groovylee

It's back on its wheels! Ish 🤣 but not for long. Tonight was the night for checking the front top and bottom ball joints. Loosened all the nuts, managed to free of the tapers ok, and oh! They're not supposed to be that floppy 😱 I hate adjusting mini ball joints. The shims are almost always the wrong combination, meaning that you have to order some more, then you think you've got it, nip it that last bit, and it's solid 🤬 Well tonight was a different story. All went well, I had two spare rubber boots, and the first side is all back together. I've ordered another 6 boots, so will do the others once they arrive. Buoyed by my early success, I decided to tackle the first driveshaft. The CV boots are ropey as hell, so I'm replacing them now before they fail. Again, all went well, the boots have been replaced, so I've got the other side to do tomorrow night, and they'll be ready for when I fit the engine at the weekend!

totally agree. now i just need to get them involved in the engine build up and install - i could do with some extra hands! thankfully all fingers remained apart and not stitched together 🤣

and then we decided to open up the 'bonnet' panel. this was held down with #8 self tappers which had gone a bit rusty. it was also sealed with silicone, which we wanted to remove and replace with neoprene strip to aid future removal. this highlighted the fact that there needs to be more fixings to stop the ripple effect of the screws pulling the rubber down. cue an order for twice the number of stainless #8 self tappers with flange heads to hopefully prevent this. time will tell.... under the hood: note the rusty chassis tubes - we rubbed these back and repainted with dark green hammerite - you wont see this anyway. interesting throttle pedal setup: and brake/clutch pedal box: we also found that the windscreen wiper wheel box was well corroded, and we couldnt tighten up the locknut holding it to the panel. a new one has been duly ordered. the wiper arms themselves are also a bit of a lash up, so i will be spending some time refining it keep the parabolic action I picked up some actual mini wheels, so the old ones will be for sale if anyone would be interested. details to follow once ive given them a clean to find numbers etc. not the best pic, but im sure you'll recognise the style. they look so small next to the 15" ones 🤣

next up was some cleaning and repainting of the radiator brackets (after pics to follow)

been busy over the weekend - first up, recover the seats. Before: during: and after: job well done i think. not going to refit them until i can make the doors vaguely watertight.... that's later on the agenda.

Also, Mrs groovy approves 😎

New gas struts today, so both doors are now operational. I did try to have them opening up to vertical, but then realised that I wouldn't be able to close them from the seat... Oops. As it happened, they're quite strong struts, and the place they're now mounted is some box section, so I'm happy they won't rip out of the mountings. Also fitted the removable steering boss. So much easier to get in and out now! Time will tell how long the chinesium lasts before getting a bit wobbly, but it was a cheap experiment. It's proven to work now, so can buy a better one next time 👍 That's it for tonight. Waiting on deliveries again now.

working today, so not too much going on last night i did manage to fit the new seat runners that arrived. this means that i can just about shoehorn myself in with the seat back, and the other groovy's can reach the pedals with the seat fully forward. i was worried it wouldn't work and this would all be a bit futile, but so far so good. definitiely needs a removeable steering wheel boss though (ordered) as watching me trying to get in and out is very funny 😅 might get around to splashing some paint in the engine bay tomorrow, ready for when the minispares order arrives and i can get the engine in it!

it wont be that bad lol, this thing is light enough at the front that i can pick it up on my own - i dont fancy that at speed round a corner

Current situation update... Engine has been procured, looks to be very good, but only a 998. It'll do. Came with all ancillaries, bar the alternator (ordered). The interior has been removed, seats stripped down and cleaned, and replacement foam and fabric ordered ready for minigroovy#1 to do some sewing work soon. Engine bay will be getting a good coat of whatever colour hammerite I have available, just as a tidying exercise. I've ordered new engine mounts which will be here soon, then I can fit the lump in. Then it's a case of running through all of the wiring and other connections, sorting out a radiator, and getting it running. I've got my eye on some 12" minilight style wheels to replace the 15" Alfa wheels it's is currently on (they don't really fit very well), and then once it is on the correct wheels, I can make a start on making the aftermarket rear arches fit. After that I need to go through all of the hydraulics, give the brakes a good clean up and going over, and lube up the handbrake mechanism. Then strip and rebuild the coilovers to check them all out. That's the main stuff. Then there's lots of small jobs like figuring out some sort of door locks, locking bonnet pins, hinges, gauges, Speedo drive cable, lights, sump guard, fire extinguisher position, hydraulic handbrake location, sound deadening etc... It's going to be a long haul. The most exciting update though, is that I've ordered new number plates for it, in black and silver, cos 1979 innit 😬 I know it's not technically correct, but I'm doing it anyway because it's legal 🤣 not fitting the front one yet though, as I have a plan to fill the front bumper with lead... More updates when I've had some deliveries. Lee

Got busy over the past couple of days, mostly cleaning and sorting, but I did knock up some door hinge brackets, so the doors now work again! They're a bit heath Robinson, and need some fettling, but they work 😁

Me too! Needs adjustment and cleaning though, like most of it 😅

I almost fit 😅

You guys make me chuckle 🤣 12 built in total by Chris, this being number 5 it seems. Bought it from the man himself. He's a very lovely chap, and gave me shedloafs of paperwork and history with it. There is much to do before November, including picking up an engine tomorrow. Oh, and poo count still zero 😱🤣

Breakfast achieved. Not for me, that's for the wife 😅 Minigroovy#2 and I had cereals. Time to leave. Very excited 😁

Well,last night I popped over to Bicester to borrow my mates trailer. I think it's overkill, but hey, It's not costing me anything so never mind. Poo count zero, but after the festival over the weekend, that could* change....

i think, really small. next tuesday ill post a pic up with me stood next to it

just been sorting insurance out for the Mosquito (it has been christened Leonard by the kids, due to it looking like the green pig from angry birds of the same name 😅) £85. fully comp. i couldn't pay quick enough lol

i havent done. not really much of a blue forum guy tbh....

Yep, top hinged. Not sure exactly what's what, as bought sight unseen, but the seller is the designer, and a friend of a friend, so all should be good. I'm assured that all I need to get is consumables and an engine/box. And a shitload of elbow grease!

As you asked nicely.... It's a Hollier Mosquito. 😁

It is a kit car thing, but not one of those.... There are lots of possibilities. BUT there were only 12 of these made in the 90s

Minigroovy 2 (the final version lol) is going to be sharing this one. So no painting it pink lol

Something has come up, and it is a bit too good to pass up, so Mrs groovy was duly consulted, and it seems mini groovy #1 is about to get her first car (only 3 years before she can drive lol). It's green. It will be A series powered (needs an engine and box). It's rear engined, and rear wheel drive..... The idea will be to collect it on the Tuesday after the BH weekend, then find an A series engine, and then teach the kids how to rebuild a car by making them do it 🤣 with supervision of course. Then minigroovy1 will be able to use it for production car trials and autotests etc. Happy days!

not a problem at all! it was great to meet you too, and i can confirm that the MX-5 really is a nice bit of kit - get it bought someone!