Roadsternut

I've been around the forums for a long while, with different user names. Never really documented my Roadsters before. So each of these will be by year, starting in 1997. (well, first chunk cover 1997-2000)


November 1997. I had returned to the UK after a spell working in the US, to a new job in Ireland. Cash flow due to the move meant I had to make do with a Peugeot 309 GTi for a while; ultimately forgettable, so after 6 months, I was hankering after a change. Then I happened upon a 1992 silver stone Eunos Roadster, fresh off the boat from Japan, and being utterly mint condition.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...al/oldsaz3.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...al/oldsaz1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...cial/03_03.jpg

Being a bit green in all things Roadster (prior to 1997, the MX5 didn't even register with me as a car), it took me a while cotton on to the fact that this innocuous looking Roadster was very nicely specified with 15" Watanabes, RS8R 4-2-1 header, Fujitsubo FGK exhaust and a Mmm's K&N intake.

I gradually got more an more involved with the MX5 scene, eventually running the MX5 Owners Cub in Northern Ireland. I didn't do a whole lot with this car, except add an aluminium Carbing style bar (which can just about be seen in the photo below), and strip the Wats, repaint them black with a polished lip, because thats what everyone else was doing at the time.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...illenOct99.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...l/stylebar.jpg
http://www.mx5ireland.com/gallery/misc_old/m05.jpg

But, then, in April 2000, disaster struck. At a MX5 meet, car thieves took my car, raced it, and torched it. We found it, 30 minutes later.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...hednburned.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ednburned4.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ednburned3.jpg

The insurance company gave me a generous settlement, and 6 weeks to find another MX5. And so the hunt began.

2000.

I found a suitable replacement, with insurance settlement money left over to boot. Minuses; the roof needed replacing, over-sized 17" wheels had been fitted, and the car lowered without changing the shocks (so a -35mm spring turned into a 50mm drop). Pluses; low mileage, Tanabe 4-2-1 header, Remus exhaust, HKS intake. I only had a week to enjoy before flying to LA for a business trip, to spend the left over lolly on a rare Type IV Stylebar from Racing Beat (made for a RHD, returned unsold from their Japan distributor, they just asked me to make them an offer, which I did; $100, whereupon they promptly threw into the deal free hats, and shirts, and a cool factory tour. Nice guys), new hood and strut brace from Duetto (entertaining weirdo ran that place), and bits and pieces from BrainStorm. British Airways raised their eyebrows when I checked all that stuff onto my flight.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...l/DSCN1305.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ecial/saz1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ingBeatbar.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ial/Remus1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n.../SoSengine.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ial/SoSHKS.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...barcloseup.jpg

Then I took it to the Isle of Man on a magical trip organised by the MX5 Owners Club for the Millenium; as part of the trip, the TT Circuit was closed to traffic, and we were waved through by the police to go and enjoy ourselves. Plus I lot my trackday virginity on Jurby, in a car that I had only been driving for 2 weeks.....

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...andsetoff2.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ybattle2-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ecial/saz8.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n.../ttcircuit.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...al/3amigos.jpg

After getting back from the IOM, I was determined to do something about the handling; lowering springs, stock shocks, heavy wide wheels = heavy steering, crashy ride and aquaplaning.

First thing was to change the wheels for a set of 14" magnesium wheels; this was back in the days when these were just a cheap used wheel, and I really only intended them as a temporary wheel, until I got something better. But I liked the look of them.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...town2000-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...stown20002.jpg

I then also added matching front and rear lip spoilers.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pecial/SoS.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ecial/SoS2.jpg

The dead shocks and springs were thrown out for a set of S-Special Bilsteins and Racing Beat springs.
(years after original fitment)
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...5-04-03059.jpg

2001.

Stripes from Kevin Morrison.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...Whitehead2.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ndMagee3-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...al/SoSArds.jpg

Then I fitted some gauges in the radio surround, to replace an untidy cubby hole.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...4-09-11013.jpg

Factory knee pad fitted to the speaker cover.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...redaw20017.jpg

A trip to Ka Yu, and I scored an ARC intake; the seller had no idea what it was, he thought I was interested in the AFM attached. A bit dented, but a bargain at $30.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...akeChamber.jpg

Towards the end of the year, and I still wasn't happy about the handling. A Mazda dealer was closing down at Christmas, so the parts manager there, as a final parting shot, got me a set of 15" NB wheels at cost price. Another bargain.

I also went mad, and splashed out on a KG Works stop lamp cover.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...Worksbrake.jpg

2002. My thoughts were turning to hillclimbs and sprints, after getting bored of a year of trackdays. So I sought out and fitted a 6-point Carbing rollbar.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...l/carbing1.jpg

It needed holes drilling in the floor behind the seats, and cutting back of the shelf, and drilling the monocoque.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...5-04-03065.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...5-04-03067.jpg

This type of rollbar robbed quite a bit of seat travel; the side bars worsened this. Also, it was pretty lethal when it came to proximity to the head.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...l/rollbar1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...al/sidebar.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...4-09-11030.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...09-11014-1.jpg

A TRS 6-point harness was also added, with the shoulder straps mounted direct to the body

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...l/IMGP1454.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...eboltsboot.jpg

I wanted a bit more cold air to the engine; in 2001, vented headlamp covers were in short supply in the UK, so I made one from a spare headlamp lid and a Rover Metro bonnet vent. This idea was later copied (and improved upon) by others.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n.../headlamp3.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n.../headlamp4.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...adlampvent.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ampvent3-1.jpg

It was functional.

To sort out the lethal rollbar, besides padding, I wanted a lower seat. Autolinkuk sent me a couple over to choose from. I opted for the tatty looking Ligier G-Hold; held me in superbly, plus was mounted very low on a Bride subframe.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ksprint9-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...sprint11-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...atsseat009.jpg


My first event, issued a number 26 for the season.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...acenumbers.jpg

My first event was the Cultra Hillclimb, which lays claim, along with some others, to be the oldest car race in the world.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ecial/saz4.jpg

Later on in the year, a bit of bling, and a bit of functionality.

A Knight Sports anodized billet oil cap

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...4-09-12016.jpg

Okuyama-Carbing triangulated brace made for RS Aizawa; purchased mainly to firm up the brakes.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...4-11-07123.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...4-11-07124.jpg

2003. Bit of a quiet year;new job in a different country.

Really, all that happened is that the car clocked up a huge mileage, and it gotten partly destriped; I had gotten bored of stripes, and started to peel them off, only to find, to my horror, the amount of fade that had happened to the bumpers. Not ready for a respray, so the stripes became a stripe.

