Project Collectioneering - Moogs Mootahs

[The Moog]

Results

 

Still doing its stuff

 

Emptied

 

Rinsed

 

Baking powder to neutralise the vinegar

 

Then soak and rinse

 

Emptied

 

Looking good

 

 

I would say that is a result.

 

5l of vinegar cost £3 and 36 hours soaking mean i have got a set of bolts, nuts and screws

[Guest Hooli]

I can haz like science!

 

I must remember that when I locate the box of random bolts etc I've carted about for 20+ years incase they come in handy.

[The Moog]

Only thing to be aware of it they will flash rust pretty quickly.

 

I sprayed them all with oil and stuck them in containers so they will get fully coated.

[The Moog]

This morning was all full of hope and wonder. Today was the day I shecheduled to pop the lsd into BAL.

 

It had been removed from AVO before going off to become bean tins.

 

Prepping the car

 

Tried changing steering wheel bit couldn't

 

Battery was fully flat so swapped in another charged one

 

Noticed a little puddle - I think the rear light clusters are letting water in

 

Took out the passenger seat to fit all the bits

 

Once over at NJGLeeds garage - removed boot lid

 

 

And swapped in the old foamectomy seat

 

 

Then onto the ramp and up in the air

 

And then the fun and games started. The Torsten diff uses the 1.8 driveshafts so had to swap them over. We hadn't been able to get them undone on AVO so removed the hubs.

 

So started to remove the hubs from BAL except the bottom bolt on the first one had seized solid.

 

 

instead plan was to just swap over the driveshafts.

 

We had spares

 

Except the hubnuts were the tightest thing known to man.

 

It required wheels back on on ground, handbrake and foot brake, massive breaker bar and tube on top - still managed to bend the tube before they popped off

 

Next couple of hours was taken with trying to remove the hubnuts off the driveshafts.

 

Njgleeds tried every trick in the book

 

Finally managed to get the nuts undone - which was ace. Ended up with two driveshafts ready to be fitted.

 

Old diff out

 

 

Next up was to get the old driveshafts out

 

Applying BFH and percussive action resulted in a total of nothing except a rounding if the driveshaft end.

 

That scuppered the plan to swap driveshafts out and ignore the seized bolts.

 

Back to plan A meant trying to find a solution to our woes. Looking at the assorted bits Neil reckoned we could rustle up two hubs with bolts.

 

One thing for it, out comes the wheel of death

 

This was to cut most of a nut off to get another driveshaft out so we could use the hub. The result was positive and the nut yielded

 

Neil got his massive breaker bar and hung off it, managing to loosen the driver's side rear bottom hub bolt. The design means the centre section corrodes and then won't move

 

Even with a massive bar and Neil hanging off it the passenger side bolt wouldn't come undone. Time for a tickle

 

Success and a very happy Yorkshire man.

 

You can see how the bolt has seized even after the ends are cut off

 

Diff bush pushed out with Neil's new favourite tool

 

New diff ready to go in

 

At this point it felt as though we were on the home straight.

 

Just bolt in the propshaft ...

 

Oh

 

 

My

 

 

God

 

 

It is too long. We both literally had a semi heart attack as it wasn't something that we knew we had to change.

 

A panicked rummage found AVOs propshaft in the pile of bits. Our heart rates dropped about 50 bpm.

 

You can see the difference here.

 

 

At this point less photos were taken as time was ticking on.

 

Stuff back together and copper greased the splines so next time is easy

 

You can see the old driveshaft where it has rounded

 

Wheels back on

 

Last few jobs were exhaust back on. Then refit boot lid

 

And all done. Oh well once swapped over the steering wheels.

 

 

From start to finish took about 7 hours including two stops for tea.

 

NJGLeeds is an absolute legend and I don't think I would have ever been able to do this by myself.

 

Driving the car back, it is easy to see what a difference the LSD makes.

 

 

 

Left on to do list is

 

Swap exhaust for 421 headers and decat

Remove and replace immobiliser

Fit a new roof

Upgrade and then Bleed brakes

Underseal the underneath

Change door cards over

Flush cooling system

Full service

Sort out battery drain

New tyres

Delete charcoal cannister

Poly Bush droplinks

 

 

Then onto

Roll cage

Proper alignment

Paint car

[hairnet]

nice MF

 

yeah if youd tried that solo it woulda been phail

 

nice one neil (do you get grief about yoksher in lancashashasha )

[NorthernMonkey]

We’re only about a mile as the crow flies from the border and about 15 minutes from Skipton and the Yorkshire dales so near enough not to get a nose-bleed

[dome]

That is a mission and a half. My LSD work was nothing in comparison to this. Excellent effort.

