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Post by chris142386 on Nov 10, 2018 10:25:52 GMT
Hi All, I've been lurking for a while and enjoying everyone's build threads, trying to learn a bit before starting my own project, I've now started mine so it seems a good time to introduce myself! I have absolutely no experience working on cars aside from changing a tyre and putting a new battery in the key fob...I've always wanted to learn more about them though, which is where the Exocet comes in! What better way to learn than to strip a car down and put it back together? I picked up an mk2.5 mx5 in July and drove it around for a while, I also took it on a track day at Snetterton which was brilliant. I managed to do 2m48s lap time so it will be interesting to see how a finished Exocet compares! Shortly after the track day someone drove into the mx5 and wrote it off....I can't complain though, it was mainly superficial damage, I got an insurance pay off and was able to buy the car back on the cheap! Also, I got a Golf GTI courtesy car....(turned out to the best crash ever really, it worked out great!).  The mx5 is now back home in my tight garage and I have started stripping it. The garage is a bit tight...  I've got myself in quite the mess getting the wiring loom out, so far so good though.  That's about it so far. Glad to be here, I look forward to keeping this thread up to date! Also, a quick thanks to everyone else for their build threads, they are a great information resource. |
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Post by hammy3601 on Nov 10, 2018 12:58:22 GMT
Welcome along mate, feel free to ask any questions, there is also a great FB group - UK Exocet Owners.
Any questions ask away, someone will have had the same issue before and everyone is happy to help
Cheers
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Post by chris142386 on Nov 10, 2018 21:05:14 GMT
Thanks for the welcome Hammy. I'll sign up to the FB group tonight! Update 1 - I spent a few more hours on the wiring loom tonight, I must be about 20 hours into the loom now. I had never realised quite the amount of wiring there is in a car. It is all going to plan so far though, each wire is being labelled with masking tape so, hopefully, when it comes to rebuild everything can be put back together again easily. My main difficulty is working out how to disconnect some of the electrical connectors, the ones in the doors took an hour alone. I stumbled on this earlier which others may find useful, it is the wiring diagram for the mk2.5 mx5. www.mx5usedparts.co.uk/media/MX5_Wiring-Diagram_00-05_SVT_MK2.pdf Those diagrams helped me identify these two connectors which I was unsure of. Turns out they are an A/C relay and condenser fan relay.  I'm a little unsure what the these two sets of pipes are.... I feel like the black ones are to do with the engine cooling, and go through to the heater in the cockpit..... And I feel like the steel pipes are to do with the A/C refrigerant, if anyone could confirm or correct that it would be much appreciated.  It looks like I need to disconnect them so I can remove the heater and A/C from the cockpit. |
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Post by snowbird1 on Nov 11, 2018 14:15:44 GMT
I'm a little unsure what the these two sets of pipes are.... I feel like the black ones are to do with the engine cooling, and go through to the heater in the cockpit..... And I feel like the steel pipes are to do with the A/C refrigerant, if anyone could confirm or correct that it would be much appreciated. It looks like I need to disconnect them so I can remove the heater and A/C from the cockpit. Correct: Ideally the refrigerant should be recycled before disconnecting the AC pipes. Note that the heater pipes will need to be looped together on the engine, coolant flow through these pipes help to cool the rear cylinders. |
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Post by chris142386 on Nov 11, 2018 22:31:46 GMT
Thanks Snowbird! I realised I didn't mention that I've already picked up the chassis from Stuart. It is in an accommodating friend's garage for the time-being.  Seeing the MEV workshop was a pleasure. The built Exocet there was brilliant, I have to say Exocets look even more impressive in person than in pictures. |
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Post by markwill on Nov 12, 2018 14:08:41 GMT
Don't forget that the refrigerant in the A/C pipes is held at very high pressure on the high side. (if the A/C is working and fully charged) At ambient air it is about 150psi. Don't just undo the bolts on the bulkhead lines for the A/C without first having had the unit discharged. It's also illegal to discharge the gases to air.