A day at Silverstone

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ecial/saz6.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ecial/saz9.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...irksprint2.jpg

2004. The car was now looking very tired; I had clocked up 80k miles in 4 years, and that involved some hard driving. So it went in for a respray. Came back looking fantastic.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...4-09-12076.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...4-09-12077.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...wilightsaz.jpg

This car's days of motorsport were over.

2005. I was still putting 20k miles on the car, so decided to upgrade to a younger model, which I thought would be more reliable. A terrible mistake as it turned out.

The new car was a 1996 Eunos Roadster S-Special II in Montego Blue. It was essentially a blank canvas, a standard car, brought off a forum member. It had a few scuffs on the body work, but had a good history.

As brought:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...2_6_full-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...2_3_full-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...2_4_full-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...442_8_full.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...2_7_full-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...0II/saz962.jpg

And catalogue scans
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...%20II/pnf1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...%20II/pnf2.jpg

2005; not too much done to the car:


Factory lip spoiler, Dcuatro headlamp lid and Cusco plate mounts.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n.../Annalong4.jpg

RS Aizawa triangulated strut brace

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...6-02-05062.jpg

D-Technique 4P rollbar

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1060277.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...Picture035.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...Picture028.jpg

KG Works gauge surround:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...II/KGWorks.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...m2-1002013.jpg

MX5Parts 4-2-1 manifold:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...5-12-29044.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...5-12-29048.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...5-12-29045.jpg

Option S-Spec knee brace:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...6-04-17039.jpg

Time for some track work.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/DSC_0290.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n.../DSC034151.jpg

Nice build so far. Sucks about your first one though.

2006.

I wanted a GHO1001 bumper, then I found MX5Roadsters was importing a batch via RS Aizawa. Order was placed.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...II/gho1001.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...IM0002mn06.jpg

MX5Roadsters also arranged for it to be painted in Montego Blue. The batch was great. I decided against paying for the Mazda-specific Cibie spots (£400 a set!), opting to try and locally source suitable lamps. My first Wipac lamps were a bit undersized compared to the pukka item,

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/IMGP1038.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/IMGP1040.jpg

After a few months, disaster with the GHO bumper.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/IMGP1078.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/IMGP1082.jpg

These bumpers are very bottom heavy, and, unlike the factory version, GHO does not supply extra bracing. It was decided that as the cracking was deep and on both sides, the bumper was beyond repair. A stronger and lighter replica was made in Kevlar/carbon fibre.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/IM000303.jpg

Also added were Apex'i shocks and matched springs.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...20II/Apexi.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...0II/a3_1_b.jpg

A tan factory hod was fitted:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...IMGP1044-2.jpg

2007.

It turns out the Cibie used the Tango shell for the lamps. I lucked out, and found a set of new Cibie Tangos at a show, cheap:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/IMGP1027.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/IMGP1029.jpg

But these wouldn't fit the bumper; right diameter, wrong bracket.

So I had to grind down a bit of the bracket, and reposition it on the shell:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1060160.jpg

Fitted

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...JAE2007218.jpg

Also fitted, ARC Airbox to match the cross-over pipe.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/96engine.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...JAE2007212.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...JAE2007211.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...JAE2007210.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/IMGP1451.jpg

2008.

Upgraded the suspension to Performance5 Puredrives; these combined an adjustable Protec Aluminium shock with bespoke pigtail springs, and NB tops.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...P1020692-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...P1020697-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1020696.jpg

The year ended with an engine out of a RS-Limited being fitted to replace the embarrassing smoking motor.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...gine2008-1.jpg

2009.

Time to respray the car. The metalwork, after 220,000 kms (in 2005, it had 90,000 kms), was looking tired; scratches, dings, and a rust hole on the rear sill. The Kevlar/carbon fibre bumper; battered. Plus to cap it all, a blow out nicely chewed up a wheel arch.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1040671.jpg

During the respray, took the opportunity to get a rare Rod Millen boot spoiler fitted.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1050166.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1060045.jpg

A Nardi Classico also replaced the factory Momo steering wheel

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ngwheel014.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...eringwheel.jpg

2010

Garage Ohno slam panel cover.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...c%20II/124.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...c%20II/134.jpg

Disaster. One icy March morning, one back wheel goes over an iced manhole cover, and the car goes into a slo-mo 30mph spin into a grass bank.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/crash418.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/crash423.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/crash417.jpg

The damage proved to be superficial, but the bumper was destroyed. The car was duely repaired and returned, back to factory spec.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...20II/198-1.jpg

I responded to this knock back by fitting the rare factory option "Driver" seats and polishing the Nardi wheel.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1060250.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1060249.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1060248.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...onemapped2.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...onemapped2.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...6_7_fused2.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...onemapped2.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...onemapped2.jpg

Very nice build, and quite a few Roadsters you have had!! I really love the red seats and BBS wheels!

I love this. Every update. So awesome.

I miss the 2000-era of Miata parts....

pretty sick

A quick note on steering wheel restoration. The leather of my Nardi was full of nicks, and scratches, and very worn looking. When I started polishing the spokes, it was plain the leather was going to take a beating. No problem; sand the leather with 800 grit wet n dry, to a flat finish. Then get a leather dye (mix in some gloss it you want); I used a small bottle from Furniture Clinic (£10, this lasts a long time); this is an actual dye, rather than a paint. Dab it on using a sponge; even though it is a dye, some of it will sit on the surface. Using a sponge gives a nice even OE finish, Allow it to dry over night.

Continuing my theme of being cheap; I wanted Runabout M2s (a car I had previously, but haven't mentioned, was a Eunos Roadster M2-1002, but thats another story). Found a later type, in as new condition, being sold by Sam Goodwin. It was cheap, because he only had one of them. I brought, with the expectation of finding one to match. I never did; I ran the car with a single mirror, and an aluminium blanking plate. That was ok; the passenger Runabout mirror is utterly useless anyhow.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1050549.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/P1050550.jpg

But it didn't look balanced. I needed a second mirror, but not at Runabout prices. I did a little research, and it became clear Runabout do not make their own products; they source items from various suppliers. So who was supplying their M2 mirrors. The answer was close to home. Tex Automotive are a long term British car parts manufacturer; best known for the Tex mirror, which was a standard mirror for British Leyland in the 1970s; it used a unique rail mounting system, that I suppose provided for some pedestrian protection (it broke off cleanly if hit), but allowed a smooth exterior, while being easy to fit (on an assembly line). I came across the Tex Evolution mirror; a stainless steel mirror intended as an after market fitment for the Austin Mini. It looked very similar to the Runabout mirror, but was a fraction of the cost. Then I found a set at a car show, and seeing them in the flesh convinced me they were made by the same manufacturer as supplying Runabout. The bases were a little different, but I took the plunge and brought a set (under £50 for two, boxed and brand new).

