Roadsternut

[— 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.

[roadsternut]

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.

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

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.

[— freedomgli —]

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

[— Grip Driver —]

those seats do look great!

[roadsternut]

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.






Another trial fit of the Cibies; made up some brackets this time round. No wobble.



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.

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

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.

[roadsternut]

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





Drivers side not quite so good but solid





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



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



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,,,,




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.

[roadsternut]

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

[roadsternut]

Back out of the spray booth





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;



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





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.

[— Phatmiata —]

Looks great!! lots of really good restoration here!

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

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.

[roadsternut]

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/

[—atank—]

Very Nice Body Work!

[roadsternut]

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



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