An MX5 Called M1L3S

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 4:38 pm

bruce wrote:If the insurance coy allows it, you may be able to buy the write-off cheap?
But then your car will be listed as a registered write-off...not a big issue for a 'cheap' car.

Bruce, not well known, but in Vic if the vehicle is over 15 years old it won't be listed as a repairable write-off with Vicroads. Had this personally confirmed by Vicroads when I bought a hail damaged unregistered NA. I comprehensively checked the vehicle, replaced the damaged panel, got a RWC, & re-registered it, without even the need for a VIV ($600 or so). However, a VIV is still required for vehicles under 15 years old, & of course Vicroads do still list statutory write-offs regardless of age.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 5:15 pm

More government legislation to confuse us poor car owners.
Can it get more complicated? (that's a rhetorical question)

91 Malibu · Postby **91 Malibu** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 5:40 pm

stilletto_rebel wrote:Just heard from the repairer... car not written off!! They're fitting a new roof, centre dash and Pioneer system. I should have the car back Saturday morning.

Great result let me know if you still need to use the hardtop, hopefully I will see you Sunday on GOR run

Arty · Postby **Arty** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 5:52 pm

That's great news mate and OEM parts to boot

Hope you make the run on Sunday. :MOCHA_LES:

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 12:49 pm

That's great news Miles!

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:18 pm

As the weather looked like it was going to hold, I set about removing the spft-top with the plastic screen and fitting the NB top with the glass screen.

Halfway there!

Most of the rain rail has been removed/destroyed by the wreckers. If water gets in I'll remove it again and fashion one out of duct tape.

All done! I did it all by myself and took a little over two hours.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 11:11 am

Good stuff Miles - any luck with the clutch?

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 8:55 am

Booked in for Thursday with a local garage I've used before. I was surprised I got home under my own steam last Thursday, so don't feel confident driving too far.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 4:25 pm

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 9:12 am

Left the car with the garage this morning. I'm really surprised how quickly this came on - literally overnight! After reading up on this (a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!) I'm wondering if I've just lost a couple of springs on the clutch, throwing it out of whack...?

I'll find out later today, I expect...

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 8:59 pm

Collected M1L3S from the garage yesterday evening. Jobs performed:

Remove gearbox, flywheel & clutch.
Supply & fit new rear main oil seal.
Supply & fit 2nd hand flywheel.
Supply & fit new Exedy clutch kit.
Refit gearbox.
Remove LHR hub assembly
Supply & fit new wheel bearing kit.
Unseize LHR brake caliper.

Total cost for all of the above was $1,038.54.

M1L3S is now much smoother and much, much quieter! What I thought was a noisy gas system was actually the wheel bearing! When idling, the car would sometimes stutter. I suspect that was the flywheel issue, as the... thingy (I've forgotten the word!!) in the centre had seized.

The new clutch is awesome!

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 11:28 am

stilletto_rebel wrote:I suspect that was the flywheel issue, as the... thingy (I've forgotten the word!!) in the centre had seized.

Spigot/pilot bearing by the sound of it.

Good to hear it's sorted - cost sounds reasonable for all those parts & labour.

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 2:24 pm

30 degrees in the sun sounds like perfect weather to fit new gear lever boots - NOT! But that's what I did anyway. :roll:

I really need a garage or roofed area I can do this sort of work in...

Halfway there - Old boots off:

Not a drop of oil in the gearbox! :shock:

(No wonder it sounded clunky):

All done, and new leather gear lever and handbrake gaiters fitted:

Took me half an hour, if that.

I was planning on replacing the corner reflectors with the clear indicator ones I bought off MX5 Parts, but it's just too damn hot! Maybe tonight...

stilletto_rebel · Postby **stilletto_rebel** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:01 pm

Today I got round to replacing the plugs and leads that I bought in December before I flew to the UK. I was having one hell of a time getting the first plug out until I realised that there was something in the well preventing me from gripping the plug. Using my trusty wire coathanger, I managed to pull it out to discover it was the bottom end of the HT lead!

I had the same issue with the #2 plug as well. As I was replacing the HT leads I realised that the old ones I was removing were the original OEM ones fitted at the factory! They have numbers on them and Japanese symbols.

Unsurprisingly, the car runs even better now!