Here's how they compared to the late style Runabout I had:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...rors/243-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...rors/244-1.jpg

Tex on the left, Runabout on the right.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...rors/246-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...rors/247-1.jpg

Runabout has their logo stamped, but Tex have theirs inscribed.

It would be too much to hope that the Evolutions would be a straight fit.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...irrors/140.jpg

The base was too small, plus the angle of the arm was wrong.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...irrors/139.jpg

Runabout:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...irrors/132.jpg

It was wrong, but not that wrong. The Evolution mirror includes a plastic block, that the users screws to the Mini door, using the original tapped mirror mounts. The mirror then attached to and covered the plastic block. I had a plan.

I wanted to create an adapter to enable fitment of the mirror, without physically changing the mirror nor the door, but at the same time, correct the angle of the arm, both for the aesthetics, but also to improve the field of view.

So I made up a mock-up, in polystyrene, to see if there was any traction in the idea, and also to work out the shape of the block needed.

First I carved a block to a rough wedge shape, to achieve the correction in the angle.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...rors/135-1.jpg

Plastic mounting block "fitted".

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...rors/136-1.jpg

Polystyrene fitted to the door.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...rors/138-1.jpg

Fit the mirror to the block, and mark out its outline.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...rors/141-1.jpg

Two outlines marked out:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...rors/143-1.jpg

The larger outline is the footprint of the Runabout. The idea was to carve the block to fit the footprint of the runabout, and blend that in to the footprint of the Evolution mirror.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...rors/144-1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...irrors/145.jpg

It looked like this idea could work. Now the hard work started. I took a block of aluminium, and proceeded to basically carve this into a mirror mount.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1100614.jpg

Using a combination of an angle grinder, a steel rasp (aluminium is very soft), and some files, this block was worked into a wedge; it only needed to be a rough shape; the flat, unworked side would fit against the door skin.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1100620.jpg

Then mark up the footprint of the plate as it sits against the door (I used a Runabout as a template, but any ovoid shape can be used). Drill the holes for the main screws-to-door. These must be drill perpendicular to the mounting face.

Start working the aluminium.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1100621.jpg

I became quite expert at producing nice curves with an angle grinder. Cylindrical drill grinding bits are great as roughly smoothing a face.

Once the shape is roughly done, you want to mark it up for the Evolution mirror base, on the face thats been worked into the wedge. I had originally intended to make both bases identical, but in the end, figured a mirror image was the way to go. This process was more fun, as I attempted to produce complex curves.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1100616.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1100618.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1100617.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1100623.jpg

Roughly finished test fit.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1100624.jpg

Eyeballing to make sure the two mounts were roughly mirror images; its not that important to get them both identical, to the mm.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1100622.jpg

Fitting the plastic block; tap the aluminium block for M6 bolts.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...irrors/258.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...irrors/257.jpg

Then just polish the aluminium to a mirror finish, using a wheel and polishing pastes.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...irrors/269.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...irrors/267.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...irrors/266.jpg

Overall, I'm happy with the outcome; maybe tweak the angles a little. Passenger mirror is still bloody useless.

Next up is installing a Corn's Racing Gear coilover kit; I have a 3 week window to do lots of jobs, before I take on a new role in the City of London.

Corn*s Coilover? That' definitely different. Why that route? I've never heard of anyone going with their setup. Pretty cool

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by atlnb

Corn*s Coilover? That' definitely different. Why that route? I've never heard of anyone going with their setup. Pretty cool

---

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...scoilovers.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...c%20II/023.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...c%20II/018.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...c%20II/021.jpg

Corns RG coilovers compared to P5 Puredrives:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...inggear037.jpg


Car in pieces

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...inggear049.jpg

I like the aluminum piece you machined for the mirrors. Great job man!

Beautiful coilovers! Matches the strut brace very well

Damn this is one sweet thread <3

Well, the coilovers had to come off, and back on with the P5 Puredrive coilovers. The spring rates were just too crazy in the end :(

But today, trial fitting my new retro badges.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1030046.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1030068.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1030085.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/P1030052.jpg

Yeah, just bluetack at the moment. Not decided which badge to put where.

Long time, no visit.

Last year, acquired Roadster #5, a 1993 Eunos Roadster S-Limited that was already well known to the community.

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Progress has been a lot slower than I wanted, due to lack of garage (so the car ends up being stored 100 miles from my home), but things have been moving recently.

When I got the car, it had a number of issues, some niggling, that needed to be sorted out. The obvious flaw was a year earlier, the car had been caught in a major hail storm, and every panel was dented. Surprisingly, for an ex-show car as well, it was obvious there were some also paint bodges that needed sorting, plus dreaded rusting was taking hold in the wheel arches, but not in the usual way.

First thing, transfer over my home-made "M2" bullet mirrors.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psd101c571.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps6c041b22.jpg

Then a Zoom filler cap to replace the OE Mazda chrome item.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps00bec39f.jpg

Garage Ohno slam panel to replace the pig iron that was there before (Roberts?)

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps32b51065.jpg

Mazdaspeed knee brace

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps34b49b44.jpg

KG Works clocks surround:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psd8fb888a.jpg

The polished Carbing rollbar was wonderful to look at, but it had to go; I had previously had the steel version, and I'm no longer to flexible to accommodate the drastic loss of seat travel. So removal.

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I replaced this bar with a 4P D-Technique item, which sits a little further back, and gives that little bit more seat travel (as well as a bar not so perilously close to the skull). Amazingly, the drill holes for the Carbing bar virtually matched those for the D-Tec bar (just a little reaming).

I came across this photo of a late Austin Healey that had been decked out for road ralleys;

http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/w...1f8ebfd3ab.jpg

Maybe I'm getting old, but suddenly I like a wooden dash.


I also changed the 93 tombstone for a 96 (JDM) tombstone; I was sick of my hand hitting the radio during gear shifts, and the later surround allows the radio to be installed flush. Also, the option seats went in. I fitted a wood Nardi steering wheel. Tried a leather Nardi, but plumped for the wood version because of the look.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps93cece6a.jpg

The Option seats had originally been black, and then dyed red. Consequently, they retained the original (tatty) black plastic furniture. I decided to do the unthinkable and transfer the plastic furniture from near mint S-Limited seats to these,

Comparison of the two seats:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps0fa867be.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psff067432.jpg

This part can't easily be swapped, but is hidden anyhow:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psade3e170.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps94a3c2fc.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps5b3bdd24.jpg
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Removing the Carbing bar had left two gaping holes in the footwells where the side bars were fitted. Using footmats wasn't going to work. I was lucky enough to source a R-Limited carpet, which is virtually identical, except for the holes for the seatbelt stalks.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps70b85059.jpg

Removing the old carpet revealed quite extensive rusting in the drivers footwell, from a leaking roof. Loose rust removed and hammerited. Hope it holds up:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psc74fdae4.jpg

I cheated in fitting the carpet, by not removing the dash. "New" carpet fitted, and black S-Spec overmats fitted; will do until I can track down S-Limited mats.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa038376a.jpg

This shot shows how tired the red leather was looking on the seat; the seats needed redying.

