MadaboutMX5s Version 2.0

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

I always get excited to see updates on this page!!!

Superb work indeed

Thanks mate. I hope your keeping well? Likewise I always enjoy the direction of your project. Maybe it is a sign of getting older or because I feel I have gone pretty extreme with the silver roadster, black pitcrew roadster, corns roadster but the R-Limited and this red one are less controversial or exciting as wanted to keep to the originality of the car while adding a few subtle mods.

Are the zoom mirrors a convex lense or are they flat?

They are not convex lens on the zoom mirrors.

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

The red MK1 continues to see some TLC. Replaced the Mazda yellow oem front engine strut brace with this Cusco Type OS engine strut brace where the legs have been powder coated black. Main reason is the yellow strut brace is now in my black S-Special which was missing a strut brace and should have had come with the yellow oem front engine strut brace fitted. Likewise in the red car fitted a black Leather gear gaiter to replace the grey suede gaiter I was not so keen on as want to keep the interior pretty stock looking.

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

Busy week so little car updates. However a few months ago I was approached by a Daniel a journalist for Retro Cars magazine at the Bromley Car Pageant in London. Not really one for car shows as don't have the time and get itchy feet so this is the only show I go to. The photographer Chris took some great photos and shows my poor photography efforts up. It's an interesting read by Daniel on my Pitcrew Roadster build.



I need to get some proper images from it without the logos but some from the shoot.

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

Fitted some new wheels on the latest addition. SSR MK2 14 x 7.5 ET19 and 14x6 ET12. They came up for what seemed a good price so I moved quickly as would have cost more to get imported from Japan as not normally a wheel you find here in the UK. On the photos ignore the paint, disregard the ride height, forget about the super skinny tyres on the front as this car is a long way from how I want it. The car needs some 185/65/14, lowered and the paint tidied up. However the new wheels are a big part of the final concept and I am happy with how they look.

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

Took the Pitcrew Roadster out this morning and while I was at it moved the Corns Roadster.



Going to do a mini service on the corns this week as whilst not many miles since the last service (probably no more then 500) it is around 18 months/2 years ago.

Likewise picking these up during the week. Flocked sun visors kindly done by Ron at The Flock Shop from the Pitcrew Roadster in a colour that was best match for the S Limited interior in the car. This has been on the list to do as since re-trimming the a-pillars and windscreen surround in Nakamae red leather the standard black/grey folding sun visors had looked a bit out of place.

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

Here is some quick photos I took which show the sun visors fitted. I quickly whipped the hard top off the for the second photo. The visors are slightly darker but given the flocked finish contrast OK against the windscreen surround, which gets lost in the photos.





Plans in no particular order:

1. When funds allow need to get some lowering springs or coilovers for the black one as it is 4x4 ride height at the moment.
2. Need to fit some fatter tyres on the front of the black one since the 14' SSR MK2 have gone on.
3. Possibly thinking of a Zoom Engineering mirror for the red car though want to keep that stock looking.
4. Need to sort the hand brake adjustment on the blue r limited though that will likely be the new year now as car is SORN'd.
5. Likely get some after market mirrors for the black car.

[oldgrayleather]

James! Keep up the awesome work. Since you have so many incredible builds on the go, your fleet is a one stop shop for me to find inspiration on Benny's build.

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

James! Keep up the awesome work. Since you have so many incredible builds on the go, your fleet is a one stop shop for me to find inspiration on Benny's build.

Thanks Pete. The Corns Roadster also got an oil change this week with some decent oil and a new oil filter. I will try to keep up the work. My feeling is the interior in the black pitcrew roadster is pretty much done. For the time being the jobs above are next on the list. As ever suggestions and feedback on directions for all future developments welcome by you all.

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

All has gone quiet on the MadaboutMX5 front till today when I have posted a few updates recently done.

