MX5 NA8 paint and general restoration
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 9:19 am
Hello all,
First time posting but here's my story,
It started when I bought my MX5 1993 model. Well it rolled off the production line in August 1993. The seller asked for $5000 and told me it was an NA6. I walked out with an MX5 for $4.7k. Realising that it was actually an NA8. Bargain! But there was some serious issues.
Major problems:
1/ The front bar had been hit by something, removing a crud load of the paint and primer. Looks way yucky, more on that later.
2/ 2" exforce system through to a 3" resonator. Driving it home, I was pulled up by the police, they told me that it was definitely to loud. It wasn't technically (below the 90 decibel rating), but I got the point, it was gaudy and stupid! I hate resonators, and it was just stupidly loud. Wont be going xforce as they do tend to rust more. So I dunno, if you like it, take care of it and it will probably last you.
3/ Clutch was on its way out. I got another 3000 kilometres before the slipping made it un-drivable.
Fixing.
I got it home (in the Blue Mountains just outside sydney) and took it to a mate who works at a muffler repair shop in Penrith. We hoisted it up, and found.... WHOA. The rear resonator was destroyed by rust. It wasn't just to loud, there was NO muffler at all. When we unbolted it, it just fell down! So dodgy. So I got a 2" muffler put in, no resonator. Sounded pretty good, just loud enough that when you hit 3-4 grand or higher you get a really nice sporty sound.
Next was the clutch. I got myself down to MX5 Mania, and bought a exedy sports tuff clutch kit, got it installed and WOW. Its a new car! Not only that but the rear main seal was hard as a rock (should be nice and rubbery), it was cracked and leaking oil into the clutch housing. Eeeep! All fixed though. Dont want anything destroying that nice new clutch. Did i mention that the exedy clutch it a really nice kit? Its grippy and firm, but in traffic its a delight.
Theres still some oil leakage, maybe the oil is too thin for these hot Sydney days (5 w 30) or maybe its a gasket somewhere that's dead or dying. No matter that will be fixed.
What I wanted to do here is sort of chronicle restoration. Blacking all trim, bringing it back up to original spec in terms of aesthetic appearance.
I have experimented with two pack paints in cans, but really to do the job right, you need an air compressor and proper paint to do the job.
What needs to be done. The mx5 is silver (code 3L).
1/ the a-piller has rust. Cut that out, fill with metal filament bog, and bog over that with normal filler. Paint a-pillers glossy black. Not stock i guess, but looked great in my opinion.
2/ I reversed into the drivers front fender with my mothers rav 4. That was fun! Its dented to crap and theres a rusty bold on the panel I cant get off. So I will get it off today, prep it for painting.
3/ Prep front bar for new coat of primer, paint and clear coat.
4/ Paint the hard top gloss black.
5/ The previous owner put a dodgy rear wing on it. Took if off when he sold it and didnt bother to grommet the holes. Lovely black electrical tape. So I will remove the boot lid, fiberglass under the holes, metal bog the holes and bog over that, prep the surface for paintage.
All prep work should be done today, gotta drive down to super cheap and get a few bits and pieces.
Painting will happen tomorrow. My friend is bringing down his AW11 MR2 (supercharged) down to paint his spoiler and bonnet. So we will paint it all tomorrow and sunday.
After that I have to fix up the interior lighting, as its all blown lights and stock lighting is to dark, cant see what im doing!
I will post pics today as I get some things done.
If you have tips, suggestions or criticisms, please leave a comment.
First time posting but here's my story,
It started when I bought my MX5 1993 model. Well it rolled off the production line in August 1993. The seller asked for $5000 and told me it was an NA6. I walked out with an MX5 for $4.7k. Realising that it was actually an NA8. Bargain! But there was some serious issues.
Major problems:
1/ The front bar had been hit by something, removing a crud load of the paint and primer. Looks way yucky, more on that later.
2/ 2" exforce system through to a 3" resonator. Driving it home, I was pulled up by the police, they told me that it was definitely to loud. It wasn't technically (below the 90 decibel rating), but I got the point, it was gaudy and stupid! I hate resonators, and it was just stupidly loud. Wont be going xforce as they do tend to rust more. So I dunno, if you like it, take care of it and it will probably last you.
3/ Clutch was on its way out. I got another 3000 kilometres before the slipping made it un-drivable.
Fixing.
I got it home (in the Blue Mountains just outside sydney) and took it to a mate who works at a muffler repair shop in Penrith. We hoisted it up, and found.... WHOA. The rear resonator was destroyed by rust. It wasn't just to loud, there was NO muffler at all. When we unbolted it, it just fell down! So dodgy. So I got a 2" muffler put in, no resonator. Sounded pretty good, just loud enough that when you hit 3-4 grand or higher you get a really nice sporty sound.
Next was the clutch. I got myself down to MX5 Mania, and bought a exedy sports tuff clutch kit, got it installed and WOW. Its a new car! Not only that but the rear main seal was hard as a rock (should be nice and rubbery), it was cracked and leaking oil into the clutch housing. Eeeep! All fixed though. Dont want anything destroying that nice new clutch. Did i mention that the exedy clutch it a really nice kit? Its grippy and firm, but in traffic its a delight.
Theres still some oil leakage, maybe the oil is too thin for these hot Sydney days (5 w 30) or maybe its a gasket somewhere that's dead or dying. No matter that will be fixed.
What I wanted to do here is sort of chronicle restoration. Blacking all trim, bringing it back up to original spec in terms of aesthetic appearance.
I have experimented with two pack paints in cans, but really to do the job right, you need an air compressor and proper paint to do the job.
What needs to be done. The mx5 is silver (code 3L).
1/ the a-piller has rust. Cut that out, fill with metal filament bog, and bog over that with normal filler. Paint a-pillers glossy black. Not stock i guess, but looked great in my opinion.
2/ I reversed into the drivers front fender with my mothers rav 4. That was fun! Its dented to crap and theres a rusty bold on the panel I cant get off. So I will get it off today, prep it for painting.
3/ Prep front bar for new coat of primer, paint and clear coat.
4/ Paint the hard top gloss black.
5/ The previous owner put a dodgy rear wing on it. Took if off when he sold it and didnt bother to grommet the holes. Lovely black electrical tape. So I will remove the boot lid, fiberglass under the holes, metal bog the holes and bog over that, prep the surface for paintage.
All prep work should be done today, gotta drive down to super cheap and get a few bits and pieces.
Painting will happen tomorrow. My friend is bringing down his AW11 MR2 (supercharged) down to paint his spoiler and bonnet. So we will paint it all tomorrow and sunday.
After that I have to fix up the interior lighting, as its all blown lights and stock lighting is to dark, cant see what im doing!
I will post pics today as I get some things done.
If you have tips, suggestions or criticisms, please leave a comment.
