mx5. The bonnet hinges just required 2" spacers and the boot just a slight modification. as far as shaping the bonnet im going to ad bonnet pins to pull it down slightly so it lines up correctly and the boot fit perfect with a rubber seal.

Ive got a lad who works for a windscreen fitting company to bond the headlight covers on. he had a look at them before Christmas and said it would be no problem for him to do. I'l post a pic on next week when its been done. (and if the headlights sit proud you get a bit of play at the bottom to lower them.)
15 Jan 2014, 5:50pm
Thanks for the info, looks like I will be living with the newer shape door handles.