Repainting of rear deck

Technical Area Body, Interior & Styling
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: __NC3.5
  2. I’m based near: __Bath
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __Removing prht rear deck
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Hi all. The rear deck is bubbling under the clear coat so I’m getting it repainted along with a couple of other chips and scratches. It’ll be much easier for the paint shop if I remove the rear deck rather than leave it on the car, cheaper and less masking. Would I be right in thinking that it’s only the 4 bolts on the underside fixing it in place (obviously disconnecting the electrics to the brake light as well)?

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Have a look at this:

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Thanks Ian. Looks like a comprehensive guide to remove everything - it is their training manual after all. Looks like page 7 is the bit I need.

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If your deck lid will open electrically then 1. I am jealous :joy:, and 2. You’re in for an easy ride. Those instructions are spot on. As you say, 4 bolts and a connector or two.

Just be careful when you go to lift the deck lid off - there will be a random number of shims under each bolt that level it just so, and they like to fly away before you’ve had a chance to count how many there are on each corner! :grimacing:

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I sincerely hope so! Didn’t know about the shims so I’ll keep an eye out for them. It just makes it much easier for the paint shop to respray (so they’ll hopefully do a decent job). They’re doing a repair and respray of the drivers door so I’ll pop off the window trim and mirror as well - gotta replace the rusty window guide anyway. Then a trip to BBR to have a Super 200 conversion and we’re ready for the summer - whenever that comes! Looking forward to it.

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The composite the deck is made of absorbs water, frost can then make it bubble. So if it is going to be painted (and therefore re-sealed against the elements) make sure it is properly dried out before painting. A few days in warm summer sun would do it, but just be aware if doing this in a cold and damp blighty in March. You dont want to seal a damp composite. Maybe the paint shop can let it sit in their oven for a day before painting?

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I’ve decided I’m going to have a go at respraying my car myself. So when that’s gone horribly wrong I’ll be looking around for a paint shop. Let us know what your experience is like; I may well need them :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
Also, I’ve got my eye on the BBR Super 200 upgrade too! Though I think I’ll be at least one summer behind you :sob::joy:

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Good idea, thanks.

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Absolutely!

Dehydrate before sealing and painting as McTrucky says.

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Think I’ll remove it and pop it in the house for a couple of days before it gets repaired. Just hope we have rain free days as the car will be on the drive without a deck.

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How is that decision even allowed past the planning stage?! :grimacing::joy: Thanks for the heads up though! Are there any other exterior bits of the car made of the same nonsense do you know? (Wondering about the hardtop panels as well now…)

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Well whilst cleaning the car today I can confirm that all the roof panels are certainly not metallic!

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lol no. One of my most useful tools is a magnetic LED light which gave me quite the surprise when I casually attached it to the roof and let go while messing around in the footwell at the beginning of this project… :joy:

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Sometimes I spend more time finding a place to attach the lamp, than doing the job, what with all the aluminium, fibre glass and plastic panels :laughing:

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Well at least it’s one place that doesn’t rust!

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I know you are in Bath, and I am 400 miles away in Scotland… but I have a spare complete roof for a prht, happy to lend you the deck if you wanted to remove yours and keep it in doors to allow it a week or two to dry out…

Appreciate the logistics are awkward, but the offer is there if you want it.

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Very kind of you. I should be able to give the deck a few days in the warm to dry. Hopefully that’ll be enough.

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