Back in the day I bought the original exhaust that was on your s special 2 from JazzyB. Not sure if it was custom or not but was what it came from Japan with. Was the loudest exhaust I've had. Sold the car shortly after with it on but be surprised if its still on there as was almost unbearable.

The seats had been looking tired for a while, and the dye had worn off in places (more than 5 years after the original job!)

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pse89a569f.jpg
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I ordered a custom leather colouring kit from Furniture Clinic, using a swatch cut from the original S-Limited seats (this colour, which is the same as the LE Miata is now on Furniture Clinic's system). This is a water based dye; you prep and clean the leather (celluose thinners and alcohol), sponge on the dye, and then spray the top coats.

This first pass showed the change:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psb7fed9a8.jpg

The finish was still very patchy, thanks to problems spraying the dye using the supplied airbrush. A better airbrush was secured.

Getting better
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psd6c349cf.jpg

No attempt was made to fill the cracks, but the dye has made the leather look new
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps7f83924b.jpg

Still not quite perfect, but at this stage, I got bored and sealed it. Furniture Clinic sent me another batch of dye, enough to do 10 seats, so may have another go another year.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psf9993ad2.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Madaboutmx5s

Back in the day I bought the original exhaust that was on your s special 2 from JazzyB. Not sure if it was custom or not but was what it came from Japan with. Was the loudest exhaust I've had. Sold the car shortly after with it on but be surprised if its still on there as was almost unbearable.

---

When I got the S-Special, it had been fitted with a crappy Powerflow exhaust; it was just a stock exhaust cut in half with a different back box. Swapped it for a Mongoose. The Blackbullet S-Limited was fitted with a MX5parts twin exhaust which drones at speed. The car is booked in for a respray, and I've sourced a new rear bumper; may take the opportunity to change to a Mongoose system and single exit.

A knocking sound from the rear turned out to be a destroyed top mount and stripped bolt, to the extent, when driving, I hit a pothole and the shock fell out :shock:. I thought ordering a new top nut from Mazda will do for now, but it turned out these shocks were not the factory Bilsteins but Japanese Ennepetal Bilsteins and matched springs. These were the skankiest shocks I had ever seen, but amazingly were not leaking. Nevertheless, this merely pushed up a part of my long term plan, new coilovers.

A set of Meister-R Zetec Pros were ordered.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps28965e8a.jpg

The rear badge from MX5Roadsters can be seen here.

Skanky and new

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pscc304345.jpg

Cleaning up the wishbones

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa2f7f87d.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psc120b524.jpg

Received some TSIs from MX5Roadsters; nicely finished. So far just painted uo and trial fitted. I want to source something to use as a sidelight.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psb6f56885.jpg
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A Roadster that has caught my eye is a well known one over on Minkara. I like it for its classic accessorisation:

http://cdn.mkimg.carview.co.jp/carli.../227636/p1.jpg

I had a set of modified Cibie Tangos left over from the GHO nose. At >$160 a set, it would be a shame not to find a use for them. Partly as a joke, partly to investigate issues for a bracket, I played around with an old JDM number plate bracket.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps965cd1bb.jpg
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No, there was never any intention to stick with this, but it revealed to me that that any brackets would need to be very substantial; the Cibies are heavy, and there is a lot of movement even in the thickish gauge of steel used in the numberplate bracket. Work in progress.

Also work in progress; rollbar cover. I got hold of some red vinyl that wasn't too bad a match for the interior. The original plan was to put in eyelets and lace up the cover. THis ain't going to work:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps3551223a.jpg

The ziptie S&M cover; you need abolutely precise eyelet placement, otherwise it will look awful, and this will be a nightmare around the rear stays. And it will look awful.So I think I'll go with velcro.

And, yes, thats pipe lagging.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps95dd5693.jpg

On the right, pipe lagging, ex-B&Q. On the left, the rubber stuff Carbing-Okuyama wrap their bars in.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps94faf467.jpg

I'll take my chances.

Some other recent jobs have been rather boring.

Slow wipers turned out to be a failing wiper motor. I learnt that a 1991 wiper motor is completely different from a 1993 wiper motor.

The horn stopped working. Turned out that the horn ring (whatever its called; the bit that contacts the button on the steering column) had come adrift (its attached to the boss by double sided tape), and compounding this, Nardi had just soldered the horn wire onto the ring, with the result that the boss just cut the wire. Decided to solder a spade connector to the ring for something more substantial.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps72632c9f.jpg
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Next up will be the full respray within the next month, and to get shot of the Work wheels.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by roadsternut

When I got the S-Special, it had been fitted with a crappy Powerflow exhaust; it was just a stock exhaust cut in half with a different back box. Swapped it for a Mongoose. The Blackbullet S-Limited was fitted with a MX5parts twin exhaust which drones at speed. The car is booked in for a respray, and I've sourced a new rear bumper; may take the opportunity to change to a Mongoose system and single exit.

---

Yeah know you mention it I remember the seller of your car telling me had had got a exhaust made up. Good luck with the 'blackbullet' and good to see it getting some tlc.

Love those Driver option seats. Nice job on the re-dye.

those seats do look great!

Not much more. Went a bit made on redying leather part; a MX5parts gearshift boot in red, which was really orange, and a thick leather black handbrake boot I've had for ages.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps0d087ef0.jpg
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Another trial fit of the Cibies; made up some brackets this time round. No wobble.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps88415778.jpg

I have an ex-M2-1001 wiring loom that I need to adapt, so hopefully will be fitted and functioning in the next few weeks.

Car is actually looking a little tatty; removed the MX5parts duals, and fitted a single exit Mongoose exhaust; car runs much better, much more get up and go. But fitted a new bumper to go with it, a tatty black S-Special bumper. Also decided to lose the RB rear spoiler, so a dinged and dented boot lid is on. The car is booked in for a full respray.

Nice progress though I am not sure on the front spot lights. As mentioned previously nice to see the car getting a 2nd lease of life.

Sloooow progress, thanks to Protech shocks blowing a seal on the S-Special, and then hunting up and down the country for someone to rebuild it (hint, Protech won't fix their own shocks), and then multiple clutch hydraulic failures on the S-Limited, finally getting it in for the long awaited respray, but it looks like it will be a bigger job than expected.

