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Oct 13, 2012 23:14:11 GMT
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guess who i dug out today! swapped the celica and the mazda round, tucked the celica away at the back of the garage...decided I'm was gonna chech the mazda oiver for an mot and stick it in next week. replaced a headlight bulb, fitted a new rear fog light... with the car lowered id managed to smash the old one also secured the battery- the old one had died and i managed to scrounge one from a mondeo that was going to the scrapper. prob was its too big and didnt fit- the mx5 one is an odd size so had to bodge a bit of a bracket to clamp it in place. hopefully thats it well... i thought that was it there was a slight bulge near the rear arch on the drivers side.. i figured id rather discover any nasties now than after it had been in for the test... so i had a little pick oh hello i haz speed holes i then thought sod it, got the grinder with a flappy wheel ... few sparks and then a huge cloud of filler dust there was filler about half a cm deep in places. ground the area away to see whats lying beneath. not so bad i guess... could be a lot worse. looking through the hole, insidedidnt look as bad as i was dreading will chop the outer skin of tomorrow and have a proper look. ahh well
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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started cutting off the grott to see whats left although it looks a right mess, i was actually pretty happy.. tried to get som epics of the inside, doesnt really show it too well, but inside the sill is really solid, sill covered in the factory primer suff, looks like i got to it in time, before it really got a hold of the car chopped out the rot and cleaned up what was left bit of bodgery as i havent got any proper replacement bits and funds are tight at the mo so couldnt but any that was the inner bit done, then i bodged some bits for the rest, not the prettiest but ill have to live with it for now i had a cunning plan, there was no way i was gonna be able to make a piece that followed the curve of the sill and also had a fold to go around the lip of the arch, so i made the pieces over hang,weld them in place then was going to cut slots in them and smack em round with a hammer its now ground down and smoothed over with a skim of filler... just downloaded the camera... could swear it took soem more pics, must have got carried away. will get some next time. gonna stick it in for mot this week. i probably should have left it as it was, but for peace of mind i wanted to know what was hiding underneath. at least i know its reasonably solid
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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well... car went in for mot a couple of weeks back.. failed! only on a few very minor bits tho
drivers side front brake sticking ... the cars been stood for over a year, i couldnt take the car for a drive cos no insurance on it ( the mot station is next to my house... sooo handy). i took the caliper off cleaned it up , all sorted.
headlight alignment was out- easy enough, fog light not working, - it was, but id folded it up inside the bumper cos i keep catching it,
seatbelt retainer was loose.... tightened the bolt
washer jets were a bit all over the place.
back in for retest today.. all passed and happy
gonna sort tax and insurance soon , then time to enjoy it again
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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on sunday i decided was gonna take the roof off , something ive not done for about 2 years i think!, figured id drive over to Conwy, pop n see my dad. its 5 miles away... on the way, i figured id go through the tunnel on the A55, cos I'm a child... but i didnt stop, kept going, ended up doing amout 80 miles, went over to Llanberris, up towards snowdon, and through Betws y coed.. grabbed a few pics, but didnt have my camera ,only the phone... worse still, i didnt mean to be going out out! so didnt take my flask ... gotta stop for coffees, its the law! couple of pics, llanberis looking up towards Pen y Pass the pass had been closed for about 5 days, theyve cleared the road now but coule see how deep it had been in places back down other side, soo nice up there, really wish id taken my camera nice jolly out all the same!
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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I adore this car. I really like MX5's anyway, but this one in particular embodies the spirit & ethos of fun, cheap roadster ownership. I reckon sill rot is what will be the demise of most MX5's - it's a fairly tricky little area once the rot gets beyond the lower outer sill and starts creeping up the arch. A bit like yours. In most peoples cases, this will be an uneconomic repair (especially if on both sides) and will usually result in the car being scrapped or filled with LOTS of pog and sold on to an unsuspecting owner, who by the time they discover the bodge, will have a lot more rot to deal with! I've seen it first hand. Luckily there are people like you out there who will make a proper repair of the rot. I love the way you don't let a lack of money dictate the repair. Most people (if deciding do go ahead with the rust repairs) will buy repair panels but you just make it happen out of flat sheet and some creative manipulation. Excellent stuff and, as I said, perfectly sums up the spirit of cheap Roadster ownership. A car to be used and enjoyed...without costing a fortune. Great pics and it looks like you had a great drive doing what MX5's do best, putting a smile on your face whilst enjoying some brilliant roads.
