The car I purchased a few months ago is a MK1 (1991) Eunos import. The guy who originally brought it into NI had the intention of using it as a “track day car” and as such a fair amount of work was done.
Full engine rebuild in 2011, all high performance leads used, induction kit and stainless steel exhaust fitted, gas adjustable suspension and lowered springs fitted along with removal of A/C, advancement of engine timing to 14 degrees and addition of 15 inch alloys.
It is my intention to keep the car for many years (as a weekend/summer run about) and as I enjoy “modifying cars” I would like to take it further down the “track day look”, a turbo upgrade is my long term goal, along with a change from the British Racing Green colour to something more unique.
While these are projects for the future, my immediate aim is to make the car solid, a good base for building on and ready for the MOT in October.
While I have modified many cars, this is my first foray into the MX5 world, and all the cars I have worked on in the past have been my daily driver and as such rust. corrosion and paint fade have not been an issue.
While from a distance the car looks sound, after a few weeks of ownership there are a few things that concern me:-
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Under extreme cornering there is a “knock” or “click” from the front passenger wheel/suspension that can be felt through the wheel, just a single knock.
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Gears are sticky, particularly 1st to 2nd. The other week the gear box fluid was inexplicably empty (have topped it up since and no leaks or puddles in the drive) and the clutch has virtually no resistance.
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The electric windows are very slow.
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The rear sills need replaced, after noticing a “crack” on the edge I examined them closely and they are rusted through.
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The paint is “suspect” there are a couple of blemishes, it is almost transparent on the edge of the boot and there appears to have been a dodgy rear bumper respray, with far too much “glitter” in the mix and a bit of overspray on the chrome exhaust tip, also around the windscreen surround there is the start of some “bubbling”, all in all the paintwork looks tired.
Before I consider future projects, and to ensure the car is with me for a LONG time I want to make it all right. Get someone to give the mechanicals a once over and put right anything that needs it and also someone (if it can be the same person great, if not I dont mind) to check out the bodywork and tell me what needs doing and what to do with the paintwork.
At the end of the day the car cost me under £1,500 so I dont want to spend the GDP of a small african nation on it. But I dont mind spending a little to get her solid and sound and looking as well up close as she does from a distance.
Having said that anyone I have spoken too is either quoting numbers from the telephone directory or looks at me like I am speaking mandarin!
I live in Dromore Co. Down, so if anyone knows of anyone, not a 3-day camel ride away, who does good work and isnt too hard to pay that they can recommend I would be eternally grateful.