 

Probably the best thing to do after a day like today is to not even think about the car for a few days. The mojo will return

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Stuff back together and copper greased the splines so next time is easy ………………… yeah right!

That turned out to be a bloody pain! Without those resources to hand I'd have walked off crying and resorted to burning it with fire I think.

 

As an aside - do you never get the urge to 'jut clean up that bit while I'm here' - etc... - I end up cleaning back the chassis, arms, rusted anything at all and painting het buggers. Ends up a semi restoration! The shots of rust under there give me the horrors*.

 

*any reference or inference to wanting to 'tidy up' this or any other possible chod of the roadsalt inflicted oxidization of nay or all other autoshiters is a misunderstanding of the reader who is unduly influenced and indeed mildly befuddled by the constant presence of rusted chod in their lives and the constant striving towards a rust free Nirvana - do it yourself you lazy bastards  

[The Moog]

Plan is to get it back in the air in a few weeks, give it a stiff brushing then spray with Shultz.  That will make it look 1000% better and hopefully stop the rot. 

 

Idea is to get it mechanically sorted before sorting out the looks. It is a track car after all  

 

Being able to borrow the ramp makes getting at stuff so much easier than lying on your back in the driveway. 

 

 

I literally couldn't have fitted that box. NJGleeds skills, tool and total bloody mindedness won the day. I could have sworn he did a literal victory dance when it was back in.

 

If anyone ever has to mess about with rear hubs on an MX5 I suggest second hand set and spare bolts. That way you can cut them off and just replace. 

 

Luckily we both had seasoned Shiter wives who knew that "popping to the garage to  spend a couple of hours putting the LSD in" meant see you tomorrow! 

 

 

 

 

Oh and the bloody steering wheel is on squiffy as well! 

[NorthernMonkey]

Oh and the bloody steering wheel is on squiffy as well!

I seem to remember mentioning that at the time.

 

Your damned eyes need calibrating.

 

[The Moog]

You agreed it was on straight! Probably high on grinder sparks at that point

[NorthernMonkey]

By that point, I’d have agreed to anything...

[Jim Bell]

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Plan is to get it back in the air in a few weeks, give it a stiff brushing then spray with Shultz.  That will make it look 1000% better and hopefully stop the rot. 

 

Idea is to get it mechanically sorted before sorting out the looks. It is a track car after all

 

Being able to borrow the ramp makes getting at stuff so much easier than lying on your back in the driveway. 

 

 

I literally couldn't have fitted that box. NJGleeds skills, tool and total bloody mindedness won the day. I could have sworn he did a literal victory dance when it was back in.

 

If anyone ever has to mess about with rear hubs on an MX5 I suggest second hand set and spare bolts. That way you can cut them off and just replace. 

 

Luckily we both had seasoned Shiter wives who knew that "popping to the garage to  spend a couple of hours putting the LSD in" meant see you tomorrow! 

 

 

 

 

Oh and the bloody steering wheel is on squiffy as well! 

 

Oh - agreed - cosmetics are not to be really bothered with. It'll wear it's scars with pride I'm sure.

Unfortunately  I always end up 'cleaning it up' to 'just check' - usually bushes and suspension mounts…….. and so it begins……….

 

Great work fellas. Watching the track beast emerge shall prove interesting...…..

[Maurice Marina]

Only thing to be aware of it they will flash rust pretty quickly.

I sprayed them all with oil and stuck them in containers so they will get fully coated.

With mushy peas I hope...

[The Moog]

My new IKEA bed that I was supposed to be putting together is missing a key piece - rather than worry about that I decided to fiddle with BAL.

 

Two lots of new toys from Lidl.

 

This 6 sided socket set was only £14 so well worth it. Njgleeds swears by the £35 set as the 6 sides means less likely to round bolts.

 

 

Also purchase the extending ratchets which turn the normal 1/4 & 3/8 handles into mini breaker bars.

 

Both have been added to my new favourite toys list.

 

The next logical step on the mx5 is to swap over the door cards, so instead I decided to see if I can get the exhaust manifold off.

 

I was expecting a bit of a battle after the fun with the diff.