Some changes on the red MK1. Fitted a Zoom Engineering carbon mirror as the original window glass was a little pitted so this gave a good excuse to change it and also a new engine strut brace which I found out what from a manufacturer called Arrive in Japan. Never seen another on a car and like the fact it is so lightweight but a chunky design too.





The latest roadster also has seen some updates in recent weeks as has had the yellow S special strut brace added from the red car along with the Runabout M2 mirrors, black roadster mats, the OEM front lip and also changed the alternator belt and power steering belt so I know they are good. This is on the back of the Alterna Racing trunk lid fitted after I got the car I had spare and the SSR MK2s fitted recently too. It still needs lowering (got some shocks with 40mm lowering springs to go on).


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current 4x4 ride height.



Also got this exhaust that will replace the standard exhaust on it. It is a Pitcrew Racing Clubman exhaust.

[oldgrayleather]

Looks like you've been keeping busy James - coming along nicely! Mirror looks great and will complement my side mirrors nicely. How is the size of that one compared to OEM? I'm now sold on a Barchetta front (unlikely to find a T-House here but there's a Barchetta Clubman GT). Now the dilemma is between the trap lip (my flares will be much smaller than your corns) or the OE style like on your new black roadster. Very easy to do virtual shopping for Benny just by looking at your collection. Thanks again for all the inspiration!

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

Looks like you've been keeping busy James - coming along nicely! Mirror looks great and will complement my side mirrors nicely. How is the size of that one compared to OEM? I'm now sold on a Barchetta front (unlikely to find a T-House here but there's a Barchetta Clubman GT). Now the dilemma is between the trap lip (my flares will be much smaller than your corns) or the OE style like on your new black roadster. Very easy to do virtual shopping for Benny just by looking at your collection. Thanks again for all the inspiration!

Hi Pete, hope your keeping well?

Mirror works well, Zoom Engineering are known for offering interior mirrors for a range of different cars so I think the size is perfect for a mx5. I went with the carbon version as have the carbon Zoom Engineering door mirrors on the car too.

On this black car it is very much a work in progress but I like having a roadster round to restore and for quite a while I fancied another T-House Clubman as saw some subtle retro cars in Japan with a look like this going on.

I think the Trap lip really suits the Corns car as with the YSCC ducktail it provides good symmetry from the side view while also looks quite JDM in the sense of some of the old skool Japanese cars you see around with flares, fat dished wheels, duck bill front lip, etc.

The black car is now the 3rd out of my 6 with the OEM front lip (the r limited, red car also have this fitted). For the image I have in mind for this car the OEM lip works best.

Probably the new year now but next plan is to get it lowered, fit the Pitcrew exhaust and probably the spare Zoom Engineering starter button I have.

[oldgrayleather]

Busy but good. I'm still top down motoring every single day so no complaints here! Wish we had more opportunities stateside to track down some of the bits you always seem to find. Don't think I've ever seen an original T-House over here let alone one for sale. Do you know if they always have the combination of orange and clear lights or do they sometimes comes with all clear like the Clubman GT? For the Zoom I'm still debating between the shapely 8486 and the larger 8487. Subtle retro is the path I'm on (as much as one can be with a Mariner ;). Can't wait to see the Pitcrew single exhaust installed!

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

What with Christmas I had taken a break from my roadsters. However this week the black roadster had a few more jobs done. Now it has fitted

1. Bilstein shocks it should have come with as the car is a S Special model with Tein lowering springs fitted. It was 4x4 ride height when I got it and not as low as some of my others but I am happy with the ride height now.
2. Likewise fitted the Pitcrew Racing Centre exit exhaust I had picked up before Christmas.
3. As I had some spare red silicone coolant hoses replaced all the engine coolant hoses together with fresh coolant.

Still more jobs to be done but back in the day as previous photos on this thread show this car was obviously cared for so nice to be tidying this car as was always one of my favourites back in the day on MX5Nutz here in the UK.

[MikeA]

The amount of goodness in this thread is pretty amazing!

[— Vegard —]

The black one is looking very sleek and pretty now. The lowering really makes a huge difference.