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Mk1 Eunos Roadster (MX5)

Gc fab are better than the 5race from what ive seen in the flesh,
not seen a TR lane one in the flesh but heard they are a pain to fit.

Quality on the Gc are great

I bought one then got a refund and sent it back as I sold the 5.


Coming on really nice now
 
I'll get some pics of Timbo for you later bud. It was an NB/MK2 but could still give you some ideas ;)

And Jimbo, you're right, the TR's are a nightmare to fit and involve lots of rear bulkhead cutting etc. The 5Race was the only other option at the time, it was a good cage from what I remember, the welds etc. were spot on.
 
My nicest one, the eunos:

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Then the other mx5's:

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Then I had my first little drifty accident:

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Then this one that was well past it, used mostly as a donor but skidded til i bumped this one too (on closed industrial estate, never taxed or mot'd or insured this one)

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Got my roll bar fitted today.

Having bought it direct from Gcfabrication as they are not far from me, he didn't have any stickers or fitting instructions available there and then but said he'd get some sent out to me asap.

Well that was four weeks ago, and having phoned and emailing him weekly he has been awful at responding so I've had to fit it with no instructions. I know it's pretty intuitive, but some ideas on where exactly to cut would have been nice.

Anyway, upon removing everything and measuring up etc, I set to cutting. Then had a problem that when the back legs sat flat, the seatbelt tower supports and front feet sat about 20mm off the body work, if I got them sitting right then the rear feet sat at such an angle I'd never get them bolted in.

Getting really fuked off at this point so stormed indoors and got onto Gcfabrication Facebook page to see if he'd reply to that.
But whilst doing that I also contacted BOFI racing, who I know fit these cages at times.
Well BOFI were fantastic, talked me through everything even though I didn't buy from them.
Generally they told me they don't often sit flat on all the feet as each car is slightly different.
Best to get the seatbelt tower ones as flat as possible then everything else will pull up once bolted tight.
Also not to remove the cage to drill. Instead drill straight through the holes on the feet as they are 10.5 dia for a 10mm bolt. So used a 10.2 drill and drilled it all in situ.
Once I'd done that I get a message from Gcfabrication saying please call me on this number, I call it. no answer. He has a fantastic product, and is a really nice lad, but his customer relations is terrible. So still haven't got a sticker or verification certificate for it.


But I finally got it all in having cut the parcel shelf slots for the rear bars about a half inch wider than I needed. But with the carpets on you can't tell.

I can honestly say in all my years of playing with and fixing cars.
I really didn't enjoy this one bit.
I love the final result, but I really hated doing it.
I used to love doing anything on cars, even just changing brakes etc for some me time.
But not this.
I'm wondering if it's an age thing.

I really need some new seats now as the originals don't hold you for toffee as they have no side or thigh bolsters. Plus the backs aren't very tall and look a bit strange against the bar from behind.

But I'm all money out now till next year. So 1st of May she gets taxed and insured and I can finally take her for a proper drive and just start enjoying her.
Also try get some decent photos.

All in the car has cost me £1470. Which I'm pretty happy about for how it looks.
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I can honestly say in all my years of playing with and fixing cars.
I really didn't enjoy this one bit.
I love the final result, but I really hated doing it.
I used to love doing anything on cars, even just changing brakes etc for some me time.
But not this.
I'm wondering if it's an age thing.

I would agree - I'm at a point now where I can't be bothered anymore, especially having spent a considerable amount of time this year on the Audi only for it to torch itself.

Motorbikes I'm fine with, I have a hydraulic bike ramp in the garage so I'm warm, dry and not grubbing around on the floor but I'm definitely fed up with working on cars, especially on a timetable I can't dictate.
 
The more I think about it, the more I want one for summer again. I will have to resist this year

Same here man, the problem though is finding a relatively rust free example that is also imported (I can't go to a UK spec MX5 after owning a Eunos...) and all that below £2k lol
 
Same here man, the problem though is finding a relatively rust free example that is also imported (I can't go to a UK spec MX5 after owning a Eunos...) and all that below £2k lol

Its doable but usually means travelling and seeing plenty of rust buckets described as mint / rust free.

Cowboys done good!
 
It's far from perfect.

