1658 replies to this topic

[Deathrow]

Well I have been to the garage today despite the weather looking like absolute death! However I can't say it's been really worth while, but here is what happened anyway:


Finished off the repair here on the back.


Felt like I was leaving it half done if I left the seam on the window only one panel thick.

I then moved my attention to the front of the rear arch and the inner sill. Digging around in front of the arch revealed that the closing panel behind the quater panel has died as I can see through to the subframe. I've not decided how I'm going to tackle this yet but I'm thinking it might be best sorted from underneath with the rear subframe out.

Anyway, couldn't do anything there for now so I set to work cleaning up the rear of the inner sill, grinding was seeming to take forever and I found guess what, yeah thats right, rusty holes! So there is a patch needed on the rear of the inner sill afterall, not a big one by any means but it's time all the same. At this point I was annoyed with the body so I set about stripping my passenger side door so I could get it ready for reskinning:


Door looking pretty ill.


Everything stripped off.

Then I took the skin off the door and found it has completely had it, not only is the bottom completelt rotted out, but the corners at the bottom are gone, which would have been ok as you can get repair panels. However, more inspection revealed that the channels inside were pretty done for as well as the frame where it joined the door. This one's for the bin I'm affraid.

Fortunatly, I do have a spare pair of doors off the donor shell I bought last year, on the flip side, unfortunatly at some point large holes were drilled in to the frame to facilitate the application of rust inhibiting products. So I need to weld up all these holes and make it look all neat again before I'll accept them being used on my car. Then after that they still need reskinning.

Just been one of those days that's dragged me down a bit, not to worry, I'm in the mood for some mechanical work so I'll do some work on my engine this evening and if I'm still in a bad mood tomorrow I'll work on the alloy wheels.

Thanks for looking, normal service will resume shortly I'm sure .

[Deathrow]

Here's todays work, doesn't look like alot because I didn't take enough pictures haha.


Cleaned up the inner sill some more, mainly removing the remains of the oversill.


Emptied the car out.


Started taking the wiring out.


Loom removed.


This is where I want to be again.


Removed loom. Needs a bloody good clean and some modifications making to it.

Thanks for looking, with any luck there will be more progress tomorrow .

Edited by Deathrow, 01 August 2009 - 06:49 PM.

[Burnard]

Looks like you have all the same problems as me (pretty much exactly the same)
Although, they are also the same model so that would make sence.

This project is my new instruction manual


Chris

[Deathrow]

Looks like you have all the same problems as me (pretty much exactly the same)
Although, they are also the same model so that would make sence.

This project is my new instruction manual


Chris

Haha, I don't suppose yours has gone under the rear side windows has it? I saw another black designer that was rusted in exactly the same place as mine was on both sides under the rear windows. I'd love to know what was different on the production line for the designer that made them rust there. Could be as simple as a new employee that put his bare hand on there before they were painted.

I think it'll start going away from the same old soon Burnard, I think tomorrow I'm going to have a go at fabricating my seat brackets. I need a break from welding bodywork haha and I'd love to have one of the seats in to get a feel for it.

[Burnard]

well, mine rusted pretty much the same as yours, expet allot worse on one side than the other. Althought it was kept under a pine tree for some time (enough to get a pine cone in the manifold)

Mine is a white designer, not a black one though.

[Deathrow]

well, mine rusted pretty much the same as yours, expet allot worse on one side than the other. Althought it was kept under a pine tree for some time (enough to get a pine cone in the manifold)

Mine is a white designer, not a black one though.

How do you get a pine cone in the manifold?! Could be the next eBay modification that gives unlimited MPG!

[Burnard]

i dont know i found it when i took the carb off to change the exaust!

[Deathrow]

Went to the garage today and started to work on getting the MX5 seats in. I didn't get much done because I spent most of the day getting the seat in to a position that I was happy with.


Put the original seat back in and took some measurements.


Jotted them down.


The seat was tacked in place at this point just so I could have a sit and check I was happy.


Seat just touches the rear bin when the seat is all the way back, but this is too far for me to reach the gearstick anyway haha. The seat can recline all the way down (at the cost of the rear passengers legs) and still clears the bin.


All the way forward, for the shorter individuals.


Still allows access to the back although you do have to slide the seat all the way forward but, I don't care as they can get in the passenger side.

Tomorrow I shall work on making the frames for the seats.

Thanks for looking .

[davej]

Good work and I really like them seats.

[Deathrow]

Here is another, much unwanted update:


Orange dye in my eye.

Just got back from A&E where I had a small piece of rust removed from my cornea.

I wouldn't mind, but I always wear goggles when cutting and grinding, grrr.

Just a note to say, be safe kids.

[mighty mini jack]

Yummy.

Is it ok now dude?

[Deathrow]

Yummy.

Is it ok now dude?

Seems to be.

I'm going to be called back to see a specialist because it was so close to the middle of my eye.

[GraemeC]

I find that the *melon* falls into my eye as I take the goggles off. The good thing is it can usually be simply washed out as it hasn't gone in hot and at high speed so hasn't welded itself to the eyeball!
At least that dye gives a nice colourful view fo the world for a short while!


You observation with the steering wheel - did you also notice it isn't straight? If only they'd stuck a couple of UJs in the column it could've been so much better.

[carboy001]

Good read as always. Look foward to more updates

[analogue_radio]

no rust left untouched! that's the proper way to do it haven't posted much on this thread, but i'm always checking for updates.