MX5 1999 1.8

[mazmarks]

Cheers Lazza, and Admin definitely hers but i get the ground work. Rad brackets were a simple job and made an impression when you look at the front of the engine bay.

[F1 10AE]

Loving this enthusiasm for making her good again

[mazmarks]

So the plastic sump guard took to the cleaning bench this week and i was suprised how well it came up with a little hard work, all the plastic on the drivers side front is now done. Next week I move the car over in my very small garage space and start the strip out of the passenger side front chassis for cuttiing out and welding.

[John&Luke]

Sump guard looks great who/what did you use to clean it?

[mazmarks]

Hi John & Luke, yes i did the sump guard myself. It took around 3,4hrs ish over the week and started with washing up liquid (stolen from the wife but we can keep that between us) and a varity of brushes from general scubbing brush to tooth brush. Then a rise down and rags and bumper dressing and a good share of elbow grease.

[Mazda Mender]

It would of been quicker with some TFR buddy.
M-m

[mazmarks]

You're probably right tried it on the inner wing cover but spent a while getting rid of the stain it left

[mazmarks]

CRANK BOLT LOOSE 005.jpg (977.94 KiB) Viewed 8996 times

So after a very long break from working on the wifes mx5 mk2 nb I’ve finally got my ar*e into gear again. So first job this time was to change the cambelt water pump and stat. Having decided this the removal of the anti-vibration damper and crank bolt caused me a little frustration. So the damper got a couple of weeks soaking with various things plus gas , wd40, paraffin and after removing the 4 m6 bolts the damper wouldn't budge. I know that you cannot use a puller on the outside ring of the damper because this runs the risk of pulling the damper apart from its centre by rupturing the rubber band holding it together. However behind the damper is the timing plate which i sacrificed to get the damper off in the end this pulls on both the inner and outer ring of the damper simultaneously. A genuine replacement cost me £22. I'll post some images of the restored damper later.
With the damper out of the way another soaking session on the crank bolt for a week which does undo anti clockwise in case anybody needs to know and the bolt was out. Now down to clean up and rework of painted parts before rebuilding the front end. I have also chosen to replace the camshaft and crankshaft seals whilst stripped, they are the original seals so deserve to be replaced after 20 years of use.
I will get some more pic’s up later this coming week.

[Mazda Mender]

Glad to hear you are changing the cam and crank aeaks while in there.. don't forget a new rocker seal also....and make sure you re build with copper slip.
M-m

[mazmarks]

So brakes - heavy pause as you will see from the images looking into the front wheel it worries me how people can actually drive cars with brakes in this condition. So thought I'd also add some before images of the front drivers side brake, all of them are pretty much the same another one for the to do list.

[Mazda Mender]

Yeap those fronts need doing badly.. what says it the most is the fact that the anti rattle springs/lift off springs have not forced the pads free from the carrier and slider clips so there is no free movement there and are solid, the braking system must of been rubbish ,no feeling in those brakes what so ever.
M-m

[mazmarks]

we actually drove the car back home like it all those years ago, but will not be using these brakes again, aming to put new discs pads braided hoses and referb the rest thats the game plan anyway.

[mazmarks]

so having stripped the engine front end down used some good old gunk washing up brush (not the wifes one) and a bit of elbow grease and the engine is a lot cleaner than it was. Next job up will be remove and fit the new seals.

[blackyb]

Is it hers ........or yours ;0)
M-m

Sounds like ours!

Technically it's the wifes, but in reality its mine

[mazmarks]

Well blackyb your probably not far from the truth, its the wifes mx for sure but I'm the designated chief of restoration.