Mk 1 Eunos 1.6 Short or Long nose crank identification

Buying a ‘5 and Insurance advice Buying Advice
2

Hi

I am looking at a few 1991 - 1993 Mk1 Eunos cars tomorrow. I have read abotu the SNC LNC crank issue, and have seen the picture of the 4 or 8 slot bolt.  

However, and this is probably an easy one to answer - it is possible to actually see the relevant part from looking into the bonnet, in order to check which it is?  I am obviously only concerned on the 1991 car I am viewing, as the others are 92/93.

Can you tell from teh VIN number?

Cheers

Chris

3

 Look at the bottom pully, The long nose has 8 slots the short nose 4 slots. The slots are in the pully.

4

See

http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/352.aspx

for details of the VIN cutoff, for Roadsters.

Note; if the engine has been changed, this will be incorrect, so refer to the engine number. But you should be able to check the bottom pulley without a lot of effort; make sure you have a torch.

5

Thanks

Lets see how we get on then…

Chris

6

Didn’t only ever a small proportion of early the Mk1 ever have problems with thier cranks? Normally after some one put it back wrong? If its fine after all this time and with all Mx5 specialists knowing about this when say changing a cambelt, is it still a big issue if the crank good? It would be a pity to over look a good car just because it had a short nose crank.

7

that is a fair comment.  I am visiting a speciailist tomorrow to see cars, so will ask them.

8

Unless the crank nose has been bodged with loctite (this fix has a variable record of success), and only holding together until the next belt change.

 

Most MX5s are not looked after by “specialists”, (most early Mk1 MX5s are firmly into a “banger” stage of life) but, more usually, by the garage down the road, or, if they are lucky, by a Mazda dealer. Both of these will refer to standard garage instructions, and not consult internet forums. Failures have occurred on factory fitted belts and garage fitted belts, so there was an intrinsic issue with the way Mazda fitted the belt, which is why the crankshaft was revised (after the interim revision). If it had been a simple result of garages being incompetant, an expensive revision such as this would not have been introduced.

If looking at an early car, either make sure that the cambelt has been changed with a sympathetic nod to the possibility of failure, or budget enough to replace the engine (more economical that changing the crankshaft).

 

Some specialist MX5 dealers’ statements I would take with a pinch of salt.

9

I Agree