1990 Mazda MX5 (Eunos) AKA -Pip-

[Fossilfish]

First off hello to all the members of the forum. I brought a Mazda Eunos in classic red SU from member (MIB BMW) for £375 retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=FSW&action=display&thread=141617 it was as described in ad and is a solid car and runs very well and many thanks to seller as he was super nice.

I own a Volvo 940 and that's my first love, this was for the misses known to me as 'curby' as she has already crubed my refurbished rims on my Volvo.

I know there's great cars on here with member who are knowledgeable, I lack mechanical skills but will give a on going details of how I get on with this motor and help will be appreciated and be kind, I am a total novice and am trying to learn as its a good cheap car to do it on.

[Fossilfish]

This is how she stands at the moment:





















Cam cover gasket is leaking a tad.


This Hole needs to be plugged might leak within if not





















defo needs this and a will pick up a hood on Sunday.

[Mark]

Glad you were happy with the MX5 and nice to see it get a thread here.

This was our 3rd MX5 and never once let us down. It was always great fun around the lanes but my mrs opted for a bit more comfort and bought herself a Golf cabrio instead.

If I were you, I would go at the paintwork with some superfine wet&dry and a bucket of warm soapy water. I know it sounds harsh but the results can be awesome. You can't really make it any worse but just try a small patch till you're more confident. You can use electric polishers but go easy or you can scorch the paint or take too much off on edges. By hand is more work, but less harsh on the paint. Google ''repair faded red cars'' or something as there are loads of old threads that show what's possible for just a few quid.

[zircon]

Great little project!

[Fossilfish]

The car is fine mechanically bar minor oil weep and front left wheel needs tracking found a recepit for £486 for brakes and calipers from Feb this year so it stops well but I think it has no ABS.

Cost is a main factor as my budget is limited, I have 2000grit but I think 3000grit should be better might clay a section then hit it with Bilt hamber cleanser (minor cutting element www.bilthamber.com/cleanser-polish) and loads of elbow grease but if all that fails time to get some G3 as I have no cutting compounds and no dedicated mop or electric polisher (hides behind sofa) Tonight I will clean interior and try to do a few test patches done...

Time to enrol in a hairdressers course and raise some cash!

[Fossilfish]

Got some 2500 grit wet 'n dry paper some soapy water and a dandy water spray bottle



Used some clay to remove any contaminants



Tryed to use cleanser polish with no marked results, re-sanded the test patch...







Will go to halfrauds and pick up some compound polish might get
www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_804743_langId_-1_categoryId_165527 or www.npautoparts.co.uk/car-maintenance-c2/exterior-car-cleaning-products-c176/g3-professional-bodywork-detox-500ml-p239?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=farecla-g3-professional-bodywork-detox-500ml-7162b&utm_campaign=product%20listing%20ads#404 they had one on the clearance section for a fiver!

The paint on bonnet has faded and I don't think it would come back. Wish I had a good polisher, I live in a flat and misses hates car stuff hidden in every nook and cranny.

[g40jon]

be warned the paint on mx5s is notoriously thin. doesnt take much effort to get down to the white primer underneath.

[Fossilfish]

Thanks for the heads up bud, but its already has gone through! some pics above might show it.

Doing it by hand takes forever and finish isn't that great, but hey as long as it look presentable until I figure what works or stop being a tight and get the right tools.

Using Autoglym paint renovator (I know it cack) which cuts and is working but its no flawless finish, thats for sure.

[willowandmikey]

Consider yourself bookmarked. It will be a interesting project. I work with limited access to facilities so it'll be interesting to see how you get on with your bargain buy.

[Fossilfish]

Dec 15, 2012 23:32:36 GMT willowandmikey said:

Consider yourself bookmarked. It will be a interesting project. I work with limited access to facilities so it'll be interesting to see how you get on with your bargain buy.

I'm doing most of these jobs during my night shifts at every spare moment I get, kinda hard to explain why my hands and shirt are covered in red tonight.

[Fossilfish]

Picked up a new old hood and fitted it.



The original hood bar thingy was rusted through lucky the seller gave this with the hood.



Debadged the old and faded logo ready for the e-type style number plate.







This is not my car but it is what I am aiming for (Look wise)


Sourced the driver side front light from a member on this site.


Resecured the passager front light, easy job, as you can see long screw was on wrong side of the light.

[Mark]

Glad its getting some love.

[mdh]

De tango them lights, it makes a heck of a difference.

Other than that, it's looking good!

[Fossilfish]

mib BMW Thanks mate the car just needed a few hours on it and I might see £375 when we are done with it.

mdh, I personally like the amber/silver contrast especially on older cars.

If a car had them stock then keep 'em. On sapphire cossies the early ones has amber repeaters which later ones had clear, everyone updated but they needn't, it looks in keeping with the era.

Here's my Volvo with DRL and amber side with added yellow fogs

[mdh]

No no no! Ahh well each to his own I guess! :-)

It's looking a lot better already. What else you got planned?

[Fossilfish]

Dec 17, 2012 22:43:49 GMT mdh said:

De tango them lights, it makes a heck of a difference.

Other than that, it's looking good!

After looking at pics, they do look rather good www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/p/24702/168753.aspx

[Fossilfish]

Nothing special bud. Just want it looking new and everything to work right. No roll cages or bucket seats for me and especially no Lexus style back lights ;D

Not a interesting build like MIB BMW just wanted to show how I got on and what can be done on a tight budget.

Most of all I know peeps on here like loads and loads of pic's

[Robinxr4i]

Welcome ;D wish I'd seen this MX5 for sale I might have beaten you too it! Sadly for me by the time I'd noticed the for sale advert, it was already yours by the looks of it you are a far better owner than I planned to be lol.

Please keep us update, looks like it's only going to get better, nice 940 too.

[Fossilfish]

HOW MANY POSTS, ROBIN!

When I saw it, I pounced on it, I texted I wanted it shortly after price drop, seller gave loads of usefull text I was first in line and after he said he had a heap of text wanting it but took my word and ear marked it for me. Mark the seller is the kinda guy you want to buy stuff off of and wish I was buying his white 2002.

Even though it was a little sum of money the cost of running another car in London takes a knock, local council want £120 to park it on the street! have been lurking around this site for sometime just to have a look at the work being done , I can't believe the skill and passion you guys and girls have.

My 940 is a limited run. It has a standard 15g Turbo on full boost at a modest 190bhp which in modern terms is not very much but its my flying brick, once you own one your hooked it does every thing you want from a car and I think the MX5 is a good other car. I did lots of small jobs just so it looks good, will post a few pics of the barge.

XR4i what a car, used to see one parked up in early 90's in lime green looked rather nice and are pretty rear now.

[mdh]

So no turbo then? :-)