First things, attack areas that look a bit dodgy with a wire brush bit; don't want the sprayer just slapping paint on rust.

Passenger side sill seam nice and clean

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa61ab05b.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps23e2d4a5.jpg

Drivers side not quite so good but solid

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa21cb6c5.jpg

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Rear passenger sill felt solid, but the darkened area was ominous

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps7f5a1377.jpg

Rear driver sill looks ok, but in that light area, there's a pin prick hole. Sill has rusted

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps4ac661ac.jpg

But the worst bit; looking through the paperwork, I know the original owner had some bodywork done when it was first imported, and whoever did it, didn't do a great job (orange peel). I had assumed a little dent. When I got the car, there were two tiny bubbles above the rear passenger wheel arch. Investigated and revealed what seemed to be surface rusting. I had assumed this was to do with the repair; filler absorbs water. I gave is a quick lash over with paint for the summer and left, The rusting now looked serious. Rubbed it back to bare metal, and my heart sank when I saw the 2cm long crack in the metal. After I attacked the crack,,,,


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Right through, but strangely the wing lip is perfect. So right now Blackbullet looks diabolical; dented scrapyard boot lid (didn't want a spoiler on the repainted car), scuffed rear bumper (took off the MX5part duals, put on single Mongoose exhaust). Hopefully in 3 weeks or so, it will be back looking better, about 5 months late.

Taken longer than expected, but the body overhaul is nearing completion. Welding done, hail damage sorted, about to receive a base coat.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps30e2a8f7.jpg
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Back out of the spray booth

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Gradually fitting it all back up. Refitted factory front lip; a previous owner had painted it gloss black, and inevitably the paint was chipped and badly crazed. It would have ended up the same if I repainted it, and I won't be handling this car with kid gloves. The original idea was to take it back to bare plastic, and paint satin black. But all that did was accentuate the various gouges present. I filled in the gouges, and decided to take a chance with Halfords bedliner paint. Brits aren't too familiar with this stuff, and Halfords has only just added this; its a matt black aerosol with fine bits of rubber, intended for pickups.

An experiment with a random piece of scrap plastic;

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps86a7e77a.jpg

I really liked the grained finish, so did the front/rear lip with it.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps462a2937.jpg

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Unfortunately, I'm not 100% on how the bonnet turned out, so the car has to go back in the spray shop,

Next; new roof, sort out the Work CR-01s (I was set on some Panasports, but that fell through), fit the painted MX5roadsters TSIs (with white LED sidelights).

Interior; I have plans involving a pair of momentary toggle switches, Wolf window module (anyone remember that?), Dcuatro shifter ring and R-Limited carpet remnants.

Looks great!! lots of really good restoration here! :bow:

Nice work. Good to see this car ended up with you and getting some TLC. Like the lorry bed paint review as been meaning to buy some of that myself.

That paint seems to be good at hiding a lot of sins. No doubt it will get all scuffed up, but hopefully easy to touch in. Might find a few other used for it

Also have found a local (to me) person who can do OE-style binding

http://bindarug.co.uk/

Very Nice Body Work!

Finally fitted the MX5Roadsters TSIs with LED sidelights after I clean forgot I left them at the body shop 2 months ago.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psdrmmo6ob.jpg

Car is immobile due to dud AFM; awaiting a remanufactured Carbone unit.

All coming together well. TSI's look good on it.

The S-Limited has been very sick recently; new AFM, fuel pump relay and ignitor hasn't really fixed the problem, nor has stripping out the immobilizer (car runs for about half an hour, then just dies), though while it was running, it flew through the annual MOT with no problems.

In the meantime, little project which I have been mulling over for years; centre console delete, by modifying the radio surround.

My first attempt I wasn't happy with.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psstcjawhg.jpg

So tried again with another scrap radio surround I had lying around;

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psu5reabn2.jpg

Trimming the bottom, and with an old perspex numberplate; those who know me will recognise, ha ha.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psimrtcuc0.jpg
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A light dusting with bedliner paint and satin black

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psgnoy64eb.jpg

Think I'll stick with Mk2 (right hand).

Looks good !!!

Nice work Andy. I've the M2 radio console in one of my cars. Makes it a heck of a lot easier when you want to get it off not having the centre console there.

Thanks; I've got to figure out what to do with the power window switches. I've put together a fully functioning 1-touch up/down toggle switch set thats plug and play, but frankly, its a rats nest of wires, and there's not much room behind that radio....

But a target to get ready for, to go see #86;

http://www.miataland.com/

http://www.automoto.it/news/mollo-tu...azda-mx-5.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVsZ...ature=youtu.be


I had no idea a M2-1028 had been exported fom the UK to Italy 2 years ago...... Need to get the S-Limited running properly though...

Continuing.

Used an old upper gear boot to join a Zoom shift ring to the upper gear boot.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psc5fcrcur.jpg
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You only need to cut this bit off the dash

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psjcddejx3.jpg

Gonzo carpet cutting. Not much red carpet to work with; salvaged from a complete spare carpet, with moulded backing removing using a heat gun.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps6eufnxkn.jpg

With an old shift boot fitted

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psltvljipd.jpg

Dab of S-Limited red dye

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psyh6nl5jg.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pslh3osmvf.jpg

Still got to get the carpet edged. 1-touch window module from Wolf has noticeably slowed the windows compared to the stock 96 Eunos Roadster switch that was fitted (which gives full a1-touch, up and down drivers side only).

Looks great!! I have the same radio too, very classic looking.

What model is that? It would be perfect for my build

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bogaut

What model is that? It would be perfect for my build

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Eunos Roadster S-Limited

Looks like a great job.

Can I ask what 'bedliner' paint you used to paint your custom tombstone? I'm struggling to find anything suitable in the UK, (or I'm looking for the wrong thing!)

Cheers

Nice arm rests :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr slow

Looks like a great job.

Can I ask what 'bedliner' paint you used to paint your custom tombstone? I'm struggling to find anything suitable in the UK, (or I'm looking for the wrong thing!)

Cheers

---

Halfords bed liner, then give a light rub over with 800 grade wet and dry, skim with standard satin black, to tone down the coarseness.

http://files.homepagemodules.de/b561...9p161833n2.jpg

You only need to give it a light skim.

Noticed they have started stocking peelable paint........

Quote:

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Originally Posted by freedomgli

Nice arm rests :)

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Ha ha. One fitted. One on the shelf.

We'll I wasn't expecting halfords!

Many thanks :)

After a summer of frustrating mechanical issues, the car now seems to be reliable. Last mechanical change was the fitment of a Mazda OE clutch and a refaced NB6 flywheel, to replace the SPEC2+ clutch and 1.8 flywheel. The NB6 flywheel used the same part number as 90-93 1.6 UK MX5s, M2-1001s and Mazdaspeed NA6s. US and Japan NA6s got a heavier flywheel. To say the change was transformative is an understatement. The engine has some zip now.

