A ridiculous MX-5 based notion...

[Bear]

Cam't you spot LSD/non-LSD diffs on Mk1 by whether it has fins on the diff casing or not? I could have imagined that.

[MrBig]

I believe so, but my understanding is that does not apply to mk2s (which mine is) but don't quote me on that. It's forecast rain for a couple of days now, so we will hopefully find out one way or the other 😁

[mercedade]

On 29/08/2025 at 16:49, MrBig said:

I don't really want to fit arch extensions as that will involve a call to the insurance company and an admin fee probably equal to the premium!

No help other than to say if you'd be thinking of telling your insurance company about any arch extensions, you'd probably need to tell them about the wheels as well, and I can't imagine they'd give a flying one about either of them. Just in case that was the limiting factor.

[MrBig]

41 minutes ago, mercedade said:

No help other than to say if you'd be thinking of telling your insurance company about any arch extensions, you'd probably need to tell them about the wheels as well, and I can't imagine they'd give a flying one about either of them. Just in case that was the limiting factor.

They are fully aware of the wider/taller wheels, lifted suspension, exhaust etc.. I'm just tight and don't want to have to pay them an admin fee to make more changes  and I don't know if they have a maximum number of modifications allowed before they won't cover me. Maybe I should give them a call when I am in a sociable mood 🫣

[tom13]

25 minutes ago, MrBig said:

They are fully aware of the wider/taller wheels, lifted suspension, exhaust etc.. I'm just tight and don't want to have to pay them an admin fee to make more changes  and I don't know if they have a maximum number of modifications allowed before they won't cover me. Maybe I should give them a call when I am in a sociable mood 🫣

Who is the policy with? The modified policies like Brentacre don't care how many you add and I'm sure there is no admin fee.

[MrBig]

Would have to check now, but it was a mainstream insurer like Direct Line or similar, so I was very surprised they were happy to cover the mods in the first place!

[loserone]

Can you put smaller steels on with taller sidewalls? That should be great for trials.

[MrBig]

Not at the moment, no spare cash for new tyres as well as wheels

[MrBig]

Made it out to a local meet tonight, although the weather kept most of the other attendees away!

Still on the hunt for wheels. If you have anything suitable in 4x100, 15" diameter around 6-7.5" wide and ET0-20 please give me a shout.

[MrBig]

So apart from finally getting around to changing the oil and filter before winter set in, all I've done is drop the coolant, flush the system and refill with lovely fresh antifreeze. Oh and I bought a CarPlay stereo that I haven't fitted yet. So this car now has 3 stereos. There might be a for sale thread soon 😁

What I have been doing though is using it as much as possible. My youngest wants to go to school and back in it as much as possible, I've been taking it to local meets and will continue to do so into next year. I'm slightly nervous that the next MOT in the summer will warrant a replacement subframe as the corrosion on it has been noted a couple of times now, but it looks like a horrible job which will involve cutting out captive nuts.

I do have a ridiculous dream of taking it through central London next summer at 5am and getting some photos/videos of it if I can find a willing volunteer.

Wheel hunt is still on and I would like a bikini roof for it ideally (but am loathe to pay £300 for one) otherwise I will just continue to enjoy the ridiculousness of it. 

[gm]

On 05/01/2026 at 19:15, MrBig said:

I would like a bikini roof

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BCqCieTBj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

says he’s open to offers 

[tom13]

Let me know if you ever sell this. I would be  interested.

[MrBig]

Not much to report recently, I have been using this in all weathers over the winter. Something which I may regret at MOT time in the summer...

It's perfectly practical as a daily. As long as you have no friends!

[MrBig]

I bought it a new stereo for Christmas. I did buy a double DIN CarPlay unit which was really nice but it needed to be bolted in and I couldn't find a cage suitable, so ended up with this:

 

[stuboy]

On 15/01/2026 at 09:31, MrBig said:

Not much to report recently, I have been using this in all weathers over the winter. Something which I may regret at MOT time in the summer...

It's perfectly practical as a daily. As long as you have no friends!

i drive a car with 5 seats and drier seat is only clear one............

[MrBig]

Still using this for school runs and to get to the gym. Not much else going on at this time of year. 

It has developed a tinny rattle when pulling away, which I'm hoping is a heatshield loose, but it's far too cold and wet to be crawling underneath at the moment and my beetle is still in many pieces blocking the other side of the garage.

Can we have spring now please?

I did fit the 3D printed single DIN insert my son did for me, and a very cheap voltmeter (<£4 delivered from ebay) so the dash looks a bit better now. I need to find some suitable terminals to piggyback off the back of the lighter socket to power it and then that's about as far as I'm going with the interior.

Still hunting for low offset wheels to sort the stance out though!

[gm]

@MrBig you still looking for one of these ? 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AdPAzpA3n/?mibextid=wwXIfr

[MrBig]

Thank you. Was talking to someone who could make me one but they have gone quiet! 

[MrBig]

All been fairly quiet here. This has still been performing school runs as it is the car of choice for my youngest! It has developed an annoying issue where the drivers door lock is constantly trying to lock the car, so I guess i've got a fun weekend coming up trying to sort that out.

I've seen a mk2 Golf I really like the look of so been toying with the idea of moving this on, but I'm not sure my son will ever forgive me if I do. In the meantime, spring is here so I'm hoping to get it to a few midlands meets and a jaunt down to Caffeine and Machine is on the cards before summer comes and I start to crap myself about the idea of getting it through an MOT again 😁

Oh yes, I still need to get the alignment done!!