An MX5 Called M1L3S

[stilletto_rebel]

With the sale of my house in the UK in April I've no longer had to send $1,000 a month to pay it's mortgage, meaning that, along with the very small profit I made, and savings since then I have been able to seriously start looking for the right car. I've always had a clear idea of what I wanted; a white manual NA, long-nose crank.

Although I'd seen a few whilst I wasn't in a position to buy, the first one I found once I'd saved up my budget seemed to be in very good shape. I took it for two test-drives and had an RACV check performed on it before I bought it. And here she is:





These were taken at the Skyline Observatory at the top of Mt. Dandenong.

The following day I went for a drive south past mornington and down to Flinders:



So far I have fitted the windblocker I removed from my UK NA before I emigrated, and my fold-out cup holder:



It's a very useful piece of kit!

I don't intend to extensively modify her. She has a personal plate (M1L3S), which will be going on soon, and she is booked in for this Saturday to be converted to LPG. I drive c.700km a week, and can't afford to run on petrol!

Here she is in work yesterday:



Other changes will be announced as they happen.

[PaulF]

Looks nice and clean. So it's an NA6 with NA6 wheels?

Does the LPG tank get mounted in the same location as the standard fuel tank?

[stilletto_rebel]

Those are standard wheels?? Ok, they're different to the NA6 standard wheels in the UK.

The LPG tank will be in addition to the petrol tank. I intend to have a 40ltr donought tank, like I had fitted to my first NA:



The installer and I have discussed trying to move the tank as far left as possible to allow access to the battery.

I'm actually having the same system installed in M1L3S as I had in my red NA; a PRINS multipoint SVI. I never any trouble at all the with system in the pervious 5.

[timk]

It has wheels from the 1800 NA.

[PaulF]

Typing fail on my part. I meant "an NA6 with NA8 wheels".

[stilletto_rebel]

On Thursday evening I collected M1L3S from the gas converters. I've had a PRINS system installed; it's the same brand I had installed in my red NA in the UK, but not the same model. The engine starts on petrol and the system switches over automatically to gas after 30 seconds or so. The tank is a little bigger than the one I had in the UK, being a 42-ltr giving me 36 useable litres:



The gas filler is alongside the petrol filler:



The pipework goes through the tools compartment. All nice and neat! :





The engine components:



The vaporiser thingy:



The injectors:



The brains of the operation:



I've also added my personal plates:



I need a new (or at least better) gearstick gaiter, so today went to Imlach's Wreckers in Clayton. Having no success at finding any MX5's I asked on the way out if they had any or see them often. The guy behind the counter said he'd been there six years and had only seen one - and it was sold complete the same week. He suggested I try Allmaz down the road, or MAZ Motor Wreckers in Dandenong.

Allmaz was shut up tight, so I headed off to MAZ Motor Wreckers. MAZ is not a self-serve like Imlach's, so I asked the guy behind the counter for a gaiter. He said, quite dismissively, that he didn't have any gaiters and you can't get them any more. So I asked about door cards. "$150 each" was the curt reply. I didn't bother trying to bargain or even reply, I just walked out.

[marty085]

I doubt u'd get a decent used gaitor as I'm led to believe that they wear out quickly

[Regie]

I doubt u'd get a decent used gaitor as I'm led to believe that they wear out quickly

yep just buy them new. they are cheap enough

nice gas setup btw...never seen one done in Aust

[KevGoat]

Check the Forum sponsors for some great gaitors, or just search ebay. Got my black leather red stitched handbrake & gearshift gaitors for less than $20 delivered.

Will be interesting to see where this build goes. LPG is definately a different direction ....

[hks_kansei]

Allmaz aren't open weekends unfortunately, but they are open late on Thursdays (I think until 6:30 or 7pm?)

They're great guys, I get them to do any of the mechanical stuff that I'm not able to.

[stilletto_rebel]

Check the Forum sponsors for some great gaitors, or just search ebay. Got my black leather red stitched handbrake & gearshift gaitors for less than $20 delivered.

I was hoping to pick one up quickly, plus check out what other useful bits and pieces I could find. I'd like to acquire the door cards with the pockets at some point.

I've looked at the sponsors previously (I plan the get a pair of the leather handles OMGPham is selling soon), but found a leather gaiter with white stiching on ebay in the end.

[93_Clubman]

Just saw your new Garage thread - Congrats all around SR!

Had a similar response from the Dande Mazda wreckers. From memory there's a Mazda wrecker in Seaford, but whether they have any MX5 bits is another thing.

[taminga16]

Hi Miles,
Congrats on the purchase and I an pleased that it all went well, I you are still looking for a shift gaiter shoot Benny a PM, he has a company that produces leather goods and makes the famous 'Benny's Boots'.
Looking forward to catching up soon.
Greg.

[stilletto_rebel]

Just saw your new Garage thread - Congrats all around SR!

Had a similar response from the Dande Mazda wreckers. From memory there's a Mazda wrecker in Seaford, but whether they have any MX5 bits is another thing.

Thanks Paul!

There's Auto Parts in Seaford, but they specialise in Mazda utes. There's a Mister Mazda Wreckers in Carrum Downs, but they don't appear to have a website.

[stilletto_rebel]

My odo reading on Tuesday night. For the inadvertant win, check out the trip clock, too!