Photos can make most cars look good.
Admittedly there isn't much rust visible and it seems pretty solid.

But the bodywork does have a fair few dinks and scratches. Particularly the boot lid, which looks awful close up with some big nasty scratches in it.

There's a slight dent in the passenger front wing, but not too visible and to be honest I reckon I could pull that with out much trouble.

But regardless of all that, from behind the wheel it all matters not.

Sun out, roof down, rear wheels spinning. That's what it's for. Not standing and looking at.
 
Finished filling, spraying, sanding, spraying, sanding, spraying etc of the front holes today.

Been at it for the last two weekends. And for my first attempt at any kind of body work and a budget build im rather happy with it.

Mx5parts supplied a can of body match paint for £12, £6 for bumper putty that can fill holes upto the size of a twenty pence piece without the need to cover the rear of them, and £8 on clear lacquer, all in all it looks ok.

It's a little flat, which I'm not too sure why. Possibly not enough sanding with a fine enough grade??
And you can just about spot the filler, but I'm still happy enough. Like I've said before, she ain't no concourse car.
Before
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After
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She's still not taxed or insured yet. That's happing from this Friday. So I'll be giving it a gradual well needed clean and polish throughout the week.

I've also bought a double din Bluetooth stereo of a mate to replace the tape deck.
To be fitted this week too.
 
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Finally managed to get the "Enuos" out last weekend.
Got insurance sorted £109 without cage, £146 with, for the year. Classic car policy, 1500 limited miles.
I'm happy with that, but surprised the cage added such a large percentage to the price.

So fully legal, I head out. And immediately start smelling what I thought was clutch burn. So take her home, get out and it's immediately obvious it's the front brake binding, some serious heat coming off her.
Jack it up and can't turn the wheel at all.

So strip the brakes, inspect the pads, replace seals on piston, which I happened to have a reseal kit that came with the car. (So was obviously something the last owner was aware of.)
But could I get the piston back in with the new seal.....could I heck. No matter what I tried. I could do it without the seal, and the seal was a good fit without the piston, but together. Not happening. Ended up splitting the seal trying to get it on.

So rather than order another seal set for £26, I ordered a whole new brake caliper for £31.

Fitted it this morning and bleed all the brakes using a Halfords one man bleed kit.
It's a useful bit of kit I must say.

So took car back out today. Done 45 miles and absolutely faultless.
Really enjoyed driving her, she holds the road so well.

I also fitted the new double din Bluetooth CD player.
Was a bit of a ballache getting it sitting right, but it's a lot better than the tape player being able to play songs off my phone.

I bought it off my mate for £25 cause it's got a scratch on the front. Like I care.

Now she's usable and ready to go, I'll start a massive detail clean inside and out.

Few photos.
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Tape deck
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Now
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Out with the old, and in with the new.

The first wheel boss I got didn't fit right.
So contacted the dealer and he said its definitely the right one and my car must have been altered.
I called bull cr4p.
So ordered one from bofi racing, mx5 specialist, and it now all fits a treat.

Absolutely transforms the driving of the car.

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Good choice bud. A smaller wheel that is a little closer, seems to make the MX5 a far more engrossing drive, even more than it is to start with.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Sold the car today in anticipation of a new arrival.

Someone asked last week on the mx5 FB page if anyone had one for sale.
I mentioned I was looking to sell mine in the next month or so and about 20 people contacted me asking for details for when I wish to sell.

So sorted it out yesterday, polishing, sorting out a few bits here and there, and took it for a spin.
1st time I've driven it since October, and boy will I miss it.
It's so alive.

Anyway, going through the paper work found out a few things.
It had the original spec pack in Japanese, which stated it had Mazda B spec Roadster pack.
Upon further investigation it seems the exhaust, manifold, suspension, and possible the gearbox and clutch are all Mazdaspeed B spec. By all accounts A bit rare and special.

I sent the details to all those that asked saying I was looking to sell next week, but if they wished to come see it first, they can.
Had a person get back to me immediately and view today and offer to buy it as soon as he drove it.
He already has a mk1 but was looking for another.
£2200.
I probably could have asked more and held out, but in total it owes me £1600 to £1700, so happy with that.
Im gonna miss it, but here's to the new.

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