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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Jan 19, 2015 12:19:30 GMT
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Well... Not updated this in a year or so. Was only selling because I really really wanted this i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/beetlecharles/Datsun%201200/IMG_20130630_151631.jpg But it sold straight away , did re appear on eBay this year... But still no funds. Anyway , this meant I kept the Mazda . It's been a bit neglected this last year or so. I've been playing with other stuff . but this week I've dug her back out Lots of fun doing that... It was behind the celica.. Both with flat battery's Charged up.. Jump leads from lucifa... Finally got them started. Out side and the cekica refuses to start again... Like it knows its going in the naughty corner at the back. So jumpleads again... No joy.. Much shuffling later.. With Lucifer.. Yaaay . finally started... Put the celica away.. Then the Mazda decided not to start... Repeat jumpleads Finally So looks like 2 new battery's needed .. Ar$e Had put it in for its mot last year. Failed on a couple of bits of welding 2 tyres and a headlight being way out.... Not so bad The rot was at the end of both sills/ inner arch Excuse My weldings not the tidiest but does the job.. And slowly getting slightly better. Both sides were roughly the same That's that bit sorted... Next was tyres Then just headlight. Then retest ... Well. Re mot
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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Jan 19, 2015 13:46:28 GMT
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I decided that rather than buy more tyres.. Which would have been a quick and simple way to get the mot. That I'd pull my finger out and do something that was in the cards before I bought the car I bought some 100 to114.3 adapters That way u could fit the celicas old wheels and tyres. This also meant they poked out nicely But also means too much lows Had to raise the coilovers about 2 inches. Just to clear the arch Felt dirty raising the car.. But WS for the greater good... It also meant I could get in and out of the garage without blocks of Wood Only temporary tho The car has had a repair to this arch in the past... Not very well tho... Well better than I could have done but was a completely different shape to the others ! I noticed this when I got the car , but wasn't too worried as I knew that one day they were being chopped No going back Cut out the outer skin Welded it back up Chopped the inner skin folded I've and welded it up then. Some zinc spray primer i had. And seam sealer to hopefully. Keep it weather proof Arches screwed on I have bought a rivnut doodah and a bunch of fittings... So that's next step . arches are all coning off to paint the car so will redrill them rhen Fronts are easy.. No welding I'll try get the other side done next weekend... The lower it back down where it belongs
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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kolbotn
Part of things
Flattcity Crew
Posts: 90
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Jan 19, 2015 17:32:50 GMT
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Looks awesome, makes me miss my old mx5!
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72' 240z - Stacie
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lewis
Part of things
Posts: 82
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Jan 20, 2015 14:19:22 GMT
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Enjoyed reading the whole thread, how cool is your house with the big garage underneath!
The new wheels look great, are they 13's?
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Jan 20, 2015 21:23:46 GMT
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Kolbot... That's how I feel whenever I think about selling... I know I'd miss it so much ! Enjoyed reading the whole thread, how cool is your house with the big garage underneath! The new wheels look great, are they 13's? Cheer matey ... I did get lucky buying this place... But I tripled what my mortgage was on my last place all because I'd bought a £300 car and wanted somewhere to work on it... Maybe not the best choice... If I'd stayed put I'd be mortgage free by now ! .. But no room for toys! The wheels are 14x7, 205/60. On the back. 185/60 on the front
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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Jan 25, 2015 20:32:44 GMT
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Last Edit: Jan 25, 2015 20:37:51 GMT by carlb1970
I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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Bit more of a play today.. Finished the drivers side off Took it outside for a look I was pretty happy with the results.... Until I looked from this angle The rear wheels look wrong to me , they are 205 60 14 , just look too tall. The fronts are 185 60. They rub the front bumper on full lock... Decided I'm going to get 165 50. All roun . That way I'll get a bit more space in the front arches. And hopefullybe a bit easier on the eye. In the meantime I'm gonna raise the coilovers just to get it all clearing and motd . Getting there slowly tho
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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curse word... Photofuket is playing games !!!
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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Mar 18, 2015 22:03:10 GMT
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Well.... All kinda ground to a halt ! Was poking around underneath. Both. Chassis rail / box section channeling Parts of the body had taken a pounding from speed bumps over the. Years.. But the drivers side had split where it joins at the front. Without thinking I put an axle stand on it when I had the car up...left the car in the air and the weight of the car caused it to tear it open . poo Really lost heart a bit. So packed in and left it a few days. Then thought I'd see if I could squash the sides of the box in and get it somewhere near the right shape and weld up the gap ... Wishful thinking ! I cut the end if a g clamp and welded an old socket to it Plan was to then put ratchet/ air gun on and get more force behind it Managed to get it close but still miles away... Then figured it'd be too weak anyway . Then I got carried away. Really didn't want to scrap the car as I have had so much fun over the few years I'd had it. Decided to have a go at chopping the whole length out. And see what's hiding underneath... The inside was still as new so kinda good news Bought a 3 foot length of box stuff. From the motor factors... £20 As a bonus... Took out seats n carpets £18.5 . Hiding under the seat ... So repair panel cost £1.42:) My welding needs all the help I can get ... I gave an auto darkening helmet. But under the car it was still too dark... I stuck some spotlights on my hat ! Every little helps ... As they say . Even with bonus lights... Nor pretty. But its kinda solid Few coats of seam sealer over the welded bits. To hopefully add some protection. And underseal Should have quit whilst I was ahead... Poking round the front of the floor... Where it curves up towards the engine bay... Found a crusty flake... Dug away Ar$e ! More if the same ... So hopefully that's it ! Just gotta fix fuel lines / brake lines back to the new section.. Sticky brake caliper. And raise the suspension so wheels clear, Then Mot time ! Getting there slowly !
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Last Edit: Mar 19, 2015 11:18:10 GMT by carlb1970
I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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Mar 19, 2015 22:11:20 GMT
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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jayvoa
Part of things
Posts: 229
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Mar 23, 2015 22:50:42 GMT
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Good to see the welding all done! I did cringe a little when I saw that missing chunk of chassis the other day.
So... was the MOT man happy? Hope it went well.
I'll have to pop over again soon and repay you for that beer with more beer!
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Mar 24, 2015 23:11:48 GMT
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No not yet... Raised to the comedy height it is in the pica. The fronts still catch on full lock... Only just but its enough.. Bought some part worn 175 55 for the front, hopefully will clear then ... Mot now on Friday if all goes to plan !
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I'm not curse word, i just fell off my shoes
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,864
Club RR Member Number: 174
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1991 mazda eunos/mx5stealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
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Its not the ride height thats causing the tyres to catch the arch it's because the King Pin Inclination will be miles out because of the adapters and wheel offset, so as you turn the wheel it will go forwards and backwards in the arch. Looking good though.
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Mar 25, 2015 12:07:51 GMT
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good work on the welding man, love the roof and boot spoilers
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