Emily's 04 VR SE

[emily_mx5]

Car is currently off at the paint shop

No its not crashed haha, I just wanted to neaten a few things up!
Someone did however reverse into the front bar in a carpark, so front bumper is getting repainted and debadged. Front lip was really scuffed from previous owner, so thats getting redone too.

After battling temperature issues for what seems like forever, I have finally solved them with a bottle of Redline Water Wetter and a Garage Vary vented bonnet.
I got a set of GV eyelids too, so they and the bonnet are being colour matched red.

I'm really excited to have it back and all one colour! I'll be sure to post up some pics! Its gonna look so goooooood

[ManiacLachy]

Can't wait to see that hood fitted up!

[Okibi]

Good to hear you have the temps under control, was it overheating on the track or just street driving?

[emily_mx5]

Daily driving duties such as sitting in traffic with aircon on, on 35* summer days.
Or big boost pulls on hot summer days.
Also just driving on boost.

Not overheating as such, just running far to hot like 94* all the time, even when driving off boost in 6th at 80km/hr which should have heaps of cool airflow.

Its low - mid 80s now, even sitting in traffic with aircon on, and then a full boost traffic light drags, on a 35* summer day

[Apu]

How hot do your oil temps get in traffic Em? Stuck on Victoria Rd in morning traffic, I've hit 110degC, but running on the highway I've cruised on 85degC

[Nevyn72]

Its low - mid 80s now, even sitting in traffic with aircon on, and then a full boost traffic light drags, on a 35* summer day

Given the factory thermostat doesn't open until 88* have you installed a cooler temp thermostat?

Also which version of the GV bonnet did you get?
I hope it's the fiberglass version and not the carbon one being painted!
Did you get the weather shield for the vent opening?

[emily_mx5]

How hot do your oil temps get in traffic Em? Stuck on Victoria Rd in morning traffic, I've hit 110degC, but running on the highway I've cruised on 85degC

Hottest was 102* stuck on Victoria Rd in morning traffic haha! Just really unacceptable to not be able to have air con on if its hot. And constantly stressing that its going to blow a head gasket. But its all good now

Given the factory thermostat doesn't open until 88* have you installed a cooler temp thermostat?
Also which version of the GV bonnet did you get?
I hope it's the fiberglass version and not the carbon one being painted!
Did you get the weather shield for the vent opening?

I had a cooler temp thermostat to try to diagnose a few issues previously, all they do is slow warm up, very useless mod I have no idea why people think they are a good idea.
I have a Tridon hi-flow tstat now, with one bypass/jiggler pin removed so it flows a bit of water even when its closed, hence the lower than 89* temps sometimes.

It is fibreglass (CRINGE!) but has perfect fitment (no really it does) so happy with it.
Would never paint carbon, however I would also never want a carbon bonnet (much rice).
No rain guard, however I will look into it when i get the car back, possibly fabricate something to use in torrential rain etc.

[hks_kansei]

I wouldn't bother with a rain guard.

There's nothing really there that would matter if it gets wet, and it gets wet anyway with water coming in through the rad etc.


(assuming it's one of the ones with the vent just in front of the block?)

[emily_mx5]

Progress shots!

[Lokiel]

Me so want that hood - more important stuff needed first

Are you going to install flush hood pins? (eg. Aerocatch)

Will be interested to see how the paint matching goes, Velocity Red will be tough.

If you're worried at all about this, consider getting the hood painted a few shades darker, that way it'll look deliberate as opposed to looking like a failed paint-match job. This is what I plan on doing but my car's darker, Ti, so I think the darker shade will look better on it than a darker shade on your Velocity Red.

[hks_kansei]

if it's a failed match job take it back and tell them to try again.


A good panel shop will be able to match it, and if not will at least tell the customer beforehand (and suggest blending the guards etc)

[bruce]

May I ask the cost of the bonnet, and the paint? Just rough figures are ok.

Aren't bonnet pins an essential? In the case of an accident, a non-metal bonnet is likely to tear (out the catch section) and end up flinging into your face.

[hks_kansei]

Pins or not a hard accident will tear a fibreglass bonnet apart.
Pins just mean the area directly around the pins stays still (or you cop the latches to the face)


Of course, it depends on the bonnet, I think a few have a couple of layers of stuff, or different resin to hold them together in an accident (like laminated windscreens)

[bruce]

Gotcha. Thanks for the info.
I now picture in a massive accident, just the pin sections staying put whilst the rest of the bonnet has shattered into a thousand bits.

[hks_kansei]

Gotcha. Thanks for the info.
I now picture in a massive accident, just the pin sections staying put whilst the rest of the bonnet has shattered into a thousand bits.

Pretty much what i've seen on cars with fibrglass bits when they crash.
The mounts stay put with a bit of the glass around them, but the rest is all over the place.

as I said though, some manufacturers add stuff so that while it will still be cracked and ruined, it's at least still attached.