Build 15 The poorly J LTD needing some magic hands

[Mazda Mender]

Welcome to build number 15 ,project thunderbird 4

So the story ( because there is always one)
I am on the lookout for a White MK 1 1.6 import to build for the daughter ( she does not like red ) after building her one, i am also on the look out for a MK 1 1.8 for a VVT project and guide build, so every now and then do a search , but this weekend being terrible weather wise licking windows because no play time outside, the internet was used and a thread came up with a kind of plee for help with a early 1991 Jltd that needed work and finishing as the chap ,Dave needs to clear his personal projects from a unit asap, his concerns rightly as car builders will feel is that he did not want her to be broken up or become a cocked up drift thing, so was more concerned in her being handed over to the correct person that would continue to renovate/restore her.
I just seen another project to save and bring back to glory again to be loved and enjoyed for another 30 odd years +.
So we had crossed paths before and some toing and throwing through whats app started and then onto proper phone calls, a deal was agreed that we were both happy with and then on to organizing collection of her from Dave with John the man and his trusty flat bed.
So possibly this week she will arrive, and when Andrew from Autolinkmx5 drops off build project 14 he will be whispering her off to Rotland until no 14 is done to be collected and will drop her back. in the mean time i have the little red roadster to finish and off to steve at goodwood sports cars, she is going to be a very nice pretty roadster for someone to cherish, and then also deal with what ever inbetween from other owners, also daryls will be going in for a full hit of paint and i still have my personal builds also on the back burner to finish this year, my blue VS and black VS both Mk 2 imports.

I will make a clearer plan when she comes back, but will pen a basic plan of attack at the minute.

So the pics so far...
We love a challenge and to save them.

[graymattor]

Who doesn't love a J-LTD.. it will be a cracking car when complete

[Mazda Mender]

Never thought I would be searching for daisy rims, and I think I have the million pound OE wooden gear knob for her on the bat cave.
She arrives tomorrow so I'll access her properly then for work to be done.

M-m

[graymattor]

i will admit i want to put the Mrs's back to factor spec so i will need the wooden wheel and gear knob, we will see about daisy's, the Mrs likes the TSW stealths that are fitted! at least they are the right era!

[Lumphammer]

Going to be a very interesting project Wayne, looking forward to it

[blackyb]

I like daisies !

I cant wait for the work and write up with pickies to start.

Could do with some magic hands on me at the moment, but no Wayne, not yours.

[Mazda Mender]

This should( yeah yeah as they never are) be a straight froward build, but boy does she need some serious love and stroking after a quick look last night and to cover the panels that have been already cut open, the soft top is bin fodder and is keeping nothing out, the floor is soaked, so i throw on the spare Hard top for the minute , the hardest part is finding some of the correct bits for her now at sensible prices out there so not to get over added into the finial cost of building her.
On the quick look over last night she starts with a jump, and runs ok considering she as been not used and stood for a very good while, brakes had some feel which is promising , clutch was good gearbox good , side windows work just about, steering wheel needs replacing as does the handbrake lever and add a correct gear knob immobilizer needs removing as there is only one fob ,a second key will need cutting also, a new battery and isolator will be needed, daisy rims, two new front wings , possible bonnet?possible front sill section? defo rear sill sections ,rear arches and possible rear arch sections( not accessed the underneath yet ,so structural may get larger?), new bonnet hinges, repair the bonnet lock latch as all the bolts have snapped ? so is not locking down solid, aerial base and mast,soft top is toast and needs replacing, i will need to sort this now just for the time being with what ever spare is knocking about until she gets a nice black mohair with HRW and full build time, mats, fresh speakers, doors and seats including Head unit , engine bay clean up so i can see whats going on,new hoses,rad ,coolant, pump,seals ,belts etc etc as a norm, under sealing, box sections protection , alignment, major brake over all so they will be all balanced correct, front light units, battery tray ,clamps and breather tubes etc and OE boot tool bag with bits, screen out and full hit of paint, including the bottom windscreen trim, weather strips on the doors are drier than a nuns chuff so will need replacing and everything else i am sure i will find that i am not happy with as i go,,which i am 100% sure will major expand, but ready to get focused and in the zone . the whole roadster looks like it is full of clear coat overspray at the minute? So will need to remove all that off the glass for the time being.
But she is complete...ish and i have seen far far worse, that until i get underneath that is?.
She will be for sale when finished, she as not been bought to keep, but i seen the wave and heard the " please help me survive" , and here i am.
Andrews Sspec will be sorted first and the little red roadster, then Thunderbird 4 will be brought back to life again better then she ever was for someone to cherish and love for another 30 ood years.

Any one know these rims? they will be for sale....

Will take some better ones over the weekend inbetween everything else ...

