1993 MX5 Limited Edition

[Entice]

So, I'm back into MX5 ownership after a 7 year Hiatus.

The last one I had was the longest new car I had ever owned. It was purchased in 1999 new, and it replaced a modified 1997 WRX.
in 2003 it was subsequently replaced by a then new Subaru STi, which after 24 hours of ownership started to undergo its modification process.


So this time around its an NA 1993 MX5. Picked it up yesterday, and it's in very good shape... but it still can and will be improved. This one's a keeper, and so I'm getting it back to original spec as possible...

Images to follow, but I have started to clean up the engine bay, and also started to clean up all the dried and caked on polish from the lenses, lamps, and rubbers....

looking forwards to cleaning the engine bay, and then removing all exterior moulds and fittings to give it a through detail and polish....

[Entice]

These images are after the first pass of cleaning the engine bay. If you look closely there is still a fair amount of gunk under wiring etc.. this is what the whole engine and bay were coated with.

Not to worry, a few more passess, bruised knuckles and cut fingers, and it will look new again....





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[CheyneX5]

Nice looking car, welcome back

Was this the one from tiny town on nepean highway?

[Entice]

Thanks,

Nope, not from Tiny Town.
Had a look at that one, and decided against it.

In my opinion, that one needed:
Clutch
Timing belt (198,000km's , and it hadn't been done)
audio to return to stock(if you can find a working tape deck and CD player for sale)
Suspension (was very woolly on slalom changes)
front bar and guard had been recently resprayed and they painter left paint sags and drips over them.

Currently looking at amassing parts to hoard for the future...

[Entice]

Just spent the morning with my U-Pol friends..

cleaned engine bay yet again, and all rims thoroughly. (now have a tad of water in one of the spark plugs causing a misfire)

Some Forecla G6 in some designated areas (mudflaps, rear number plate shroud, and boot), and the U-Pol 333, 334, 335. It's awaiting some touch up paint in some small chips before I hand apply a few layers of U-Pol 336. Some pretty nice stuff. Just in the process of cleaning all old bits of polish from all the lenses and joins, and then re-fitting all lights etc.

looking much nicer, much deeper, and far less fine scratches...

images to follow when it's nice outside...and I get the time...

[Entice]

So.. a lengthy process but here are teh fruits of my labour.
First step was to remove the screed on and clipped on bits and mask up rubbers.





Then the Forecla G6 (certain areas) U-Pol 333, 334, and 335 applied by buffer.
Had some touch up paint made from original code, and then applied it t the stone chips and slightly deeper scratches.
Let it dry overnight, and In some areas, some wet and dry 2000, light cut, and then 334, 335.

finally, applied U-Pol 336 by hand.

Quite happy with the results, especially the feel and the level of gloss/reflection. Not bad for an almost 20 year old car....

[pcmx5]

Looking good,

Peter.

[Jeo]

That's really nice. Well done.

[Entice]

Thanks Guys, and a special thanks to Peter.

The photo's really dont do the car justice.. the level of red is simply amazing now... in a lot of the images they're overexposed and thus washes out the red....

This weekend I was going to work on the hardtop, and all the door jams (remove sill plates and clean under there etc etc) and polish them up.. was also going to raise teh car and start the underbody cleansing process...

But that will need to wait... I need to go travelling to pick up a suicide door 500 that needs some TLC....

Looking forward to the next outing...

[slug_dub]

That's one well kept car! Really nice work on your touchups, getting me excited to try a bit on my own car. Congratulations on the purchase.

[Entice]

Thanks,

I'm pretty chuffed myself to be honest. If you were local I'd even give you a hand with the touch ups.. I was so rapt that the colour was spot on (it was also in 2K)

[Randy]

The LE is looking great. I like the Fiat too. I test drove one of them back in 1999 but decided on the new NB that had just come out. Still, I enjoyed my day with the Fiat apart from the crook gear change it was a lovely car. Sounded fantastic too.

[slug_dub]

I was so rapt that the colour was spot on (it was also in 2K)

Not sure what you mean by 2K Was your paint applied with a brush, rattle can or spray gun?

[Entice]

Well spotted

That's one of my 2 spiders...
It also needs a weekend of detailing since it hasnt had any TLC since April...

The 124's have a common issue with tired Gearboxes, and that's the 2nd gear synchro. Parts are relatively easy to source (I have enough to rebuild both of mine!)
Nice car to drive, good sound from the single, and awesome from the twin, weber carbs...

But, it requires far too much concentration for a daily driver, with less than precise steering, especially with the tired steering boxes (Mine is refreshed, with complete urethane bushings, and it still requires my full attention to drive it)

But I do agree.. a very rewarding car in its own right...

for the fans...

and in coupe form...



and my other spider.. in the process of concourse preparation....

[Entice]

I was so rapt that the colour was spot on (it was also in 2K)

Not sure what you mean by 2K Was your paint applied with a brush, rattle can or spray gun?

2K is the type of paint,
Two-pack, Twin Pack, or ‘2K’ as it’s sometimes known, is a type of automotive paint which has been around for years now, replacing the old cellulose, and is widely used on both production cars and in modern repair bodyshops. (taken from Austinsevenfriends.com)

and it was applied gently by a clean, soft brush and a steady hand....