Build 14 Andrews S/spec 1.8 import

[Mazda Mender]

So welcome to build No:- 14, one of more on the cards for Mr Andrew Stott of Autolinkmx5 that he is mad enough to want me to sort for him, she is going to be up for grabs when finished, so that said of things is best directed to Andrew rather than me.
Well the swap was done and the Red badge S/spec ,1.8 in lovely laguna blue ( peaky blue ?) comes to live with me for a while, slapped the Hard top on and i am ready to attack , first impressions is a clean roadster that needs so good fettling...





M-m

[Mazda Mender]

Working out the plan of attack.....

Electrics first...
Immobilizer removed ( only one very old well worn fob) and all connections sorted
Remove all of the aftermarket mess from the last owners ,and it was a mess, house hold connection blocks, snap scotch joins and all wiring running to the back of the roadsters boot ,
There was a lot including a lock motor that was doing nothing?, so it all got removed to start fresh correct, unsure as to what had gone on with the boots brake light wiring as there was washing lines all over this roadster, removed the aftermarket had their day front fogs? which were just fitted for show and never connected?.
Routed a fresh wire for the rear fog light and connected up, the aftermarket switch was not illuminating so managed to find one to fit the space on the bay of E.
Sorted the boot brake light wiring, all the crap behind the dash and re taped up the loom? as it had all been split open?.
Waiting on a head unit and door speakers, as the seats are being change for a very nice set of leather ones with the back rest boom speakers in and built in headrest speakers, i'll do the oil in the turret and change the upper and lower gear shaft boots before i put all that are back together again...

***view pics from the bottom on the post*****

[Mazda Mender]

So the electrical side goes on pause while i await items to arrive...
next on my list is the clean up to see where we sit, so jiza cleaned the wheels and engine bay, i removed the coil packs to do this , even more so as she is an early 1.8 which means she as 4 pin packs, and we do not want to take chances on them....

After a deep clean i noticed a different colour "sky" blue on the passenger side inner wing to investigate deeper when i strip down as the front end is all next to be removed...

[Mazda Mender]

Time for the front wings and nose cone to be removed , wish me luck, well that went really really well only 4 bolts snapped ,all the rest came out, she is a nice roadster to work on. if it was not for one of her last owners that thought it would be a great idea to use S/steel nuts and bolts and only here and there , don't get me wrong i get the use of S/steel nuts and bolts and do it my self, but..... this clown thought it would be a great idea to use cheap Chinese s/steel nuts and bolts and even worse domed allen key ones ,so with some weathering and in the most inaccessible awkward places most were not for moving and the allen key section turned to butter ,so grinder, dremmel ,files ans axe saws were used , the swear jar is full and someone ears are alight somewhere, if you going to use them "DON'T" use cheap ones ,"DON'T" use domed and "DON'T" use allen key, "DO" use s/steel, "DO" use proper head bolts and apply a grease....that took an age removing these which should of been a for simpler task , i would of rather dealt with rusty nuts and bolts snapping, it comes apart and you have space to deal with them afterwards...
Passenger wing is shot and needs replacing, we are swapping the nose cone any way as it looks like who ever removed the badge , did so and use an electric sander? so there is a horrid flat spot we do not like.
I had to remove and swap over the slam panel brackets and weather strips from one to the other with out destroying anything , and the good old s/steel jelly head allen key domed bolts were breeding on the nose cone again, dremmel , grinder etc yet again, and needed them all for the other as the screw heads were blobs of rust, but all done and swapped over, that was a long day just doing that only...

Inner wing is from what looks like an attempted to sort surface rust? and is hand painted on ,so i'll sort that , paint on its way

[Mazda Mender]

Engine strip down etc....
All the coolant hoses are being replaced, coolant system flushed and back flushed, engine flushed, water pump cam belt, idler,tensioner and spring, spark plugs, air/fuel and oil filters, cam and crank seals, rocker seal, thermostat ,aux belts, 5 year coolant,fresh oil, clean all nuts and bolts replace if needed , clean all pulley wheels, clips etc as we go all ready for build back up.
The engine is clean and been well looked after, and as been a dream to work on, all in all she is in very good condition bar some cosmetics, i am really enjoying working on engine side, even every nut and bolt came off the manifold heat shield.
There were a few bits that i was happy with so got taken back and painted.
Just need to check everything over, change the fuel filter, add coolant and oil give her some lightening and listen to the thunder....

***I think the pics are a bit mixed up with strip down to built back up??*** i'll sort them at a later date to flow correct....

[blackyb]

Good work Mr M.

Beauty of these rebuild threads are that potential new owners can see the depth of and the detail of the work being carried out.

Laid up at the moment so spending my time reading as many build threads as I can.

[goodwoodmx5]

Thats a huge amount of work done in a relatively short amount of time - very impressive work. Still don't know how you get everything just so clean - I'll have to try harder.

[Mazda Mender]

Few bits swapped out or replaced, our man who loves Chinese allan bolts strikes again on the clutch filler lid? swapped out , Passenger wing replaced with a new one, steel seems a little thinner but i am impressed with the fit seeing as they are copy parts and come with paint on them already for protection ,although it will all be hit properly for protection , better weather strip swapped out on the drivers door, expansion bottle now secured after drilling out snapped bolts? , looks like allan bolt man had been there and did not go his way?
Japanese front licence plate holder fixed in place, upper and lower gear shaft boots changed and fresh turret oil, waiting on sound deadening to arrive.
Head unit in, but on pressing power on there was a thud on the roof to find the electric aerial mast had shot completely out , guess our man had been there before with the mast stopper missing and the sign of mole grips , so that needs sorting.
Leather seats are in also.
Side light sockets replaced and LED bulbs added...
Oh and fuel filter done...
Rear fog lamp switch added and working....
And adding the endless amount of missing screws ,clips and nuts and bolts as i go...

[mk1divemaster]

wish you could have mine for a week!! looking good bud

[Mazda Mender]

Not even started on her really yet bud....she is just taking a back burner for a couple of weeks while we concentrate on the NEC roadster arriving to be prepped and the NEC it self and look at My gearbox on my black blur 1....gear change is iffy at the minute.
I need to add the ever growing list really so even I have something to tick off.
M-m

[blackyb]

Wayne had mine for a week last year and brought her back up to scratch and running spot on. But she might be staying laid up this year.

[Mazda Mender]

Wayne had mine for a week last year and brought her back up to scratch and running spot on. But she might be staying laid up this year.

And was a joy to work on .
M-m

[Mazda Mender]

So back on her...
seat rails stripped ,re-painted and fitted, electric aerial repaired and fitted, ashtray stripped( allen key man had been at it again) ,painted and fitted, speaker wiring sorted , there was a number of issues going on on the speaker side, thanks the the last "have a go hero", all day chasing faults to get the sound working out of all 6 speakers, but hey....

[blackyb]

Allen key man must have bought a job lot and tried to use them all up to hide his embarassment only yo be exposed by Mm, the senior Mazda Investigator.

[Mazda Mender]

Allen key man had been everywhere?????
So front brakes stripped down and refurbed with new pads and disks , same with the back , just need to re-set handbrake and fresh fluid, new drop links also fitted all round, TRE needs new boots, front dampers need new bushes, front and rear sway bar bushes need replacing, zorst hangers have had there day, doors have been sorted with the windows and locks etc, waiting on the membrane seal arriving, also waiting on new door speakers, all is removed now ready for refurbing and major clean of the underneath etc ready for, rust killing/treating, ready for undersealing and box sections