It had its one and only summer outing to the MX5OC Rally. I was stuck at the back.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pss3okt2yh.jpg

Some interesting cars there out of the 1500 MX5s that attended.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psjc9jeajr.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psorytpxge.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psc08e0lpz.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps1xmguoqd.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psbu5u0wwu.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psstlq61xq.jpg


Only one other S-Limited there
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pspgztmy9w.jpg



So I decided the recover my Mazdaspeed kneebrace in some red vinyl. Never tried this before, and it shows, a mess of contact adhesive, bulldogs clips, pegs, paperclips. And its the wrong red. So this will have to be redone, with something thinner than the vinyl I had.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psove9zbcv.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psqiteoryy.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pssyljwykn.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psx7rlox2u.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psmm4cuemk.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps091zdaph.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psxyxafunc.jpg

Then I decided to wind back the clock, and try something I last did in 1998; ditch the airbox and fit a generic cone filter. But I wanted to do it better

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pshjs4swj8.jpg

Stupid studs on the AFM preventing the filter fitting properly Extract the studs and fit bolts

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psflbwfwy8.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps3faidkti.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psucvxvrkk.jpg

These universal heatshields didn't exist in 1998; back then, I was just using bent up bits of galvanized sheet

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psb0df3lj6.jpg

Some things don't change. At least this time I ended up giving it a coat of gloss black

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pskgvnfovg.jpg

Finding clearance between the manifold and the RS Aizawa brace

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psuwa2yz1y.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psrufqnttm.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psb0tonqnl.jpg

A simple little fix; the shifter had been polished, but you couldn't see it, A little o-ring pushed down the Moss leather boot enough (and it stays put) to show a bit. Makes it look a little more vintage.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps6tnwwp4e.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psrjfgrnsg.jpg

On a roll, so I decided to tackle that broken lock spring that had been bugging me for two years. First extract the dinitrol coated lock



http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pscbprojzv.jpg

I found the broken spring

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psp9feyigi.jpg

Fit new spring

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psnyaes5yd.jpg

Completely filthy job refitting this.

But the Mazda god curses me again. Go for a spirited drive, got back, god awful rattle. Found this lying loose (starter motor bracket fell off)

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps3re8u1wf.jpg

Blame the spanner monkey who fitted the clutch....

One of these days, I'll get some better pictures

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psqa6drlur.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psumfv9xdc.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psrzneedw2.jpg

I am glad to see the black car coming together and you getting to use it and nice to see it back to a high standard again. Last time I saw this car was just after I'd had Performance 5 fit the FM2 kit to my silver car. Part of the reason for doing this was the YouTube video of the 'blackbullet' iirc on a track day at Donnigton.

Likeiwse thanks for sharing the photos of the OC event. I should get my arse into gear and attend one of these shows. Looks like some nice cars attended.

Maybe this;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvP7f21xSJ4


Then there is all this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CclT...Y&feature=user
https://youtu.be/Uu3z8FNeUM0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSY5FsN1MQ


Er...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrigd5Ik2vY

All thats gone, never going back to that, though I might take it to Curborough in April.Or else wimp out and just take SAZ9961 back; its been a long while.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n.../DSC034151.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ec%20II/42.jpg

Beautiful.

Following on from
http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....768#post177768

I did a trial fit of a Maxilite; I need to wait another frustrating week for tyres.

First impression; spotted one pock in the paint, so overall quality looks good. Centre caps are chromed plastic with a wire lock spring. Weight; on bathroom scales, they were an even 6kg.

The shape; original photos were deceptive. The shape (size of the centre part, dish) looks right.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psjxezdbfq.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pswvhasduv.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psj2pjof1q.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pswfifdk8c.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps1bt2mkb9.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psqwrugud1.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pssgvlsnyv.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psgoydhkdd.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psdnfmdcxe.jpg

Oh dear.


http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psqgyxmlnh.jpg

The fronts aren't fitted because of this:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psaizbxwuu.jpg

Front caliper brackets are fouling the wheel, gouging it :cry:

Despite this:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psz5ac1qqw.png

And Maxilite saying:

Quote:

---

We have a TÜV certificate so clearance had been checked from TÜV as well the wheels fit both brakes on NA

---

er, no, these wheels don't clear NA 1.8 brakes fitted to a NA6. I was so pleased; tyre came round to the drive, noted the wheels fitted "like a glove". I even left the centre caps off so I could apply a sealant to the wheel. The wheels looked great; I especially liked the almost grey like finish.

I'm awaiting a response from both the manufacturer and supplier, given that it seems their entire stock of MX5 wheels will now be difficult to sell. I suppose the answer is a wheel spacer. But are these wheels a write-off because of the gouge left by the caliper? Also, how thick a spacer? I read that the front track is narrower than the front, so its ok to just put a spacer, up to 5mm, on the fronts only.

So finally got the Maxilite wheels fitted; ordered some smart anodized 5mm wheel spacers from SCC in Germany (4x100, correct 54.1mm centre bore) for less than half what FM charge for theirs. Kept the stock studs; front took 8 turns torqued, rears 7.5 turns, so happy with that.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psq9emmwpq.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psptq2xi8h.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psdx5ms7ep.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psy3rzvb4c.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...pshkvvaag7.jpg


Still love the interior
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psnc7vukxz.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...psugzjxnhp.jpg

Looks great, inside and outside.

Looking good. The wheels fill the arches nicely. As you say the interior looks a good place to be.

Recovered the doorcards.

Drivers side had some seatbuckle damage and a bad attempt at a repair

http://i.imgur.com/w6vjc0H.jpg

At the NEC Classic Car Show, Martrim had some stretchy red vinyl that seemed a close match; think it was Matador Red.

http://i.imgur.com/JFpMOlV.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Dbb3sHQ.jpg

Recovering the door cards is an easy job, but one I had never done before. I found this video had great advice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdu6jpz5pwo

mainly because this guy didn't bother with any measuring, and just freestyled it.

