Restoration / Boxing day sales

Technical Area Body, Interior & Styling
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I am starting the restoration of my 1998 NA 1.8is at the beginning of January as I have managed to secure rental of a commercial garage with a pit.

I have already bought a lot of components ( brake calipers, discs, flexis, brakepipe unions etc ), but my aim is to completely redo the underside of the car, including removal and renovation of all the subframes and control arms inc bushes, suspension and springs, steering rack and ball joints etc.

I will be removing the engine and all undercarriage items to facilitate a good coating of gravitex following any necessary preparation.

I will also be repairing / replacing the rear sills and wheel arches, and also both front wings.

So over the next week or so I am looking to buy all the necessary parts. If anyone knows of any seasonal discounts, or has any suitable ( preferably new ) spare parts they are wishing to sell, please drop me a PM, or post the links to discounts / offers for all to see and use.

My aim is to keep the car pretty standard, but I am not adverse to some sensible upgrades.

I have bought a donor car from an Owners Club Member, a V Special import, which came with a hardtop. I am going to use the interior from the donor car, as well as anything else which is in better condition than on my car. I have already changed the rear number plate panel as I prefer the square number plate fitting.

At the end of it all I l should have lots of spares to offer other members including a MK1 NA steering wheel complete with unused airbag.

I know some of the purists would advise to keep the car original, some say not to remove a safety feature such as the airbag etc…however here is my position. I live in central France where registering anything other than a Renault or Citroen is virtually impossible ( overstated but please read my other posts first ! ). The car HAD to be registered in 1998 or after to have a CoC ( certificate of conformity ) and could not be an import from outside the EU ( thats a whole other story ! ). So having set my heart on a MK1 V Special I was left with little option other than to create one with a 1998 UK spec car. I managed to track a suitable car down, with much help from Zoe at Mazda Uk helping me greatly with the availability of CoC’s in relation to VIN Numbers.

So here I am, the car and donor car ready to go, and a large, dry well lit garage to work in. Some parts sourced, and a whole load of learning curve to come.

Wish me Luck !

Hope you all have a very healthy 2018

Richard

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I’m not sure about EU-spec airbag car seatbelts on Mk1s, but US cars (or some of them) had stitched in breakaway strips of webbing, so when swapping interiors, probably swap around the seatbelts as well. Earlier seatbelt stalks attached to the transmission tunnel. Most, but not all late Mk1s had a tapped hardpoint on the tunnel, hidden behind a plastic plug. Some though are missing the captive nut.

Alternatively, its fairly easy to fit later seat belly pans to early style seats, enabling proper fitment of the later seatbelt stalks. See:

https://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst101197_Mk1-seat-pan-swap.aspx

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The best of luck with your project 

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Interesting that you are using Gravitex stone chip on the underside. I recently bought Dinitrol stonechip in Schultz cans to do a car with my big compressor.

In the past the Dinitrol aerosols of stone chip have been no issue at all. Even with the garage a 20C and the Dinitrol cans having 30 minutes in front of a fan heater the stone chip just clogged in the Dinitrol Branded Schultz gun.

Went down to the local body shop and they said use Gravitex it just works.

Rejel the Dintirol distributors were less than helpful when help was needed.

As always please upload plenty pictures during the refurb. What coating are you using on the subframes.

Please be very, very careful with removing fuel lines and if you are doing the fuel tank when the car is over the pit. There must be two ways to get out the pit and yes two sets of steps in case of petrol escape in the pit and the necessary firefighting kit.

We want pictures until the end of the refurb.

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Thanks for the advice  one seat base is split, the other bolster is holed so hopefully I can make one good seat from the two ! The passengers seats in both are good as per....!

 

thanks for the good wishes

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I have not used the Gravitex before on the underside of a car. I have used it with my small 100l compressor to try and match the factory “underseal” finish on the sills and door bottoms of a MK2, but found the finish was not a good match. After much research and some fiddling with gloss rollers and small artists paintbrushes I managed an “acceptable” match. I have only read good things online regarding the Gravitex so time will tell lol

I have not fully decided on a finish for the subframes / control arms. Seems to be a lot of conflicting opinions online. Some say powder coating dosent get in to all the internal corners and nooks and crannies, others disagree. To some extent it may depend on how well the bits and pieces clean up. I have just come across a DIY system using “electrolisi, epsom salt, a bath, and a car battery”, all new to me and defo in need of further investigation, but at a first glance looks much easier than doing it by hand, a much better job, and cheaper than blasting…

I will try and make a photo diary

As a former firefighter I have seen first hand the effects of pits and fire / explosion, and as I will be in a “rented” garage will be taking extra care. Would much prefer a lift, but unfortunately the previous occupant took it with him !

 

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Great and stay safe!

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double post

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triple post

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quad post

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Re the underbody protection I used Cobra Truck Be liner twice so far and it leaves excellent finish and ca be painted over if neccessary.I used Gravitex 10/12 year agao and not sure it was as good as it says on the tin!!The Cobra is 2 part system with hardener so brilliant I thought anyway although a bit more expensive than Gravitex

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Good luck with your project. Keep us updated as you go.
D

PS your white one is still a joy to drive ??

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Hi Dave,

 

Thanks for the good wishes…hopefully this one is for keeps…I made sure I registered it here before starting work !

 

So pleased the Eunos is behaving herself. I may be coming to you for advice as I am hoping to swap over the aircon from the V Special…I followed your aircon thread with interest.

Happy New Year !

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If I can help please PM me.
Bonne année
D