jg
Newbie
Posts: 3
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Post by jg on Apr 25, 2018 12:04:03 GMT
Hi, I've bought my donor (2003 1.8l) as a "going concern" and will actually drive it for a while whist saving up for the kit/persuading the other half this is actually a good idea.
I'm not that experienced mechanically and was wondering if there is anything I can do to that car to get my hands dirty and that would help with a future build whilst leaving it as a roadworthy vehicle? I was thinking about a simple service (all the filters & fluids etc) but it's been so well looked after it doesn't need anything doing. I might respray patches of bodywork that has faded - clearly in terms of an Exocet that is pointless but would be cheap and at least get me "involved".
Then I took a look at the brakes - they could definitely do with a clean up and repainting the calipers - that may have some life beyond the MX5 and into the Exocet.
Does anybody have any good ideas of "pre-prep" jobs that will get me working on the car but leave it as a roadworthy MX5 for now?
Cheers
JG
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Post by buildityourself on Apr 25, 2018 21:04:49 GMT
Full engine/chassis de-grease and careful jet wash. Makes it a lot more pleasant to dismantle, and also find the source of any current oil leaks.
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Post by R2S on Apr 26, 2018 13:36:10 GMT
Locate all the body mounting bolts and regular dose them with releasing agent is a good idea but more important is to regularly dose the suspension bolts particularly the long ones where they travel through the wheel carriers (from most build reviews these are the ones that seize in place). Servicing/cleaniing brakes (callipers, carriers etc) you refer to is a good place to start and whilst in there you can access the suspension bolts to give them some releasing agent (Dont use WD40 its a lubricant, use something that is labelled as a releasing agent).
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Post by casesensitive on May 25, 2018 15:38:28 GMT
You could run some injector /intake cleaner in while you can still take it for a thrash, work it around. And if you're not confident doing it yourself, and you don't have a van + engine crane, you could take it to a garage to have big jobs like timing belt etc done. I knew nothing when I started out, so rented a van for a few hours and took the already removed engine in to have timing belt, tensioner etc replaced, much cheaper as access is trivial.
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