Separate the top; some staples, stop glued studs and some screws. Likely you will have to replace the screws with some slightly bigger ones when you reassemble. You need brand new Stanley (craft knife) blades.

http://i.imgur.com/kqZ3yOc.jpg

Peel off the old trim; the passenger side was still in good condition, but I decided to redo both. I was careful to extract the old vinyl intact, as it might still be useful for another S-Limited/LE owner. Tip; the foam padding is doubled over, with one half glued to the vinyl, and other half stapled to the door card, with the fold at the bottom of the card. So, if you peel from the top, you can either remove the foam intact, or, what I did, slice through at the bottom. One lay of foam was enough for me.

http://i.imgur.com/l7M0pHt.jpg

Lay out the vinyl, roughly cut to shape, and make the cuts for the corners

http://i.imgur.com/tEQVOdA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3XkXIws.jpg


Used a spray adhesive; other brands are available

http://i.imgur.com/mwgDpAS.jpg

Spray liberally, particularly at the edges of the door card

http://i.imgur.com/2911tBA.jpg

Give it 5 minutes to tack up, then fold as per the video; one pull up to tack the vinyl to the car edge, before folding over

http://i.imgur.com/t0CMZod.jpg

You need plenty of excess to pull in the corners cleanly.

http://i.imgur.com/qqhR5i3.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Qy1MAze.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cOvyxjT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mKSPsNc.jpg

You can cut off the excess later on.

So a bit disappointed to find the door top looked darker

http://i.imgur.com/4Tm86Vp.jpg

But this was down to 22 years of dirt, sweat, polish.

Some scrubbing improved things, but it still needs work
http://i.imgur.com/WGfsrgg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ZjvjU6h.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mOHPpkX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Kpaj5uq.jpg

Recovering the Mazdaspeed knee brace took 5 attempts of stretching, Fairly pleased with this

http://i.imgur.com/sIfSu8M.jpg

With the console delete, my fuel and boot levers were exposed. I had used a piece of the S-Limited carpet, over a plastic form, as a cover, but it didn't work. A piece of the vinyl, with the edges folded and glued, has enough weight to drape over the levers. Very easy to reach under to pop the petrol filler. I may add some velcro or a Tenax stud finish this off

http://i.imgur.com/2RTs8QL.jpg

Great work redoing your door cards!

The wheels are such a good mix of classy, timeless and cool, together with a clean exterior and great interior it really is a sweet roadster. Are you considering a m2 front for this one, to mend some holes? (in your heart)

I wish. But I fear my UK source for M2 bumpers has destroyed his moulds. My last one.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...I/crash417.jpg

Duct tape GHO bumper

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...P1060156-1.jpg

Besides its less than impressive resistance to a grass bank, the GHO's bumper will also break your heart with the amount of stone chips it will pick up.

And I also passed once on this bumper

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n.../naaftbar1.jpg

Gaah, it was £400 delivered from Kiwiland.


An RSA bumper would catch my fancy; thats a quality bumper (better quality than the GHO1001 bumper to be truthful)

There's also s2racing. I just got a set of their tails, albeit a small piece the quality looks great. I remember you saying your old 1002 got a new bumper from them (after you sold it), so you might have some info on how their full bumpers are?

That bumper had quite a few people drooling, I almost made a move for it as well, but Rob was the quickest!

DROOL over your Driver Option deep bolstered seats.

i havent had any issues with my gho 1001 bumper. but rs aizawa does feel higher quality. and my oem 1001 bumper feels even beefier than the two.

Minor update; new hood. The unbranded red vinyl hood from MX5parts turned out to be a BAS International hood; as good as OE. Fitment provided to be the most difficult of the hoods I have fitted, partly due to my decision to replace with the frame on car (didn't feel like removing the rollbar to get at the frame bolts), partly because it was incredibly tight to do up. Thanks to Richard Nicoll from the MX5OC for offering moral and physical support to get it done.

http://i.imgur.com/lIlmldV.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/nrrNwoq.jpg?1

You're a brave man. I've done most of the wrenching on my car but I'm not looking forward to replacing the soft top. I know I could do it but I'm just not sure I want the aggravation in my life. I'll either just buy a used but good condition soft top and frame assembly like I did last time (it's been good for 12 years now) or I may just bring my original soft top frame to Planet Miata and have them do it. They've got a chassis buck setup just for doing up soft top assemblies. It's pretty neat. They've got it down to a science but they only do it during slower months when they're not super busy supporting like 50 spec Miata racers.

Fitting a new top to a frame is quite easy, getting that new top onto the car and closed can be a different matter. This is the 4th top I have fitted myself. The cheaper single skinned tops (not double layered in the corners) are a bit easier to get closed that first time.

I may have to go back in and replace the rain rail; the one in there is in a pretty horrible state. Not sure if the Robbins Rain Rails sold by Moss are any good; they are half the price of Mazda OE, but look better than the rain rails sold by other hood makers which are nothing more than some hood material offcuts. I'll leave it until the hood gets a bit easier to do up.

The hood looks great!

The next one I put on my car will be red.

Oxblood/dark red mohair hoods look extremely classy. There's a white NA with one in Greece and man, I love it.

After a rather frustrating day fitting a Robbins Rain Rail on a damp day, decided to try something a little experimental. The ILM door cups I always thought looked a bit cheesy; chromed plastic is exactly what it looked like. So I wrapped some door cups in the same vinyl I recovered the door cards in the same vinyl used for the door cards. 50/50 at the moment how it looks.

http://i.imgur.com/wIKSHqm.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/f71mGwF.jpg

Not really a fan, maybe trim leaving red in the cup and chrome perimeter…..personally Id go black in the cup, chrome perimeter, mimicking the tweeter/eyeball vents. :.02:

I'm not a fan of red. But to each his own, right?

You door panels rock! Love the lines. Love the accents. And just, Wow!

Nice work!:drink:

I don't think it looks bad at all. Would need to see the same setup with a black cup to make up my mind though

As said, its an experiment, to see how stretchy this vinyl is over complex curves. Thinking of other projects.

Honestly though, I'd prefer something to make the ILM cups look a bit duller.

The wrapped door cups have gone; maybe they'll turn up at the bric a brac table at the next MX5OC rally.

Some ongoing projects.

Cleaned the seatbelt webbing, which immeasurably improved the retraction, but I spotted damage to the driver's webbing. I couldn't unspot this, so I needed replacements. S-Limited belts are basically unobtanium, and any rare used belts could also be in poor condition.

http://i.imgur.com/4OqOzR3.jpg?1

So, after a bit of research, I found a company called FDTS; an example of a once thriving car parts industry, small "mom and pop" outfits. They were able to reweb the belts. Unfortunately, the red used by Mazda is not available. I had to choose between a fairly bright red (India Red QI) and more of a wine red, BK.

http://i.imgur.com/LQdvw4n.jpg

BK is actually a bit darker than original, but my eyes couldn't take QI,

Looking forward to receiving two new belts, rewebbed for £70. Cheaper than even a pair of standard used belts.

Thought about a rollbar cover for ages; I tried putting in eyelets into a strip of vinyl but the results were awful. After a few months, I had an epiphany. Why would I need to every remove a rollbar cover. Given the D-tec bar had to come out to remove the seatbelt assemblies, there was an opportunity.