[Mazda Mender]

So just a few things to sort to go and live in Rotland for a while, the worthless roof as been removed as it was doing nothing, it was a MK 2 roof onto a Mk 1 frame with a really sh*tty conversion kit that likes like it was put on by a 6 year old, the drainage trays/tubes were full and the whole of the roadster inside is wet, thankfully she as not been outside to long, but wet is wet, and looking at the rear deck the shoddy fitted hood as never stopped water getting in , rain rail will be shattered 100% also, which would of help speed you the process no end for the arches and sills blowing out before time, the ill fitted roof caused the biggest issues thinking that they had solved it and looks clearly obvious that a "mate of a mate" fitted it or someone themselves from a Haynes manual with a A4 sheet for the conversion kit ( which i most say is a nasty cheap kit if not home made?),they made it worse in the long run, i have the bracket studs soaking before i attempt to remove the 10MM nuts, seats ( which are in fair nick) unbolted so i can get under the carpet to soak up water, i noticed a few other bits that are missing the trim pieces on top of the seat belt trim tower and the lift and dot pegs off the tower sides, rear deck carpet as been cut ,so newer carpet needed,thankfully not for a roll bar but looks like a cheapy cheap style bar was fitted as the 10mm head bolts are also missing from the trim deck cover, which also explains why the lift dots are missing.
Few other trim items missing to find and fit but on the whole she is pretty complete, the steering wheel wants replacing, i think i have a couple in the bat cave of many wonderful bits .
Removed all the clear coat over spray from other cars in is unit off the glass and mirrors.
There are two lengths of wire running to the boot, a red and a black in a strange route to go, so i will investigate those before she throw back together for the minute.
plans for the minute is get her dry and water tight , slap a spare soft top on for the time being as i need the hard top to use else were for another arriving, and nose cone off to repair the bonnet lock with the snapped bolts, so the bonnet ( although full of war wounds) is solid for her journey further north for a bit so i am not going all out just yet, red one to finish is first with Andrews Sspec build, plus others to sort for owners, but she will be finished for summer
M-m

[Mazda Mender]

Well what a crap weekend weather wise....

As is always the case , if there here , i'll do something that's needed on them...

There was a couple of things in my head to sort before she goes off to Rotland with Andy , so in-between rain showers and guests calling for a chat etc, the main thing of securing a fresher soft top on for the minute could not happen yet because of the showers so at least i managed to hit a few things off the ever growing list....
So mainly on sat after the hospital appointment...
I sorted the boot brake light wires,
Removed the crappy aerial stub and shoved in a grommet for the time being
Removed a live wire running from the battery to under the passenger seat?
Wire in the rear fog light to the rear cluster.
Fitted the rear fog light switch
Removed the immobiliser and made wiring good again
Fabricated the bonnet lock up for the time being with a newer lock so the bonnet stays shut.
Aligned the passenger head light light ( OCD moment)
Jizza Cleaned the engine bay ready for when she comes back.
Found some of the missing trim bits,
Jizza cleaned the rims.
Found a battery tray and J bolt ( just need to find a clamp)
Found a HRW rocker switch,
Battery on charge
Isolater switch ready to fit
Found a spare hood on the frame ready to fit for the time being
Banged some rear deck mushroom bolts on to secure the HT for the minute.
John arrived with some bounty in the boot that could be used on her?

Sunday late on after a road trim with Mr Carl Stuart, ( sourced a newer bottom screen cowl and screen frame seal) removed the remains of the roof , brackets , rain rail and pitch bolts .
That rain as never kept water out from day one of who ever fitted ( tried) the MK 2 skin to the MK 1 frame, it was really bad, and goes a long way in it ending up doing the complete opposite to what it was meant to of been fitted for in the first place and explains the condition of the sills and arches as the stored water from the ill fitted roof
Found newer brackets and MK 2 side brackets ready to fit the frame and hood.

[blackyb]

If only that jizza clean fluid had the same effect on rusty bits.

As always it's going to be a great read and a another sorted MX.

[GlennyGills]

[quote="Mazda Mender"]Well what a crap weekend weather wise....

As is always the case , if there here , i'll do something that's needed on them...

There was a couple of things in my head to sort before she goes off to Rotland with Andy , so in-between rain showers and guests calling for a chat etc, the main thing of securing a fresher soft top on for the minute could not happen yet because of the showers so at least i managed to hit a few things off the ever growing list....
[/qoute]

And here I was thinking I had made your day by coming along to chat

[Mazda Mender]

Well what a crap weekend weather wise....

As is always the case , if there here , i'll do something that's needed on them...

There was a couple of things in my head to sort before she goes off to Rotland with Andy , so in-between rain showers and guests calling for a chat etc, the main thing of securing a fresher soft top on for the minute could not happen yet because of the showers so at least i managed to hit a few things off the ever growing list....
[/qoute]

And here I was thinking I had made your day by coming along to chat

You did , it was great to see you even though it was a flying visit, love to mum bud.
M-m

[Mazda Mender]

Just up dates really ,she as been swapped out for Andrews 1.8 Sspec to come back to play when andrews is finished and we swap them back around at a later date...
So we throw a hood on for the time being to keep the damp out, and cover over the exposed areas already cut open , but Andy is putting her under cover anyway...
See you in a month or so...

[Mazda Mender]

Parts being sourced waiting on her return ready to attack.
M-m

[Mazda Mender]

Just because she as not been 100% started yet ,does not mean forgotten, i never thought i would be searching and buying a set of daisy wheels, but these well be refurbished and put on her as she would of been....

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M-m