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Post by themorgster on Nov 12, 2018 19:19:21 GMT
Hey Chris, where about in Essex are you? I’m in Bishops Stortford. Always good to have someone local to lean on!
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Post by chris142386 on Nov 13, 2018 11:59:23 GMT
Hi Markwill, thanks for the advice. I'll be having a look this weekend at the A/C and will definitely make note of what you mentioned, I don't plan to get a high pressure related injury so early on in the build....
Hi Morgster, glad to hear there is someone else in Essex! I'm in Colchester, just under an hour from Bishops Stortford.
I was looking at your build thread the other day actually, seriously impressive build, the paint jobs you've done make that PPF look new! If you are ever up this way feel free to pop in for a cup of tea and to look at the state of my mx5 at present! =P
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Post by chris142386 on Nov 13, 2018 17:44:13 GMT
Another few hours were clocked this afternoon on the wiring loom, the wires from the engine bay have now been pulled through into the cockpit. Those grommets were not easy to pop out of their holes though. To anyone stuck removing those, the technique that worked for me was pinching a lump of the grommet with a pair of pliers and using the butt end of a screwdriver to nudge it out of its hole (without the pliers to hold the grommet, it just pops back into its hole after nudged out...)
The wiring loom just needs to be disconnected from the back of the steering wheel, pedals and the right hand door....Then it is out...thank ****. =D
Also, I took it upon myself to order the book, 'How to build an exocet' (https://www.performancepublishing.co.uk/how-to-build-a-mev-exocet.html). Hopefully, for someone like me who hasn't delved into the world of cars before it should be quite a useful resource. Once it arrives and I've given it a look over I'll give some feedback on whether it is worth having.
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Post by themorgster on Nov 13, 2018 20:28:22 GMT
I’m often in Frinton-on-sea or Chelmsford, so if you ever need to borrow a tool, or need some help, let me know. Alternatively, if you want to come and see a half built example, I’m pretty available.
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Post by chris142386 on Mar 10, 2019 23:02:14 GMT
Hi all, it's been a while, I had to focus on exams, sadly! Anyway, it is time to crack on again now. I've got the wiring loom out completely! Glad that's out of the way If anyone happens to know the answers fo any of these questions that's be great. Q1- I understand I have to loosen the centre nut on top of the suspemsion before lifting off the ppf. Is it one of these two?  Q2 - I understand I need to remove two pipes going to the fuel rail, I'm having trouble locating them though, has anyone got any pointers? Q3- I have taken the pedals out, I have left the brake servo and master cylinder hanging free in the engine bay. Will I need to take them off to get the shell off the ppf?  |
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Post by chris142386 on Mar 18, 2019 23:46:28 GMT
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Post by snowbird1 on Mar 19, 2019 14:23:37 GMT
Fuel, vent and brake lines are attached to the body, easy to remove after you lift it off, if your donor is a newer car it has only one fuel line (no return line), also may have an electronic speedo, no speedo cable.
BTW it is helpful to add details of you donor to the signiture line of your profile.
The easiest way to drain the fuel tank is to connect a hose from the fuel line to a suitable container and jumper the fuel pump.
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Post by chris142386 on Mar 25, 2019 17:00:13 GMT
Thanks for the heads up! I've updated my status to include my donor now.
It does appear to have an electric speedo, as I couldn't see one where the Haynes manual said it would be. I'm looking forward to getting another day in the garage now to try to get to that PPF!
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Post by hammy3601 on Mar 26, 2019 19:18:53 GMT
Thanks for the heads up! I've updated my status to include my donor now. It does appear to have an electric speedo, as I couldn't see one where the Haynes manual said it would be. I'm looking forward to getting another day in the garage now to try to get to that PPF! Mk1's have mechanical speedo drive, yours is electronic off the sensor in the gearbox HTH's mate |
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