And the D-tec bar was tatty looking; various chips (I'm not going to get into a discussion regarding padding), and the seatbacks had actually worn some of the paint away.

For the main bar, I used some double side foam tape; this was just to kind of hold the vinyl in place. Another £20 ($30) worth of Martim's Matador Red was procured, to yield a strip about 10cm wide. 4m is needed for a 4P bar; I had a 2m length, and 2m isn't enough for the main bar (you need nearer 3m), so I decided to "extend" the cover at the foot. Using spray contact adhesive, basically wrap the vinyl around the bar, with a little heat, to overlap. Once set, using a craft knife, trim the overlap to give a reasonably even seam. Any exposed edge is coloured in with a wipe of some colour-matched red I have for seat leather maintenance.

http://i.imgur.com/3iaTYF6.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ZhxbHZO.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gplJmPz.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/7Tv8rbP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8gsQACh.jpg

Not finished yet

That looks very nice.

Rewebbed seatbelts received. FDTS also sent back the old webbing.

New belts are a bit darker (the alternative was a bright red)

http://i.imgur.com/vvVWpUm.jpg

Came all wrapped up

http://i.imgur.com/ddhAueU.jpg

Nicely complement the interior

http://i.imgur.com/U9bdTTr.jpg

MX5Roadsters TSI that have sat around forever were finally fitted with white LEDs as sidelights

http://i.imgur.com/7wZmKfI.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/7VsuqOm.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/SGPlt6B.jpg

Great stuff. I will use your thread (and the info and samples you provided) as reference for when I want to do my red interior too. I love every small detail.

Not done much in 12 months, due to some personal disasters. Maybe getting things back on track.

Lack of use meant the S-Special 2 had slowly rotted away stored in a garage. Now well on the want to being put right.

http://i.imgur.com/VvsveOe.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/AIgY4aa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wPRPzNP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5G8aFOJ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/BkUShZM.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/PoQ79E0.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/N7sHCi0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VQcVmLS.jpg
Only covered 1000kms in 12 months!

The S-Limited is looking flakey everywhere, partly due to a repair done to the car just after it was imported now coming back to bite me. Next year, I think this car will need two new complete rear wings to keep it from being scrapped. The S-Special I expect to sell on fairly soon.

Swapped 96 seat belly pans onto early seats. Good condition cloth seats are getting harder to find, and for the S-Special, I really didn't want to fit early seatbelt buckles. Later seat pans are different, with a seat latch fitting, but also, interestingly, increased side bolster support. This was a really easy mini-project.

http://i.imgur.com/OEtFap4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/VRjpjfQ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ElpRtbB.jpg

Another reason to bin early seat pans

http://i.imgur.com/MFo4EqX.jpg

New cat fitted to the S-Limited grounds out on my drive. Oops.

http://i.imgur.com/HXtdWAB.jpg

A much delayed update, and the last update, from me, on the S-Limited, aka Blackbullet.

A little bit of bubbling turned out to be £1500 worth of welding.

https://i.imgur.com/zn1u0jk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZUjCRKS.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zK1ofzz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fsQc0sx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/B2E8In3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XNrWcRl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/C9R2M8C.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CU9f5Gp.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rfqj29c.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RDAyZlA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/uwm0jJT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/9mgXs5V.jpg

I wasn't using it much, so it went up for sale. It was tough choice; the low miles S-Limited, or the mega mileage S-Spec. Fitted it with some leather UK spec seats I had, and refitted the standard centre console.

https://i.imgur.com/ng6Jz5i.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/a2WWi3r.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WuKCIUD.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JIFU1HJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/kXBNBg1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hE4GDW7.jpg

Now gone :(

One reason for disposing of the S-Limited is that I am now a Jag owner.

2004 Jaguar XJ8 3.55 Sport. I could say its the same as a XJR, but without the blower or 4.2 V8. But it is a poser. Has the XJR's air suspension, with the Bilstein active dampening. Firms up the harder its driven, lowers 30mm at over 70mm.

https://i.imgur.com/pITKO1x.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/m0aRfjL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xNWREMP.jpg

R-Spec seats, touch screen option. Phone holder, thankfully, has gone.

https://i.imgur.com/fnuVhPI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yfVfNSy.jpg

Obviously a very different drive from a MX5. So far, it hasn't bankrupted me.

So, I'm back to the S-Special II, which I've had since 2005, but has been essentially unused for 2-3 years.

Bodywork was sorted

https://i.imgur.com/5G8aFOJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/PoQ79E0.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/BkUShZM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/MaWpZay.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/P6qzUMY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/YEYPWkS.jpg

I kept a few things from the S-Limited; my custom Tex mirrors, the factor Option seats and centre console delete.

The Option seats were redyed black. Colour changing leather is a brutal process, as you need to strip the leather right back.

The seats would have been originally a flat black

https://i.imgur.com/OM5q7lc.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/arfBymc.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/blFCi3l.jpg

Then, around 2006, these had been dyed red, for a R-Limited

https://i.imgur.com/KXHyijF.jpg

The red finish needs to be stripped off, using thinners and wet n dry.

https://i.imgur.com/5cnlrxk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/O7O5NFB.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mA9Xwar.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WjG8kTQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/C2B0XmM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/TMZmuRV.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/PRUKRvf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/sfDdsio.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1eyTa5p.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/HQT8YkJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/I8e6g6D.jpg

One of the odd discoveries during the teardown was that all the black plastic trim was actually white, painted black. In places, I have retained these parts, in their original rough condition, elsewhere, "new" black-moulded furniture

https://i.imgur.com/sTs0inG.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qIHzZkn.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/L2kAp2y.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WOuwn5o.jpg

So back to square one.

https://i.imgur.com/aznGyuU.jpg

Ideas, what to do with a 96 Montego Blue, still on 15" factory BBS.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by roadsternut

Ideas, what to do with a 96 Montego Blue, still on 15" factory BBS.

---

I'd just drive it and enjoy it :)

The S-Special looks good to me. I saw the S-Limited for sale so nice to see you still have a roadster. I still remember that noisy exhaust I bought from it those years ago. Puts a RS*R to shame.

Still around

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0667ae01_k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e610270d_k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...38cdfdbd_k.jpg

https://forum.mx5oc.co.uk/uploads/de...f9fb31ea8.jpeg

https://forum.mx5oc.co.uk/uploads/de...4ebede5e3.jpeg



Not much done on the car, but now have a new driveway. COVID has delayed the planned garage refurb (needs a new roof)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...808d97f3_h.jpg
https://forum.mx5oc.co.uk/uploads/de...b7e1d07ab.jpeg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a266f602_h.jpg

During construction, the MX5 was marooned in the garage

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9ae13f3a_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...163a8663_b.jpg