You Tube v Reality

[Ceef]

On you tube fellows cheerfully unbolt the bits to drop the subframe. It’s normally sunny and they are wearing tee shirts.

In my reality I had to start by tapping bits to confirm they were bolts and not rust. In two fleeces in a bitter cold Gale on a flint gravel drive.

The effing thing has fought me every step of the way. I spent this morning grinding (not cutting) with a dremel (as there isn’t room for a proper angle grinder) off the four locator nuts for the diff mount as all four had such rusty heads they all rounded off - and I was using hex impact sockets and gallons of fast release fluid.

In the latest farce the prop shaft bolts are frozen so I went to “pop them out” (nuts already loose so to speak) and after walloping them with a hammer for too long I am contemplating a mini oxy torch to get it warm as that’s going to be safe up near the fuel tank.

Bloody MX5.

[Mazda Mender]

Yeap welcome to the real world of mending these...the vid was properly state side and shot as a " let's try and be popular" all planed etc.
Where as it's freezing but dry and it's just drizzle, in and out in-between showers is were you find the proper Menders...
It's been the norm for me for to many years to think about now...but we find a way, a good pop up gazebo are our friends...been out in it all day mayself and in-between showers...and "nearly finished " what was needed on build 15.
Fight the fight and keep those chins up bud.
M-m

[Ceef]

Thanks for the support l. I’m glad I’m not alone. I’ve just had an itch in my ear watching “Dune” so I stuck the obligatory finger in there and a load of rust fell out.

I’m going to have a go with that freeze spray tomorrow from screw fix after thinking about it for a bit heat will expand the metal, cold will shrink it so in theory expand the bolt hole and Shrink the Bolt and I can have an evening of happy optimism that the freeze spray might help release them. Four new prop shaft bolts to add to the growing pile of new and recon parts for the back end waiting to go on. Excluding the hood and the bonnet these should be the last bolts (excluding the motor and ‘box) I’ll have had to unscrew /unseize/drill and tap.

[Mazda Mender]

Thanks for the support l. I’m glad I’m not alone. I’ve just had an itch in my ear watching “Dune” so I stuck the obligatory finger in there and a load of rust fell out.

I’m going to have a go with that freeze spray tomorrow from screw fix after thinking about it for a bit heat will expand the metal, cold will shrink it so in theory expand the bolt hole and Shrink the Bolt and I can have an evening of happy optimism that the freeze spray might help release them. Four new prop shaft bolts to add to the growing pile of new and recon parts for the back end waiting to go on. Excluding the hood and the bonnet these should be the last bolts (excluding the motor and ‘box) I’ll have had to unscrew /unseize/drill and tap.

M-m

[John&Luke]

Keep us posted on progress/ bruised knuckles :) I would be tempted to just try to heat the diff /prop flange first. But if localised heat can work wonders with rust.

[blackyb]

Not so much these days but in years gone by, I know exactly how you feel.

Produced videos shot in warm dry climates and everything comes loose just like that versus real world mechanics on driveways, in rain alert and snow where every nut and bolt wants to challenge your sanity.

As the chaps say, stick at it, and a quote from one of my favourite films " never give up, never surrender"

[Ceef]

Pictures you say

Here is a selection of rusty subframe, sheared brace bolts I’ll have to drill out when the subframe is clear, the offending prop shaft bolts, the insert for the power frame is frozen in too so I was going to pull that out with the diff (gearbox is supported) and my sills - basically it’s all new metal between the wheel arches from the chassis rails round and up to the a and b posts and those are Mazda Restorer beefed chassis rails. I paid a lock resto company to weld that lot.

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[Ceef]

As it says on the tin. Wear PPE including safety glasses!

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Recommendation crack it screw fix

These little buggers won’t be going back in!

[Mazda Mender]

M-m