Radiator Beautification

[Rocky]

Want a laugh? OK, so I phoned the local Mazda Dealer and was quoted the following:(Genuine Mazda parts)
Radiator: $981.
Hose set: (7) $886.
Labour: $525.
TOTAL: $2392.56

I then phoned my local Garage and we agreed that I should source the parts (seeing as how I had already done the legwork) and they will fit them.
Labour estimated at between 5 and 7 hours, so between $500. and $700.

I have ordered the parts from an outfit in Sydney called "Automotivesuperstore.com" as follows:
'Koyorad' radiator : $225.50 (plastic upper/lower tanks - looks identical to OE)
Hoses: $141.58 (5 hoses) Upper,Lower, Heater X2, Eng.Bypass.
ST: $364.44 plus Shipping: $48.10. TOTAL: $412.18 Estimated time to fill order =1 week.
So maybe around a Grand for the job.

[Craig]

Why not just organise a "QLD dodgy day" and the locals here can assist for BBQ & Beers?

[Rocky]

You DO know where I live, Craig?
There is unfortunately no local MX5 'community' here and noone I know with the facilities to do the job.
My local Garage is 1/2 hour walk from my place so it suits me to have them do any work on the cars if I can organise it.
I am hoping that it won't really take 5 to 7 hours by a trained mechanic. I'd have thought 3 max. Even the Dealer only quoted 3.

[Craig]

[greenMachine]

Five hours? I presume that includes lunch and a couple of unhurried coffee breaks ...

I think three hours is about double what it will take a trained mechanic, working carefully but not slowly. Just lift the bonnet and look at the job, look at the parts ordered. He is padding his margins by inflating the time charged.

However up there in the Deep North you over something of a barrel, not a lot of choices, you have to do the best you can and if he is it, then that's that.

[Craig]

Maybe these guys are free to pop around?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Mechanics

[bruce]

Yes, no margin on parts for him so up go the labour hours.
It would take me 5 hours to do it very slowly.

[Rocky]

It was the owner/boss I was speaking with. I have known him and his family for decades. He wondered what access to the firewall was for the heater hoses - I said "It is a small engine bay but having a hoist available should improve accessibility." I hope he is just covering his ass. I have had work done on all our cars there previously and they are usually reliable although not cheap, but then noone is these days. He knows I am a fusspot and so I can trust him to tell the mechanics "Don't scratch the F***ing thing".

Craig - how do you know where I live? That is a nice ariel shot of our property in the foreground of the picture. Nice garden, Hey?

[Jeo]

5 hours is having a laugh.

A few years ago I replaced my radiator in ~2 hours, with no hoist, starting at 8pm which was about 13 hours after the had trackday started that morning so I was well tired and cranky before even starting. And that included a good half hour trying to 'massage' the radiator bracket vaguely back into shape after the 'off track excursion' that necessitated the radiator replacement in the first place.

You've got an NB8B, right Rocky? Access to the hoses at the firewall is definitely the worst of any NA/NB, but still more than reasonable.

[Rocky]

Yes, Jeo - I agree. Anything over 3 hours for the job is a bit excessive. Even allowing for unfamiliarity with the particular vehicle it aint Rocket Science. I will be a bit unhappy if I get charged for more than 4hrs absolute max.

[Craig]

Craig - how do you know where I live? That is a nice ariel shot of our property in the foreground of the picture. Nice garden, Hey?

Explains the low klms on your car, with all that dust!

[Rocky]

Yeah, Just keep it in a big plastic bag most of the time.
All the mileage is driving it into the City (that's the City in the background).

[93_Clubman]

You've got an NB8B, right Rocky? Access to the hoses at the firewall is definitely the worst of any NA/NB, but still more than reasonable.

Rocky, ref the heater hoses at their firewall ends, might perhaps be worth mentioning to the boss mech that the metal pipes at the firewall that the heater hoses attach to are thin metal and therefore soft, so can be easily damaged by the heavy handed.

[Rocky]

Hey thanks for that Clubman, I will mention that to the 'Bossman' . The Bossman has a collection of vintage vehicles and they are all made of 'real' metal.

[93_Clubman]

No probs - the heater pipes exiting the firewall into the engine bay are copper, but very thin metal at least on the NA, and so can be easily damaged if not careful when removing and replacing the old rubber heater pipes.