S-Ltd - "The Black Lemon"

[graymattor]

Thanks M-M, i would be interested in seeing any pics or photos you may have, i am liking the idea very much, i wish i could view the colour in person, i feel photos could make it look better or worse depending on the lighting, new or old paint, etc..

[Mazda Mender]

I'll see what I have on my external HD bud.
M-m

[graymattor]

]back on to the subject of differential bushes, has anyone used the super pro void fillers?

At first glance my bushes look pretty good, i will have a better look to and see how degraded they are/how much movement there is, but these do look like quite a good idea, stiffens up the bushes but you still have the rubber, they are half the price of IL Motorsport replacement bushes and a heck of a lot less hassle to fit! any reviews would be great, i'm currently doing my research online... One side of me says just spend the bit extra and fit full new bushes while the diff is out, the other says, save the money and hassle, its not like you are put the car on the track or racing, its juts for some road improvement! and i REALLY do not want to increase the NVH, if anything i want there to be less!! so that will lead me on to another future post sound deadening!!

https://bofiracing.co.uk/servicing/differential/differential-mounts/superpro-rear-differential-mounts-void-filling-kit-for-mazda-mx-5-na-nb/

[Mazda Mender]

Far to stiff for road use which brings on fatigue else where.

[graymattor]

Well today has been a buying day!!!

1) Il Motorsport rear upper and lower bushes - had to buy the full front and rear set because one of the rear sets is out of stock! so i will have a full front set for sale when they arrive
2) Il Motorsport DifF Bushes - look fun to fit! i think we have a press at work!
3) Rear brake line from left to right, the one that looks a sod to change if the whole rear end is fitted! it looked a but rusty when i removed it so i thought i would change it while i am doing! (i already have braided flexibles)
4) Full rear caliper refurb kit, return springs, disks and pads, etc
5) Paint/coating for subframe and suspension legs (bugger i need to purchase some sort of underseal, added to my list)

I will be servicing the Diff while it out, what oil does everyone recommend?

Saturday i will be collecting the sand blaster from my brother and will start attacking the subframe and arms..

Anything else i should be doing while the subframe is out? i can't think of anything



oh question - can anyone think of a car that utilises 40mm diameter side indicators? i am modifying my TSI's and fancy the Jetstream look, i know the jet stream uses the Micra K11 pre-face lift or MX5 Mk1 side indicators but they are a touch large i think from my TSI (MX5 are 55mm i think, Micra i am not sure but will be roughly if not the same)

[graymattor]

whats everyones thoughts on chassis paints / underseal? done to death on facebook i know! but with you all being menders you are experienced and not necessarily in to brand names, etc (i read on a locost forum that they use house hold glos!! not heard that one before lol!!)

on the front subframe i used Eastwoods (not sure if original or extreme, i will check tonight i think i have a bit left), its quite costly at £30 a tin and i will need two, is there anything better or as good which would be cheaper (i prefer a spray but could brush it on but i feel spray gets where a brush cannot)

The front suspension legs i have used Hammerite smooth (red) but having read on the internet its not really rated for this application and will chip easily? some have said that Tractol is good paint, but think it needs a primer then colour which will bump the cost up

Any suggestions form your guys experiences ?

[Mazda Mender]

My proces is strip back with what ever is needed...scraper, sand blaster, wire brush in a drill , flappy disc in a grinder, files , driver , chemical.. to get them back fresh and clean, then treat with a rust convertor....I than invest in the really good spray tins from Aldi(satin or gloss black)....the paint is great and cheap...then apply a good underseal , which is a can of worms depending on who you talk to... personally I don't use Schultz's...it drys out to quick and loses protection after a couple of years, which kicks all the hard work in the teeth for the reasons it's being done...
Dinitrol is worth the out lay to be applied over the paint to protect....as for the inner box sections etc etc ,there is a number of products on the market that is good to use, but I find the air line cartridges faffy and awkward to use in the tight places , so I prefer to use spray tins for ease of use and get the same protection and gives more flexibility...
A lot of the tins have a lot of surfactants in to evaporate off, so be careful ,I like sunox ( https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-x-SUNOX-Cl ... 635-2958-0 )because in goes in thick like snot and clings really good to hold and protect not thin a watery so it all runs out.
But this is all a personal preferences...but remember what ever you use ,it is not the end of the story once all applied and in..it does need checking every 12 months to stay on top of it ,doing all this makes us able to manage and control it all....left and never checked for long a period will mean it will come back and need to start again...
Undersealing Co's that take 1,000's off you happerly for the honour of their wisdom and process will never garanttee this or their work for more than 12 months...you usely get 3-6 months, and they also never ever explain that it's about managing it and will not stop the rust worm with out continued work.
And you trust these money takers.
I hope that is of some help.
Shout if you need me to explain deeper.
M-m

[graymattor]

Thanks for the pointers MM

I will purchase the sunnox for the cavities

Regarding the underbody, would the below make a good primer? i can get it free/cheap from work, it says it can be used as a primer and it is bloody good stuff..

https://www.specialised-aerosols.co.uk/ZINC-GALVANISING-SPRAY

My plan would be to mechanically, apply rust converter where necessary, spray with the above and apply above as a primer and then use dintrol, which dintrol would be best, there seem to be quite a few types!

Has anyone used Frost Extreme Chassis Black? i'm wondering whether to try this on the sub frame rather than Eastwood Extreme Chassis Black (reason being is cost! Frost is over half the price of Eastwood especially if its just as good) there is little to no reviews on the internet which i find surprising!

