MEV Exocet - Work in progress

[Pincherrn]

Hi Guys,

M-m suggested I post on here my ongoing Exocet build, so here is a bit of background to it first.
A couple of years back on a whim I bought an Ex-Army Landrover Lightweight. Despite having (supposedly) a valid MOT it was a bit of a shed. At the same time we had 2 MX5s (an Arizona and an Icon), an Audi A6 Avant and a new Triumph Bonneville. So you can see we had a bit of a fleet. The Landrover went pretty much straight in the garage and had little bits done here and there but once I realized that my wife would never be able to drive this and how much work was needed I planned to sell it.
Bear with me, I'm coming to the Exocet. At an MX5 race day at Donington MEV had a stand next to the hospitality tent and I picked up a leaflet and had a look round the demonstrator. I was hooked. So Landrover was definitely on its way out. Despite advertising it nothing was happening and in the meantime Jan my wife "forced" me to put a bid on an MX5 Mk1 in High Wycombe where we used to live. I put in 1 bid of £560 then went out for a meal. When we came back I had an email from the seller saying I had been outbid but the winner had tried to beat him down on price. Did I still want it at £560. We picked the car up the next day. I loved it. It was lowered and very stiff, had stainless exhaust and Janspeed decat, nice wheels and almost new tyres. It was in really good condition with little rust, had 9 months MOT and 6 months tax. I ran it for the 9 months then took it off the road. Just before I took it off the road I had the cambelt and waterpump replaced (only because it is a SNC engine otherwise I would have done it myself).
The strip down started - slowly.
A bit about me, I'm an Avionics instructor now but worked for about 20 years as an installer fitting electronic systems into aircraft which also involved aluminium fabrication and mechanical stuff too.
I will write a few posts in the next few days with fotos to bring you all up to date.

Hope I haven't put people off already.

Colin

[Mazda Mender]

Keep it coming col.
M-m

[flea]

I'm not put off im all ears

[Pincherrn]

Ok here are a few fotos to start with.


The Landrover.


The Bonnie


Me and the Icon


The Arizona and Spitfire

And finally the Eunos Roadster


This foto was one of the ebay ones from the seller. It didn't have the TSIs when I got it.

[Pincherrn]

Oh and the Audi



This has just been sold and replaced with an A3 Sportback 1.4TFSi S Line. The A6 was a 2.8 Quattro with LPG conversion.

[Pincherrn]

Ok so on with the stripdown. Once the car was off the road I started removing bits I thought I could sell first. Mirrors, rear numberplate panel, lights etc. Then I took some of the bigger panels off, bootlid, doors, wings front bumper.
It all came apart remarkably easily except the front bumper. The more I took the car apart the more I thought it was a mistake as it was in excellent condition but I couldn't get anything rusty but sound at the time for the same money. I was committed to the MEV.

[Pincherrn]

Some more fotos

[Pincherrn]

[flea]

Colin this thread is looking the dogs mate.

[Pincherrn]

Thanks Flea, hope it is useful as a reference for people too. On the MEV forum I have used other peoples fotos to check on what things should or will look like. Once I get a bit further I will do a bit more description of things but the stripdown fotos are self explanatory but if anyone has any questions I'll try and answer them. I'm not an expert like M-m but may be able to help through my own mistakes and experience.

Colin

[flea]

You carry on mate Your doing very well so far

[Mazda Mender]

Keep them coming Colin.
M-m

[Pincherrn]

[Pincherrn]

And now for the body removal.











From underneath

[Pincherrn]

This is what is left when I put the bits I want in the garage.







Although in these fotos, the tank, suspension top mounts and fuel / brake lines are still fitted. These were removed shortly after.
The VIN is also still on the car. This was cut out with an angle grinder before the shell was collected.