Swapped back to my Summer wheels/tyres. So if we get a sudden cold snap, you’ll know why.
Yesterday with eldest joined the North Thames gathering for archery- thanks David :). Then went to Southend seafront for lunch, walk along the pier and donuts before tootling home.
Today decided to clean the engine bay (not enough time to start on the body work proper)…got bored so cleaned the exhaust tips (admired the underseal that MX5 Restorers put on whilst there)…and as the sun was out took Mutley out for a spin to make sure it all still worked ;), roof down of course. Whilst out spotted a dark blue 08 plate, gave them a quick flash as was pressing on…
car is in for a full service along with a gearbox and diff oil change. 58 plate on 45k miles. cant see anything in the paperwork about these oils being changed in the near 11 year life of the car. I figured this was a “good to do”
Good idea to change the fl22 coolant too if not been done and - especially - the plastic coolant overflow expansion tank before it splits (usually at the neck) and bu66ers your engine …
Ticked off the remaining items on my job list…for now!
Installed LED Fog/DRL’s and Osram Nightbreaker bulbs for dipped beam
DRL’s
Fogs
Nightbreakers
Then to the reversing camera. Hardest part was routing the cable from the cabin to the boot
Could do with being a slightly less acute angle really (this is the default shape of the camera, and didn’t really want to mount it anywhere more ‘visible’), although useful for spotting walls/pavements and checking the cleanliness of the rear bumper
I released my car from the garage, did a couple of little jobs and found that i didn’t need to put my clock forward as it has more or less been garaged since September.
My Mk2 has just passed its 21st birthday (made in Jan 198). Despite it’s low mileage (just 42,000) and very good bodywork (never been welded and still no need; it’s very sound) I suspected that the cam belt could be the original because although I had some service history, it wasn’t mentioned. I had bought a cam belt kit a few months after I bought the car two years ago but due to other priorities it sat on my garage shelf ever since. Yesterday I decided the time had come to set about the job because I’d like to put a few more miles on the car this year (and peace of mind too)!
All went well until I tried to remove the crank pulley fixing bolt. It was very rusty and totally stuck solid, despite me using a long breaker bar on the 21mm socket. All I managed to do, after using the recommended method i.e. car in gear, handbrake hard on, was to force the car to move in reverse so I had to give up. Thankfully, it’s Mothering Sunday today so all our three adult sons and their families turned up to see their Mum. I got my engineer son to sit in the car with his foot hard on the brakes while I had another go. The car didn’t move, but neither did the pulley nut!
Desperate measures were now needed. I have a four foot length of scaffold pole in the shed…used as an extension over the breaker bar it was “do or die time”. I was convinced that either the pin in the breaker bar would snap or the socket would break. Thankfully, the pulley bolt suddenly gave with a quiet “pop”. I was very surprised to find no damage to anything and that the pulley bolt was actually very easy to unwind. Apart from the troublesome surface rust it is as clean as a whistle, as is everything behind it. There is absolutely no sign of any oil leakage from the crankshaft front oil seal (or from the cam cover). The green coolant came out clear as a bell and the aluminium interior of the thermostat housing and the bottom hose connection stub are as clean as those of a brand new car!
The cams are in perfect condition and there is no sign of any laquer in the cam chest. This car has obviously been very well looked after as far as the mechanics are concerned.
However, the car had one final dirty trick up it’s sleeve! The front, driver’s side lower belt cover screw had seized solid into its little metal sleeve in the cover. As I undid it, it graunched free from the lug on the cover, breaking it into pieces then the head of the screw snapped off. I understand this is a common problem; all the other screws are totally rust free and came out easily. Despite my efforts, the mangled stub of it remains rusted into the front cover of the oil pump casting. I’ve ordered another lower cover from MX5 Parts but I’m afraid the errant remains are probably going to have to stay put!
However, it looks like the cam belt, original or not, is actually in pristine condition and would have gone on for many, many more miles! The whole lot will still be changed though, including both pulleys and the water pump. I’m also going to fit a new radiator and bottom hose. Although the rad matrix itself isn’t too bad, the originally black plastic end tanks have discoloured to greenish grey. From past experience on a BMW, where a plastic expansion tank suddenly cracked open during the MOT test, giving the tester in the inspection pit below the car a very hot shower, I’m taking no chances with it. I’ll also take the opportunity to get the cam cover vapour or soda blasted to a pristine clean condition, it rather lets the engine bay down as it is.
MOT’d on Friday…Tax sorted today for Monday April 1st.
Roll on Summer !!!
Vacuum, wash, wax, and then a nice quick run to blow-dry it and polish the discs again.
Repeat on the other car.
My back aches…
But it’s worth it…
Painted my calipers - yellow
Traded in the Eunos and drove away in a red 2010 NC2.
Wrapped the rear lights and fitted a Cupra splitter.
A very useful post Dave and so much easier just to lay it up rather than faff about changing the clock display!
I love these little tips! Are you getting it ready for the 7th (weather permitting) ? I can meet up at Lymm if you want or whatever suits you.
Barrie
Barrie, if you also disconnect the battery time stands still… so the car won’t get any older…
John
Another little gem! Who thinks of these? So useful
thanks John.
Barrie
Having cleaned the car on Sunday the windows squeaked when going up and down, but only if the roof was up. The rubber was too clean…
Today the Gummi Pflege Stift was run along all the rubber bits on the body again, with special attention to all the PRHT mouldings that had been so carefully cleaned out to remove the dust and grime.
Now the windows are quiet again.
Changed the sparking plugs
Finally got the grotty manifold heat shield painted while I was round RS’s gaff; cheers, mate…
Hi Barrie.
Tyres and hub centres all painted and looking rather nice at the moment, and all for less than a tenner, 7th looking good at the mo but we may have a third meeting up with us in an RF please be kind to him…or anyone else that might like to join us…we can confirm times Saturday.
Dave.
Wish i knew how to get pictures up!
Nice one Dave , the centre cap pics you sent looked great too!
Barrie