Mikes Exocet build - Sheffield

[mikeeyboy]

Hi all, been a long time lurker and have recently posted a couple of times.

I made the first step and bought a donor from a fellow MEV builder via this forum. Picked it up a few weeks back and have just started to strip it.

My plan is to get rid of as much as possible before ordering the kit in a couple of months or so.

I am hoping the build will take no longer than 12 months - may be ambitious but we will see!

Donor is a 1998 mk2 1.8.





photo album upload

[armstro7799]

Hi Mikeeboy,
Got a partial build going on just down (or should that be up) the road at Shafton if you every feel the need to chat. 

[mikeeyboy]

Hi, yes would be good to meet some local builders. How far on are you?

[armstro7799]

Our donor was a 2003 Mk2 1.8 Cat D with damage to the O/S/F wing. I'm building this with a friend in his workshop but we have not worked on it for about 9 months due to other commitments, hopefully we're due to restart in January.
We stripped the donor down and just left the engine, gearbox and diff as it was, the rest we completely stripped down to the last nut and bolt, sand blasted it all then sprayed with Rustbusters epoxy based black mastic paint, this gave a really nice finish. The ppf with engine, gearbox and diff is in the frame and the brakes (no brake lines yet) and steering is done.Fuel tank is mounted and waiting pipes to front end. Radiator is also in.
We've had a lot of problems getting this far, every job we attempt seems to require a modification in some way, I don't know if its our donor that's at fault but not much has fitted straight away apart from funnily enough the steering which went on with no problem.
We'll get there but its not as straight forward as some have you believe, especially with a Mk2 donor.

[adelaideexocet]

I also have a mk2 (2001) donor and am doing the electrics at the moment after having it running already. Different story to armstro though everything I have had has fitted easily and been a bit of a breeze, there have been some parts I have needed to fabricate, mounts etc but all in all it has been going well since sept 2015. And that includes delays with having a new baby. Good luck with the build ask heaps of questions and everyone will be happy to help. Everyone's experience is different and I hope yours is a good one, you might want to see how long the delay is at MEV for a frame as once you get into it you'll want to put it together ASAP! I know I did

Good luck

[mikeeyboy]

That's good to hear that not all the MK2 projects are a pain! Current lead is 8 weeks on the kit, I have started stripping the car, when I have a better idea of how long it will take to prep I will place an order. I can't afford to have the kit arrive until I have got rid of most of the unused MX5 bits as I am already tight on space in the garage.

Thanks

[mikeeyboy]

I am making good progress with the strip down. Havent looked properly but any tips on the quickest way to get the dash out?

[gwnwar]

2 bolts on each side behind small pop out plates. 2 bolts lower dash by console behind plates 1 bolt center top dash by wind screen..
label all connectors and ground wires. 2 large ones by heater blower look the same and fit don't get them mixed up.. Lossen the front and rear axle center nuts while you still have weight of car and brakes..There are 8/9 ground points on car red flag all. Label.. label all connectors even ones not used it will save time later.. Spray and wire brush all threads on underside.. Use 6 point sockets so not to round heads..
Check these.. www.mellens.net/mazda/
click on 1999 manual and wiring you have a '98 right..

[mikeeyboy]

Thanks for the tips on that. Got the dash out today, not too much hassle,just a bit of patient required.

[mikeeyboy]

I do not seem to be getting as much time as I had hoped to strip the car, but getting there slowly. I have the loom out and have removed most of the major parts.

A bit still to do on the engine bay but I plan to get the body off this weekend.

Question about the picture - any ideas on this? What is it? It was glued to the floor under the passenger seat.

Thanks






upload image files

[adelaideexocet]

Hard to tell. Could be an aftermarket immobiliser/alarm

[mikeeyboy]

That's what I was thinking.

I managed to get the shell off relatively easily but had to cut some of the bolts off as they were that stuck. What are people doing to clean the engine and gear box etc? Anything specific?

Thanks

[crxracer98328]

Looks like a LoJack setup

[zeitgeist]

Feb 13, 2016 17:30:16 GMT mikeeyboy said:

That's what I was thinking.

I managed to get the shell off relatively easily but had to cut some of the bolts off as they were that stuck. What are people doing to clean the engine and gear box etc? Anything specific?

Thanks

I pressure washed everything then used a wire brush to clean up the surfaces. After that I used brake cleaner and rags to get the surface clean . Some sanding, wipe down then primed and painted. I used engine paint for the head,transmission,PPF and diff in silver and black for the engine block. I plan on getting the cam cover crinkle powder coated in either red or black. All the rest of my subframes,control arms etc. were primed and painted with spray cans in semi gloss black after 24 hours in Evaporust,washing,wire brush and sanding where needed.

[mikeeyboy]

Thanks for the tip on that. I will look at it once I am ready to start cleaning it up. I am also planning on getting the covers powdercoated in the same colour as the chassis.

Went to move my Alfa so that i could get the body shell off and swung to the side and dead battery so ended up jumping it.

Shell came off pretty much straight away, but I missed one of hte engine bay ground wires and ended up snapping it, made a reminder to fix that! Can for see that being a major head ache if I forget!



Got it on the trailer - just about! Took it away and it is currently parked in a secure location until I have chance to cut the VIN plates out.