MX5 Project Thread

[Pearcy]

So i've been looking for a little track project for a while mainly mx5's. Then on tuesday my 21st birthday i was suprised
to find these two little beautys on the drive. 1 a silver mk2 fully tracked prepared but a little slaggish and the other
a 1994 black mk1 roadster in better condition.

now i had to pick between the two, i've always prefered mk1's but the mk2 pretty much had everything on it i'd put in the mk1. Decided to choose the mk1 in the end as i'd rather do the work myself and learn about the car. And make the install of some things alot cleaner. Plus it's the best looking imo.

So this is what it looked like when i got it.

First mod was to swap the steering wheels between the cars haha

The stereo system was pretty heavy so stripped it out

Now my latest is just a blanker plate i knocked up from the front numberplate!

sorry for the pictures photobucket is ruining the quality!

but basic plan of attack will be after christmas and will include

rollbar/cage
bucket seats
harnesses
brake upgrade
suspension
wheels and tyres
Hardtop
currently debating whether to strip it or not! Going to wait for an insurance quote first then decide!

 

[aucky]

Bloody hell!! That's a nice suprise!

The MK1 looks tidy

Another CS MX5 for the list

 

[Toby]

Looks great, will subscribe.

 

[JoeyD]

I do like the original steering wheel you had on it - is it an OEM Nardi? Can't quite see on my phone.

Looks like a decent example anyway, good luck!
BTW, strip it. There's not a whole lot of weight to remove, but it just looks awesome inside when its gutted out

 

[Pearcy]

Thanks it is pretty tidy just some minor rust on the arches which needs sorting out. I'm changing the wing also and need to drill and retap some holes i think as i snapped a few bolts getting it off woops but im learning ive never actually properly worked on a car before.

yeah the steering wheel was the original just with the centre part taken off, didn't mind the look of it but the other one felt better and as its track orientated its function over form

i'll try and get some more detailed pictures later.

 

[JoeyD]

Yeah, I've snapped several bolts in the holes along the sill that keep the front arches on. Tbh they're not really needed and I CBA drilling them out!
MX5s are awesome to work on though, providing everything isn't corroded up - which is usually the case as they're getting on a bit now.

 

[Pearcy]

Yeah they're the ones i snapped also snapped the ones that attach the wing to the bumper and the bracket just fell off lol then tried to make more room for the bolt near the headlamp under the bumper by unbolting the bumper at the bottom. That snapped so gave up and just had to squeeze the spanner in. Kind of makes me want to go round and replace every bolt on the car its so frustrating!

 

[JoeyD]

Yeah, I know enough about that! I've just done a shell swap and its had me pulling my hair out at times! Thought I'd finally finished on Friday, only to find 3 of 4 brake callipers had their bleed nipples seized up and rounded... Could have set fire to the bloody thing!

 

[Pearcy]

Haha dont know how people work on them for a living! At work im always working on brand new stuff so i'm not used to it.

 

[Jamie86]

Cool welcome to the club!

Should of take the Hardtop off the MK2 perfect choice then

 

[Pearcy]

Well guys its been over a year since i updated the thread and things are finally starting to progress!! Over the year i had a new wing put on it and had a new inner and outer arch put on and painted.

So first i did a brake upgrade which is mtec vented dics, yellowstuff pads and ate superblue and new rear callipers as they were absolutely shot! , but the braking it still way off what it should be so will be delving deeper into that this weekend, don't think the lad that put the fluid in and bles the brakes did it properly and the pedal is going right to the floor and theres not much bite but i think they need bedding in properly!

Then onto my latest purschase for the car, a set of rota grid v in bronze 15x7 and have them wrapped in a set of A048's i had lying around from the silver car in post one, could probably do with replacing 2 of them though.

Not been put on the car yet that will hopefully be done tomorrow!

Do have some more issues with it though, the alternator belt has snapped and needs replacing, one of the front springs has also broken. Really want some miesters or gaz golds but can't afford them at the minute so will just get a set of springs for now. And the brake issue i've already mentioned.

 

[Pearcy]

Little update

Its now got an mot, new rear calliper, battery alternator belt and new miester r zeta s suspension as one of the springs had broke on the front bilsteins.

Beleive it or not i've never really driven it properly since i got it, but went for a test drive with the new suspension etc and the car is transformed from when i last drove it when it was completely standard. I absolutely love it and its will be a track weapon with some more power.

Will be getting it insured at the start of august but only for a month as i will be going travelling for a year in september so nothing will happen to it for yet another year!! Here is how she sits now, might rivet a ducktail on before i go!

Only problem i've got at the minute is the drivers side rear and front arches are rubbing the tyres under load so not sure how im going to rectify that dont really want to mess with the suspension as i had it all set up and geo'd