Update

Subframe and legs have been sand blasted, i did it myself and it broke me! wow what a job!! they were really bad but came up well, i have coated the legs in the galvanising spray above (i did test it as a primer with hammerite and it worked well, so went for it)...

ive just ordered a 29mm socket so i can remove the drive shafts so i can remove the knuckles so i can go to work on those.

The brake caliper rebuild kit has arrived, i still need to strip the the calipers..

The IL Motorsport bushes (suspension leg one, the diff one are due this week) have also arrived ready for fitting once everything is coated..

Ive also ordered the Skidnation camber bolts, i thought i bought a full set when i did the front but i cannot find them so purchased them again, i forgot how pricey they are lol!! i need to raid the garage and attic to see what bits i can sell on i must have loads! i need to build the put back up, its took quite a hit this week!!

I have started modifying my TSI's i found my side indicators in the attic which just happen to be 40mm diameter, they appear to be from/for an Alfa 101/Fiat 500, a bit retro looking but will certainly do the trick, im trying to have a bit of a retro look but with modern working in the background.

sorry there are no photos , i will post some up on the next post, possible tomorrow

Question: What DIff oil would you recommend? is there anything else i should do with the diff while i have it out of the car?

[Mazda Mender]

The said black ?purple? MK2.5 is here for some bits and a engine management light...so I have taken some Vids for you of the colour and how it pops .
I'll load them to the you tube channel tomorrow and link them here bud.
M-m

[graymattor]

The said black ?purple? MK2.5 is here for some bits and a engine management light...so I have taken some Vids for you of the colour and how it pops .
I'll load them to the you tube channel tomorrow and link them here bud.
M-m

Thanks M-M

[graymattor]

A bit of an update...

First the good!!!!!!

So after sandblasting the rear subframe and legs, etc, all have come up well (subframe could have been better but a massive improvement compared to how it was)...

Some pics,

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The brakes didn't accept the spray all that well so i will have to rough them up and have another go at them, but so far everything is much better that it was!!

[graymattor]

Now the very BAD!!!

This is where the Black Lemon just keeps on giving - me a kicking!!
I decided to attack the car to see what was underneath the underseal in the usual places!! well i was in for a VERY unpleasant surprise!! i mentioned there was an area that needed attention well holly molly!!! filler and underseal certainly does cover a lot up!! it was that bad i had to remove the side skirt to see if the outer sill was as bad! the good news here is the external of the outer sills is very solid! what's lying underneath i don't know as yet!

So at the moment i am asking, how on earth do i tackle this to make it look OEM!! because you will see a previous repair was done just before i bought the car, and it was done by a very well known and experienced company in the MX5 world!! and then it was covered by some very very thick underseal!! but looking at it, it looks dreadful and may need removing, i cannot deal with how bad it looks!!

now the photos!!

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all the repairs i have seen done on the internet, etc have been from the outside in, so sill off, repair inside, sill back on, but with this being OK on the outside, how do i attack repairing the inside with the limited access! and it look like a proper repair? also the floor down the side of the sill lip where people have tried jacking up and just wrecked it! it looks awful also, so i have thought about repairing the full length with the repair panels

https://themx5restorer.co.uk/shop/new-mx5-parts/new-mx5-panels/floor-to-sill-panel-mk1-mk2-mk2-5/

i am also tempted with the chassis rails, but i will be fitting chassis braces so you wont really see them, they do look fairly solid, well not rusty but battered

https://themx5restorer.co.uk/shop/new-mx5-parts/new-mx5-panels/mk1-mx5-floor-rail-chassis-rail/

Soooo... i am now at a crossroads!! is it worth doing anything with or just sell for parts!! it has been a torturous project ever since i first laid eyes on it nearly 5 years ago, so i am just not sure whether to cut my losses and stop wasting my time and money and look to replace it! do i want to.... no (but yes i am fed up with it and what it reminds me of) but no because i'm not one for giving up, but i know my limits with my skills and i fear i am biting more off than i can chew (same with the Mrs's J-LTD)

Thanks

[Mazda Mender]

Carry on and sort it ,because you will know it is done and done right , if you throm in the towel on her you could end up with worst, at least you know what you have now and put right .
Who is the "experienced Company"? Pm me please.
I would pure a nice brandy , chill and make a plan of attack , make a sticker up for the swear box and crack on with a gritty grin with passion in the heart.
Don't rule out Andrew at Autolinkmx5 for parts bud.
M-m

[blackyb]

Jeez, that's some poor repair that they have covered up and I can fully understand why you feel like giving up, but you have made a start, so it seems a shame to not to crack on and make it good, well certainly better than the "experts"

All I can offer is my support from a distance and the occaisional suggestion.

I am sure there is a way to reconstruct inside out and that you will figure it out.

I suggest a nice double Rum Cask Whiskey while you mull over your thoughts.

[graymattor]

that's easier said that done!! i'm just not kitted out for doing this both equipment and skill (never done anything like this!), this is very much a reality check!

It looks as though im going to have to replace both the inner arches, they aren't that bad higher up but shot at the bottom, but i will need the out the way (i think) to actually see what's going on and to attack the hole in the floor, which they don't do a repair panel for so i think i could use teh edge floor repair panels linked above to make something but i've no idea how! its going to be an absolutely sod!!

i'm not sure about this but i will sleep on it probably for another 5 years!!

Regarding the company, i would rather not say, and i cannot 100% prove it was them, i don't have any invoices, etc just that it was with them to have some work done (£1500 worth), but i was told that they did some repair work on the passenger side rear sill, because i asked them what underseal they had used! but this was 5ish years ago, but not about the rust just the quality of the work and welding, but not easy to weld on to something rusty!

We will see, i think i will be quiet for a ..................... while