mrpham's summer build

A.Chen89 · Postby **A.Chen89** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:46 pm

damn, boss coffee so good!

impossible to find here, looks like you have a year long supply

Postby **mrpham** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:13 pm

Monday Bump!

Painting Engine Block - http://omgpham.com/painting-engine-block

I felt I needed to work on my car this weekend, so I went out and purchased supplies to paint up my block and a few other parts. Nothing like wire wheeling and paint fumes on a Sunday arvo!

First up was to mask the deck and start removing parts from the block.

Prep work is important so I wire wheeled/brushed the old surface. Had to sand a few spots and than everything cleaned up with presol/wax grease remover.

Water pump removed, front of block and sump masked off. Did a few coats of primer.

Than the gloss black coats went on, still needs a few heat cycles to fully cure the paint.

All done!

Also spent some time painting one of the water outlets.

Pulled apart the alternator to paint. Wire brushed and cleaned with prepsol.

The finished parts!

neilhr · Postby **neilhr** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:29 pm

job well done!

DanZig · Postby **DanZig** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:14 pm

Looking awesome! Loving watching this thing come together so keep it up. :beer:

Postby **mrpham** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:59 pm

So I got some good news today, my built cylinder head will be back with me by end of the week! So excited

I've decided on The Torque Team to install the head and degree in my camshafts.

Postby **mrpham** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:09 pm

Centre Console Carpet - http://omgpham.com/centre-console-carpet

Was browsing build threads this morning and spotted someone doing a custom centre console carpet, looked cool so I decided to hack my spare parcel shelf carpet too.

I'm not sure if I want to get a shorty console yet, or just modify the current tombstone so it looks nicer. I'll also have to relocate the window switches.

I first used some cardboard to mock up a pattern.

I then transferred it onto an old pillow case to test out the fitment.

After I made a few adjustments to the pattern, I traced it onto the parcel shelf carpet and cut it out. If you're doing the same, make sure you place the pattern the correct side down.

Pretty happy how it's turned out, will pick up some Velcro (with the double sided tape) and attach it to certain spots so that the carpet sits nice and flat. I'm undecided whether I should get the the carpet edges binded, might call an upholsterer for a quote.

Postby **mrpham** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 8:46 pm

Finally installed my Project-G Bikini Top!

koop21 · Postby **koop21** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 8:58 pm

Looks like the long weekend was well spent! How goes the engine? Will we be seeing it running anytime soon?

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:23 pm

Soooo which summer was this build thread for? The summer it started or the summer it finishes? Or all the summers in between

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:26 pm

mrpham wrote:Finally installed my Project-G Bikini Top!

Oh, I do like. Do tell more about how you installed it how it was fitted.

Postby **mrpham** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:29 pm

koop21 wrote:Looks like the long weekend was well spent! How goes the engine? Will we be seeing it running anytime soon?

Yeah should be running soonish I hope, not much left to do.

sailaholic wrote:Soooo which summer was this build thread for? The summer it started or the summer it finishes? Or all the summers in between

hahahahahah! Yeah I was only planning to keep the MX-5 for 6-months... love it too much now

gslender wrote:Oh, I do like. Do tell more about how you installed it how it was fitted.

Chopping up the factory soft-top frame was easy and attaching the actual top to it was very easy too. Cutting up the centre brace was a pain in the ass though. Installing it onto the car isn't too hard either, should check it out sometime.

D.A.M · Postby **D.A.M** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 4:41 pm

Your car is super sexy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gladiator · Postby **Gladiator** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 7:12 pm

Pretty happy how it's turned out, will pick up some Velcro (with the double sided tape) and attach it to certain spots so that the carpet sits nice and flat. I'm undecided whether I should get the the carpet edges binded, might call an upholsterer for a quote.

John, try a carpet shop for the edges. I think they call it overlocking or interlocking or something like that.

Postby **mrpham** » Fri Apr 12, 2013 6:29 pm

I drew this Tombstone block off plate and had it CNC laser cut, hopefully I can make it into a kit for people. It cleans up the Tombstone after deleting the centre console, and relocates the power window switches. It's actually much easier to reach the switches compared to the factory location too.