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Post by rustywheels on Mar 13, 2017 11:29:19 GMT
So this update will blow your socks off..! As Summer is fast approaching, what better time to strip back the wiper linkage? Actually, they had started to feel a little slower than usual, and its a job I had yet to tackle. All relatively painless, apart from breaking down the spindles, where you have to remove a rather tricky spring clip. Frankly its a PITA. However, man will overcome, and after a cup of tea, lashed up a couple of sockets, to push the housing back in the vice, to give some play on the spring clip and eased out with a small screwdriver.   Spindles, weren't in too bad a shape, so really just needed cleaning and greasing, before putting it back together. Downside of having the MX5 as your daily is that I couldn't spend the time in painting the linkage arms, as starting to show some corrosion. Had to suffice with a quick clean up and wipe down before reassembly. Whilst in there, I had a look at the blower cover. Actually was very clean, so another job ticked off the list. How are the socks, still on? |
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Post by lowender on Mar 13, 2017 19:25:24 GMT
Socks blown clean off. It's a whole new world to explore.
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Post by rustywheels on Mar 16, 2017 12:36:54 GMT
A bit of bling this time. Don't do it often, but the interior was being let down by the gear gaiter which being the original, was well passed its sell by date. After some looking around I settled on a leather gaiter, with tan stitching. Was contemplating tan leather, but decided this was just a little bit more subtle. Ordered from The Tuning Shop, and arrived next day. Nice quality leather and all the holes lined up perfectly for a great fit. Just got to start the hunt now for a decent wooden Nardi gear knob.   |
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Post by Meerkat on Mar 17, 2017 10:53:14 GMT
Wow, your seats look like new! Did you refurb them or did they come like that when you bought the car?
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Post by rustywheels on Mar 17, 2017 11:56:44 GMT
Thanks Meerkat. Can't take any credit for them, as they were refurbished and recovered as part of the deal when I bought the car. What I am amazed about is how comfortable I find them.
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Post by rustywheels on Mar 18, 2017 20:56:12 GMT
Had the afternoon free, so was time to tackle replacing the brake hoses with the Goodridge stainless steel ones I bought from Moss a while back now.  Took it easy as with brakes don't want to make any mistakes, and no real tales of woe. The rear distribution block was a bit of a fiddle, but was OK after a bit of jiggling around. Havent had the chance to test them yet, but feels nice and firm. Used about a litre of brake fluid to flush all the air out.  Whilst I was in there, I also adjusted the handbrake, greased the slider pins and made some adjustments to even the ride height out, before applying ACF50 to the springs. Not a bad afternoons work. Only downside is that's about it now for major jobs. Got the wheels to refurb, and I guess the clutch to do at some point, but not much else for a while. |
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Post by rustywheels on Mar 27, 2017 19:00:03 GMT
Star date 6 and a bit... While Mrs Rusty was having a pre Mothers Day lie in, I painted the boot 'scuttle' which was looking a little sorry for itself. Now need to find a suitable blue paint for the jack handle. Look's like the colour of my Dad's old Renault 12, so will have a look around to see what matches (may even be an old Holts spray can in his garage  . Smartens up the boot nicely.   In other news... The windscreen wipers still seemed sluggish after their spindle clean and grease. Cleaned up the motor's earth point, and hey presto, super fast wish wash. Nice! |
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Post by atlex on Mar 27, 2017 20:29:01 GMT
earthing points, always a killer  nice. your jack turny thing comes off a mariner blue btw. |
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Post by rustywheels on Mar 30, 2017 21:18:44 GMT
Thanks for the paint info. On the way to work, whilst waiting at a set of lights I suffered some idle droop. Classic sign of unmetered air entering in the system, so a quick rummage under the bonnet, discovered one lose pipe, which I clipped back. All sorted. However, I did notice this on the JR CAI pipe, which is a 'bellows' type affair. Its been rubbing against the fan cover on the radiator, and whilst not cut through, it wouldn't be long.  Ordered a 70mm silicon hose replacement. Much stronger, and actually is a better fit. Back to zoom zoom.  |
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Post by rustywheels on Apr 23, 2017 19:02:37 GMT
Not much has been happening in Rusty's world on the car front these past few weeks. Usual commuting to work in the MX5, and she is running really well. Even managed to get a wave out of a Mk3. Only downside is the BRG paint seems to attract pollen like a magnet and iron filings. Keep having to wash her (well, that's my excuse)! At Christmas, my kids bought me a plastic model to make. Now, I haven't made a model for probably over 20 years, and acrylic paints etc hadn't been invented then. The results are therefore a little rough round the edges (model isnt quite finished in the photo). Clearly I need an airbrush if I want to do this properly, but I had some fun making it. Kids never grow up  |
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Post by rustywheels on May 8, 2017 15:00:46 GMT
I've been speaking to Mark at MSX Dials, as wanted to change my dial faces for something clean and simple. I've always loved some of the early Ferrari gauges, so he mocked up a set for me based on one of my favorite cars (you'll have to guess which model ). Great service from Mark, and they arrived today. Yet to fit, but here is an early shot for you, and the quality is spot on:  |
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Post by minty on May 9, 2017 8:59:39 GMT
They look great!!
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Post by rustywheels on May 12, 2017 19:10:03 GMT
I've now got round to fitting the dials, and very pleased with the end results. I did however have a small hiccup during the install, when attempting to remove and then attach the needle stop to the oil gauge. Just as I was fitting it I dropped a small amount of glue on the face. Gutted! I owned up my mistake to Mark, and without any hesitation, he sent me a replacement, free of charge (even though I had offered to pay). Having learnt my lesson, I decided on taking a different path, so I ordered some 2mm black plastic rod (actually a guitar fret), which I melted the end using a soldering iron, and enabled me to push this through from behind. A small dab of paint on the end ensured the cut end was showing as black, and then super glued it all in.   Spent a while setting the needles correctly, but all now good. I've been struggling to get a decent photo in daylight without reflections, but a couple of shots below for you.     Highly recommend Mark at MSXDials. Whilst currently not the range of Revlimiter, postage is considerably less, and he will work on designs for you. Service is second to none and fantastic quality! |
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Post by rustywheels on May 19, 2017 19:46:01 GMT
One of the issues of having fitted the Jackson Racing CAI is the fact that the bonnet prop doesn't have anywhere to be fixed to. I had been waiting for some bonnet lifters to become available from MX5Parts, but they just had the chrome version which I didn't like. Moss, however, have now started stocking a Cobalt model, which is a single gas strut and a mounting plate:   Wasn't cheap at over £30, but good quality fixing bracket to take the weight and not exposed/visible when closed. They are really designed for the US Miata, so the Eunos being RHD, meant the lower bracket has to fit on one of the wiper brackets and needed a bit of tweaking to get right. The bonnet now rises gracefully into the air, and actually is now higher opening. Also, as the mounting point is at the back of the engine bay, you aren't trying to work round ones that are mounted mid point down the wing. |
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Post by rustywheels on Jun 16, 2017 18:58:00 GMT
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. Smartens up the boot nicely.
nice. your jack turny thing comes off a mariner blue btw.
le sigh