gm Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 6 minutes ago, loserone said: That looks flipping great. If this is going manual I would probably buy it from you... i’ll chuck in the mats for free ! Matty and loserone 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 9 minutes ago, loserone said: That looks flipping great. If this is going manual I would probably buy it from you... Almost as an echo. Lovely colour and agree that the half and half approach to the interior really works. And I like a tan interior too. Can't get on with autos anyway so can't quite see a non manual mx5. But it may work for you so great. Top work @gm!! gm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loserone Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 I'm enjoying the auto on this e220, but with an MX5 I can't help but think 90% of the pleasure is the shift Matty and gm 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 the contrast between the two is great fun - the black one is noisy, angry and shakes the fillings from your teeth as it relishes being thrashed, the green one is so civilised, it feels like i should be wearing string back driving gloves maybe not that extreme but it has a very relaxed feeling about it, still sounds good and the auto kicks down and puts a smile on your face Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 looks like a trip to peterlee may be on the cards i wonder if it will all fit in the bini ? dome, Flat4, Jim Bell and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loserone Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Just now, gm said: looks like a trip to peterlee may be on the cards i wonder if it will all fit in the bini ? Need to borrow the express? primeradoner and gm 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 seems unusually cheap, i’ll message and see if it’s genuine. i already have a gearbox but you know me and spare parts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primeradoner Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 10 minutes ago, loserone said: Need to borrow the express? Youre welcome to borrow the RAV if you want. Its on your route to Peterlee gm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVee8 Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 33 minutes ago, gm said: @DVee8 drive it up and down the street this afternoon and pronounced it a lovely thing It is indeed a lovely thing. gm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 18 minutes ago, primeradoner said: Youre welcome to borrow the RAV if you want. Its on your route to Peterlee 30 minutes ago, loserone said: Need to borrow the express? generous offers, many thanks - will see what the seller says and take it from there. @primeradoner i’ve still got your clutch alignment tool which i must get back to you, i’ll come through in the exo sometime and take you out for a run primeradoner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 52 minutes ago, gm said: looks like a trip to peterlee may be on the cards i wonder if it will all fit in the bini ? Nah, too much engineering involved. Oh, you mean in the boot like 🤣 gm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 the Exo has been hibernating since the end of november so i thought it might be a good idea to check on the state of the battery still showing 11.8v after 8 weeks tucked away in the garage round at me mams house - i’d better hook it up to the trickle charger but, just in case, maybe i should see if it will start ? damn thing fired up first turn of the key ! bloody impressive that shame it’s not going anywhere for a while yet i stuck it on charge anyway, won’t do any harm paulplom, Rust Collector, Jim Bell and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 in the meantime, the green monster has been getting a bit of attention first off ditch that rattly old heat shield then there’s this to attend to new work light proving very effective chop chop weetabix template made find a suitable sheet of tin and get cutting time to test out my christmas present body hammers ha ! not a chance ! break out the big guns bish bash bosh now the easy* bit oh fuck, that’s terrible ! turns out i can’t weld for shit …to be continued… Jim Bell, Tickman, Rust Collector and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 you know how get to carnegie hall, don't ya ? practice ! maybe if i use finer wire ? yes, that’s more like it Rust Collector, AnnoyingPentium, Shirley Knott and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 chop, bend, etc spot welds to hold in place and slightly less shit pidgin shit round the edges i’ll grind that back in a bit, but first there’s something else i need to look at… DVee8, Dyslexic Viking, Shirley Knott and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 the front wing, whilst being in good condition, didn’t seem to be very secure. perhaps that is because there’s not much there to secure it to oh you dirty bastard this is not what i signed up for. (remember this is the car with a £2grand bill for sill restoration in november 2021) i went inside and opened a beer GMcD, Erebus, Jim Bell and 12 others 1 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crackers Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Balls. 😔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickman Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 13 hours ago, gm said: (remember this is the car with a £2grand bill for sill restoration in november 2021) Expanding foam is obviously expensive! gm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevins Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 I unbolt the bottom of the wing and clean / treat that area every service on ours, it's a terrible rust trap with all the leaves etc from scuttle being washed down there. Looks terrible but it's only welding, doesen't need to be pretty down there , take it one bit at a time and you'l get there. We've also done the same with the trim (and the better quality black mk2 carpets too), couldn't live with all the orange! gm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 only one problem 17 hours ago, gm said: turns out i can’t weld for shit i’ll have a good poke around the rest of the car before committing myself, unfortunately i’m into this for a good few quid so need it mot’d and on the road to have a chance of breaking even Erebus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevins Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 it takes practice, unfortunately it looks like you've got plenty to practice on. Seriously though get a few bits of metal and practice on a bench, you'll soon find out which settings work for you. Welding upside down is probably the most difficult one to do try to master downwards first. For thin metal its best to use a series of overlapping spots letting it cool for a second or so between each spot. Also don't be scared to cut a lot out, cutting back to solid metal makes a quicker and easier repair. If the outer sill is new and made of steel not foam it may be easier to work from the inside, cutting away the inner sill and floor edge and working from the outer sill inwards. Matty and gm 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickman Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 Try welding fresh metal to the edges of the bit you have cut from the car, then you know if you need to cut further or not. loserone, gm and dome 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 so i swept up the remains of my sill removed the outer wing for better access and had another poke around not great potentially fixable but not straight forward by any means. i’ll have a go at the other side, if that is ok, i’ll make an effort at this one, if not, well, best not to think about that just yet. the mot expires at the end of feb, the black one is due at the end of march - and that needs welding too. bloody mazdas mercedade, dome, Jim Bell and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loserone Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 It's all good practice* *Or an indication you should go french. I haven't looked back! gm, PicantoJon and Matty 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 16 minutes ago, loserone said: you should go french some kind of euphemism ? this year will mark 20 years of mx5 ownership for me - can’t see me changing sides now loserone, Tickman and CGSB 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainagain Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 If it makes you feel any better the sills in my 307 where made of fibre glass and blue towel. This handily stopped water draining so the inner sills rotted out as well. I was able to patch them back up and it provided faithful service for the next four years. Take your time and cut right back to good metal. Then just think of it as a big jigsaw puzzle where you have to make the pieces as you go along. gm and Rust Collector 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 i arrived home from work to find a surprise delivery on my doorstep should come in very handy, many thanks @DVee8 LightBulbFun, Jim Bell, dome and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 On 26/01/2024 at 21:32, gm said: so i swept up the remains of my sill removed the outer wing for better access and had another poke around not great potentially fixable but not straight forward by any means. i’ll have a go at the other side, if that is ok, i’ll make an effort at this one, if not, well, best not to think about that just yet. the mot expires at the end of feb, the black one is due at the end of march - and that needs welding too. bloody mazdas Cool little fuckers though. Weldings no where near as hard as fabrication and you seem to have that down. Bon chance man. gm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronkey Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Looks like you have the same welder as me. I'm having success with 0.6mm wire on setting 1 max with wire feed around 5.5 for thin stuff and 2 max with around 6.5 for thicker stuff. Using CO2. Need a reasonable gap between the two pieces (say thickness of metal) and I can't generate enough heat for a decent run so I join the dots using the heat of the previous weld. Method no good for visible bodywork though! Sorry if Granny and eggs but hope it helps 👍🏻 gm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 i’m pretty much playing it by ear with the welder settings so will give it a go - it’s frustrating getting it just right on nice clean metal on the bench then it going hopelessly wrong when doing it for real i’ve got a few days off work and the forecast is shite for this week so i’ll get stuck in and report back Tickman and dome 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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