 

Airbox off

Filter looks clean enough

 

First 4 bolts came out easily enough but last wouldn't, so brute force applied

 

Here you can see the benefit of the extending ratchet

 

Manifold bolts undone

 

And 10 mins later

 

Tomorrow will be getting it up in the air and swapping over the headers and put in the decat.

 

Will need to steal this off the old engine before I track this one.

[The Moog]

Back on it this morning.

 

 

Rest of bolts off

The exhaust manifold bracket undone

 

The rear bolts were a little fiddly so the quick spanner was employed - after all this exhaust isn't going back on

 

 

Before I started I order new manifold studs and bolts as they can be a pain. I needed about half the studs

 

421 fitted

 

Decat fitted and

 

So it looks like BAL has got the longer cat fitted. New longer decat pipe ordered.

 

Whilst I was under there I noticed a weep from the water pump

 

Also some other coolant leaks

 

It might be worth prepping AVOs engine and swapping it in. The engine has got 50k less miles and was running really well.

 

I can then sort out all the vacuum hoses etc with easy access.

 

I would be tempted to stick the coolant bypass on it as I am probably going to end up turboing it at some point.

[The Moog]

The trip up to Aberdeen highlighted the rear brakes on the lancer - or actually the lack of them.  The caliper seem to be doing bugger all. 

 

I have got a set of discs and pads sourced for barely any money via amazon website, but I think it needs new calipers. 

 

Bigred will rebuild them for £120 each which I though wasnt too bad. The wonder that is ebay has turned up a pair of rebuilt rear calipers for £34 each!

 

Duly ordered and should be with me tomorrow. We do live in amazing times - a pair for quarter of the price of having them rebuilt. 

[The Moog]

Calipers ordered yesterday at 2pm arrived at my door by 2pm today.

 

That is insane service for a cheap price. Tomorrow is going to be fitting them and new discs and pads.

[mrbenn]

Decent bit of work for winter there! Most I've done recently is top up oil and screenwash

[The Moog]

Yesterday this arrived.

I had tried mounting AVOs decat but it was but too short.

 

Mx5s have two lengths of cat in NA so just assumed it was the longer one for some reason. It's only £40 so easy swap.

 

Except it was too long. Buggeration.

 

A cup of tea and some thinking resulted in box of bolts out

 

And putting the longest ones in I could fit.

 

Which worked. It pulled the rear silencer forward enough to get a decent seal.

 

Car warmed up (after swapping battery out again as was very flat) and paint started to smoke off

 

Overall jobs a good un but now have a spare decat if anyone wants one. Otherwise will lob on eBay for £20.

 

Not looking forward to sorting the electrics as this is dangling from under the dash

 

Something is flattening the battery over about 5 days. So need to look into that

 

I took the opportunity to lob a dishwasher tab in the cooling system whilst it was idling. Nice and frothy

 

I am storing the hardtop on the mx5 until my mate can collect it but it has spoiled me. After rain last night the interior was dry!

 

I am not used to such luxuries

 

This afternoon is lancer rear brakes.

[Broadsword]

Loving the look of that exhaust!

[gm]

Moog - pm me your address and I'll bung this in the post for you

 

[The Moog]

Popped into BBC and full service kit including oil was £64 - that is mega cheap.

 

Couple of quick jobs on the lancer -

 

Pollen filter needed a change

 

This has got two coilpacks that feed two plugs each

 

The sparkplugs look ok but had a slight misfire under load at the weekend.

[The Moog]

Loving the look of that exhaust!

It's just normal exhaust but had a time of black VHT paint so thought I would give it a coat.

[The Moog]

Back brake time.

 

They have literally been doing nothing.

 

 

Problem one is the discs are drilled and sized wrongly. That's what comes of cheap Amazon parts.

 

Just waiting for new discs to go under the shiny calipers

[Jim Bell]

Top graft man. Good luck attacking the wiring.

 

If you can't isolate what's fratening the blattery, I've got a twist on, twist off terminal isolator switch thing sat it a draw you can have. NEW IN PACKET WITH TAGS. Never been used.

[The Moog]

Oohh I might take you up on it - I am hoping it will be the radio as there isn't much else in the mx5 that needs pixies.b

[Tenmil Socket]

Ordered yesterday morning the mx5 rear light seals arrived today.

 

 

What a difference

 

Fitted

 

Where did you get the seals and how much were they?

[The Moog]

£10 delivered

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-MX5-Mk1-Eunos-Rear-Tail-Light-Rubber-Gasket-Seal-Left-and-Right-/201358965243?txnId=1757821138010