LiteIsRite's Classic Red NA6

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:12 pm

But first, a little background...

As a schoolkid in the late 60's I remember watching my teacher turn up in a bright red MG-B. The desire to one day have a two seat open top sports car was born and has never really left me.

Fast forward to three years ago, when our youngest married and made 'empty nesters' of my wife & I, I started thinking seriously about getting a roadster - but which one? The more I looked into older (read affordable) British / European models, the more I became aware of probable issues I'd have to deal with such as poor weatherproofing, cantankerous mechanicals and expensive/difficult-to-source parts. Not too surprisingly, I eventually realised an MX5 was the perfect alternative.

After much research, mostly on the 'Net, and getting some money together over the course of this year I finally have one in my garage - a Classic Red NA6, Aussie complianced in 1990, purchased from forum member Steven (a great guy, by the way). I also thank you, fellow forumites, for the collective MX5 knowledge you've shared with me via this medium.

Here's a shot of her a week ago after our 1200k drive home:

before.jpg

Over the past week I've done some minor things to it to get it registered in Qld, and I've wound the springs up a little to better deal with our country roads. It doesn't look quite as tough (see below), but my back is much happier:

after.jpg

I'll post some more photos of her once my daughter does the "glamour shoot" she wants to do for me.

One thing I did today was make a cover for the wheel jack that lives on the passenger side of the boot. I guess there was one there originally, but it's long gone. If anyone is in a similar situation, you're welcome to print the attached file on A3 paper (set Adobe Reader to print it fullsize) and use it as a template to make your own. I used some 6mm masonite I had lying around, with some self adhesive velcro tape to keep it in place. A photo of it fitted is below:

tool_cover.jpg

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:35 pm

Definitely looks the goods, welcome aboard.

I came to a similar conclusion after growing up around MG's and deciding I wanted a roadster. 14 months later I'm still confident that I made the right decision.

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:35 pm

Car looks great

nice work with the template, yes there was one there hot-glued to the back of the carpet, u can see the glue in the photo.

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YanMa YatTai · Postby **YanMa YatTai** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 8:30 pm

Welcome. And yes, the answer is always Miata.

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LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:20 pm

Here's some more shots, taken by the PO (steven) a few weeks before I picked her up. By the way, can anyone tell me the best place to buy gaskets for the throttle body to intake manifold and idle control valve body to throttle body? Do I have to go to a Mazda dealer?

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 9:12 am

One of many small projects to come... removed brackets from the A-pillar that the soft top connects to, wire brushed, primed and painted.

softtop_mounts.jpg

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:20 pm

Progress update for this week.

I got the rip in the soft top repaired at the local Uticolor for $110, which included fixing a small tear in the passenger side door card. The following photo gives you some idea - sorry there's no 'before' shot. No, it's not perfect, but it's a whole lot better than it was.

repaired softtop.jpg

Other work, done today, was removing & cleaning the idle speed control valve. Previously the engine would idle fine at operating temperature, but too rich/slow when cold and too slow when the aircon compressor engaged - often stalling. Now it works pretty much as it should. For $30 (can of gasket remover, gasket scraping tool and genuine throttle body gasket) I'm quite pleased with myself. The article http://www.miata.net/garage/isc.html was a huge help.

Finally, I purchased & fitted one of these windblockers http://www.ilmotorsport.de/shop/article ... b6&lang=EN and am very happy with the quality & fit.

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:35 pm

Some good things have happened to my 5 in the six weeks since my last update:

- about a month ago I fitted a pair of stainless steel door sill plates from Mania. Excellent quality, and price compared to others out there. Also, a pair of tailored floor mats from eBay. Photo below...

sillplate.jpg

- a couple of weeks ago I replaced the leaking brake master cylinder & damaged booster with a used set from Rolin Imports on the Gold Coast. I also replaced the bleed screws on all 4 calipers with new ones.

- I'm REALLY happy with this one... in the past few days I've replaced the stock gearknob with a custom made one by Ed (illusory_x@hotmail.com). Photo follows. I wanted to have something that was a modern interpretation of the original, and supplied Ed with a dimensioned hand drawing. First class workmanship and a great buying experience all 'round. An unexpected benefit was the increase in weight from just under 200g for the stock one to 450g for this one in 316 stainless, I find it helps with smoother shifts.

knobimage5.jpg

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 9:42 am

As I've been exceptionally good this year, Santa was very generous...

I've replaced the OEM radio/cassette and blanking plate

original_radio.jpg

with a Fusion radio/MP3 unit and I.L. Motorsports storage cubby

new_radio.jpg

Also, in line with the stainless steel theme, a set of Jass Performance vent rings

vent_rings.jpg

So the overall look now is

interior.jpg

For good measure, I gave the paint another coat of sealant

shiny.jpg

monty007 · Postby **monty007** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:17 am

Looking good, some subtle changes can make a big difference.

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 2:37 pm

monty007 wrote:Looking good, some subtle changes can make a big difference.

Thanks for that - subtle is what I'm going for :wink:

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 7:48 am

Here's something I've been working away at for a month or so.

I wanted to add some centre caps to my Enkei wheels, but my web research turned up nothing that's available off the shelf.

I ended up making the following from three separate bits - plastic (PE) caps from Kelvindale Products in Victoria (painted black), hub rings from an eBay store in the US (machined down to the correct height by Ed), and badges from an eBay store in Thailand...

centre_cap_web.jpg

The wheels looked like this before...

wheel_before_web.jpg

and now they look like this (with the addition of some new wheel nuts)...

wheel_after_web.jpg

Detail shot...

wheel_centre_web.jpg

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 6:11 pm

Very nice. They look a lot more finished now.

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 8:39 pm

PaulF wrote:Very nice. They look a lot more finished now.

Cheers, Paul!

Gladiator · Postby **Gladiator** » Sat Jan 11, 2014 7:26 am

LiteIsRite wrote:
One thing I did today was make a cover for the wheel jack that lives on the passenger side of the boot. I guess there was one there originally, but it's long gone. If anyone is in a similar situation, you're welcome to print the attached file on A3 paper (set Adobe Reader to print it fullsize) and use it as a template to make your own. I used some 6mm masonite I had lying around, with some self adhesive velcro tape to keep it in place. A photo of it fitted is below:

tool_cover.jpg

That cover is much better than the original.