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gm's unhealthy obsession with mx5s - Exo on taxi duty


gm

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the frustrating thing is that i’m not planning g to keep this one - as soon as it’s done it will be up for sale.

anyone mad enough to make me an offer as it stands just now ? it’s mechanically sound, someone with more enthusiasm for welding could have themselves a bargain ! @loserone ? 

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fearing the worst, i removed the drivers side wing to see what horrors lurked 

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not quite so bad as “foamy bob” hadn't been at work on this side.

still, at least i know what i’m up against- will see what dvee8’s mate says tomorrow 

 

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with the green monster mobile again, it got shoved aside while the other one got some attention 

now, i’m sure it must be due a service soon…

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hmm, definitely overdue

assume the position 

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manky black oil dropped

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genuine mazda parts :) 

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and don’t forget to update the history 

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then i nicked the clear lenses off the green one :) 

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and went for the obligatory test hoon !

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it occurred to me that i’m paying for insurance on the exo that has sat bone idle in the garage for the last three months - what if i could temporarily borrow that policy for the green monster ? 

a couple of phone calls later…..

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yep, we’re on the road :) 

don’t she look pretty ?

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the first trip round the block was deemed a success so i set about adjusting the headlights 

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and ventured a little further 

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just along to the local retail park but it was such a good feeling to finally drive this little car - and it’s a lovely thing !

the autobox felt weird at first but i soon got used to it and really enjoyed a blast round the back roads. roof down at night is always a treat, and with very little traffic, i got to have some fun :) 

unfamiliar with overdrive, i figured to knock it off for acceleration and click it back on for cruising, seems to work well with the (i think) three speed auto. quite different to the black mk1 but i definitely see the appeal. 

the steering is a little off but that’s no surprise as i replaced the whole rack, there’s a couple of bulbs needing changed, and that tiny wee patch of welding and she’s ready for the mot next week.

progress - feels good :) 

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  • gm changed the title to gm's unhealthy obsession with mx5s - the green monster is finally back on the road !

driving the green monster for the first time last night, one problem became apparent - the Nardi steering wheel is a lovely thing but that peeling varnish feels awful to the touch - really lets the side down

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now it was my intention to strip it down, sand it smooth and re-varnish it

but, something appeared last night on marketplace that i couldn’t resist

contact was made and a mad dash down to hartlepool was made before anyone else could snap it up

the new wheel is a momo type fitment so the nardi boss couldn’t be used. fortunately i had a spare momo boss so got to work fitting it

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problem - the shroud is missing and the nardi one won’t fit :( 

hmm…

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i found a spare empty one in the recycling bin and got busy with the craft knife

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warmed it with the hot air gun

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something to cover it with

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turned out not too shabby - i’ll give that scabby edge a rub down and a dab of paint  tomorrow 

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but in the meantime - how good does that look ?

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there’s not a mark on it, i suspect it has never been used 

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not sure about this but it’s all i have for now 

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for now, we shall call it the Ronald Mc Donald steering wheel :) 

i’d like to find a horn push with the classic mazda logo but not at this price

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maybe i can just buy the sticker ? 

but for now, what a cracking looking interior this is turning into

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the boot floor where the battery lives was a rusty mess so i gave it a good seeing to with the wire wheel and slapped on some kurust

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warmed it up a bit

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and a couple of coats of primer 

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first coat of colour

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hmm, Rover racing green metallic was the nearest ‘match’ they had in halfords

maybe a second coat will tame it ?

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maybe if i turn the floodlights off ?

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that’ll do - it will be hidden by carpet anyway 

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i dropped the green mx5 off at kev the welders place yesterday morning and decided to run home

this was a terrible idea and i was knackered 

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so in order to collect it today, i persuaded @DVee8 to come with me and drive one of the mazdas back

the green car as seen from the black car

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the black car as seen from the green car 

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we each had a go at driving both back to back and agreed them to be excellent in different ways :) 

i stopped at lumley castle for a photo opportunity but a lack of communication meant dvee8 didn’t join me !

we’ll just need to go back another time 

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the welding is coming along very nicely, is taking longer than initially anticipated but worth it for a good job. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 07/02/2024 at 20:20, gm said:

 

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i’d like to find a horn push with the classic mazda logo but not at this price

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maybe i can just buy the sticker ?

 

@DVee8 has a mate at work who reckoned he could make such a sticker - not sure he understood the concept of ‘can you print me a couple ?’ 

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but the size is perfect and the interior now looks even better :) 

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except what’s that bubbling all about on the passengers door card ? 

a minor* welding mishap :( 

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fucksake ! add a new carpet to the list :( 

will this thing ever be finished ?

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so the current plan is :

green mx5 - mot, polish within an inch of its life, sell

black mx5 - mot, hooning, trackdays

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bini - sell and replace with some sort of diesel honda, a mk8 civic or mk2 crv

exo - bring out of hibernation on 1st april and give it a damn good thrashing

 

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2 minutes ago, gm said:

so the current plan is :

green mx5 - mot, polish within an inch of its life, sell

black mx5 - mot, hooning, trackdays

IMG_4968.thumb.jpeg.0038c5552e222a4ae879ebfc399466c1.jpeg

bini - sell and replace with some sort of diesel honda, a mk8 civic or mk2 crv

exo - bring out of hibernation on 1st april and give it a damn good thrashing

 

IMG_4517.jpeg

That sounds like a plan.

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27 minutes ago, gm said:

@DVee8 has a mate at work who reckoned he could make such a sticker - not sure he understood the concept of ‘can you print me a couple ?’ 

IMG_6150.thumb.jpeg.e8bf00d103f06074366536eeb3da0036.jpeg

but the size is perfect and the interior now looks even better :) 

IMG_6219.thumb.jpeg.9fc75657573f84ad2b38b91214223607.jpeg

IMG_6220.thumb.jpeg.ed534ad4263881b854df3a824877f5bc.jpeg

except what’s that bubbling all about on the passengers door card ? 

a minor* welding mishap :( 

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fucksake ! add a new carpet to the list :( 

will this thing ever be finished ?

The sterring wheel looks great.

Theres enough logos left to do the wheel centre caps and another dozen sterring wheel centre's 

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47 minutes ago, gm said:

i’ve not measured but i’d bet these are a different size again !

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i’m thinking maybe one badge on each wing, just below the side repeater

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What size do you want for the wheels?

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it’s a lovely sunny day here in county durham so i took greenie out for a quick spin, stopped for fuel and this lovely old Honda pulled up next to me

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maybe summer is coming early this year ?

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a replacement carpet has been ordered, i’ve gone for black as tan was surprisingly hard to get hold of and way more expensive - considering how little of it is on show, i think it will look just fine

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