Fin & Luke's Exocet Build Log

[Fin]

Well, after being inspired by last weekend's track-day at Curborough, we finally broke out the spanners and stated to turn the Dr. Jekyll MX-5 into a Mr. Hyde Exocet.

Following the build guide, plus the Complete Kit Car How To Build A MEV Exocet and the RAC Enthusiast's Workshop Manual, we got the boot; rear bumper; roll-bar; lights; hood & doors off; the seats, centre console and interior carpets out; and made a start on the dashboard.  The radio didn't put up too much of a fight, but the heater cables were a struggle. Glove box and air-vents out, but the dashboard still seems pretty well secured, and presents tomorrow's first challenge.

Not yet sure how far to break-down the parts, i.e. sell the doors intact with electric windows and wing-mirrors, or strip right down to component parts? Any suggestions welcomed.

As Chairman Mao said, "Even the longest journey begins with but a single step", so let's see what tomorrow brings

[Fin]

Is it 7 years bad luck for cracking a windscreen? Strange thing was, it wasn't where the 2 deep chips were, but the general frustration of a couple of hours trying to "ease" the dashboard out gave vent to some serious cracking. Why the hell is every single electrical connection block unique, and some perverse kind of puzzle that needs to be figured by finger tip whilst hanging upside down with your head buried behind the dashboard? It was like some sort of low-level audition for The Right Stuff!

The front wings and bumper were much easier, and only offered a couple of stuck nuts between them.

The steering column and pedals will be a challenge for tomorrow.

[Fin]

Loom, pedals & steering wheel all removed now, and into the engine bay. Radiator out, along with the air filter fusebox and wiper motor.

The looms are worrying me, as they look as though they have been worked on by a previous owner.  Lots of surplus black tape and junctions, plus at the rear, a suspicious piece of wire that can only be twin 240v household appliance cable.

Hopefully power steering, brake servo and clutch cylinder removed tomorrow as the hoist has arrived, so should get the body off this weekend.

[mikeeyboy]

The looms seem to be hit and miss really. Mine has some kind of aftermarket immobilizer on which I am hoping wont cause issues. It looked to be bodged fitted.

[Fin]

Mine's actually three separate sections.  Is that right?

[Fin]

Hoist arrived, but only equipped with single chain/hook. Chain is over £14 a metre, so have ordered a 4 chain lifting leveller for £20, so won't get the body off this weekend.

ABS & servo out, plus clutch cylinder and all pipes from power steering unit. Power cable removed from PPF and disconnected from alternator and starter. Rear fuel filter and pipe from tank proving a problem, but should be finished tomorrow. CAT looks badly corroded, and a leak from the nearside halfshaft.

Did I read somewhere on the website that the donor car can be stripped in 2 hours?? Wish I had a watch like that!

[Shane]

Nothing is as easier as you expect it do be! Im at the stage of putting it all back together and its a real labour of love (pain in the arse). You will have moments where your mentally gauging home much you think you could get for the kit and donor in its current state

Having said that you do have days where things just go to plan and it is a relief, you just have to keep thinking of the end game and how chuffed you will be driving around in a car you have built (thats my tactic anyway)

The fact all the electrical connectors are unique is a good thing when you come to put it back together as you cant go wrong and I belive the loom is in 3 sections, so thats good!

Be nice to see some pictures

[Fin]

Thanks for the encouragement Shane. Yesterday was a crowbar, hacksaw and Manchester screwdriver kind of day as finesse flew out of the window. Struggling with the individual brake pipe connections into each wheel, and debating which is cheaper to replace - may have to do all anyway! Fully disconnecting rear fuel filter, handbrake and a couple of other pipes should see me ready to lift the body off. Bought a hoist, but waiting on chains. Should be interesting as the drive is on a bit of a slope

Have created Photobucket account, but cannot get photo URL to display. Appears as a miniature within the actual text in previous above (i.e. before the word "hoist"), but won't display full size.

[p5curly]

There is a how to guide on here explaining how to upload photos with photo bucket

[Shane]

not used photobucket, i use postimage.org/ no account needed simply upload and copy "Hotlink for forums" text and past in your post

[Fin]

Checked again, and it seems you cannot use the newbie guide method of embedding the hosted photo's URL link IF you are posting in your build guide using "Post Quick Reply", only "Create Thread". I have no "Create" option available to me. Is this due to too few posts, as with messaging?

[Shane]

Post quick reply seems to work for me, try the "reply" at the top of the page

[Fin]

[Fin]

Is it me?

The two sentences "Remove the six bolts holding the rear sub-frame to the body shell. Remove the eight bolts holding the front sub-frame to the body shell." sound innocent enough, but cunningly conceal a whole world of frustration. I scoured the documentation and forums for anything related to bolts chassis and sub-frames, but couldn't find anything telling me where they were cunningly concealed. Once found, they were given a severe seeing to with a wire brush, blasted in WD-40 and the brutally assaulted with a range of spanners and sockets of differing sizes, as they seem to be three different sizes! 19mm for the 3 at the rear, 20mm for the 2 into the engine bay, and 17mm for the 2 on the floor pan. I even had to buy a "long" 19mm as the 2 outer bolts of the 3 at the rear protruded so far past the nut, my original socket wouldn't reach it. I may also have to do this on the 20mm at the front, but I think I'll have to check the sizes/fit again tomorrow as I can't believe thee would be just 1mm difference. The bolts going into the body came off OK, but on the ones where the bolt protrudes downwards into the wheel arches, I was bending the bar like Eddie "The Beast" Hall on a world record deadlift! 5.5 out of 14 removed for a morning's work means tomorrow will be further knuckle shattering fun, but I've got a bloke called Archimedes coming round with a long lever and a fulcrum, and he reckons he can move the world with it!

[miket]

Sounds familiar - look forward to the Eureka moment.