billybunters - from a bmw z4 to a mx5 se

IanR · Postby **IanR** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 8:44 pm

where do you get your time from Billy?

Postby **NitroDann** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 9:09 pm

Graham was semi retired by the time you left highschool Ian, he has his financial ducks in a row and does what he wants when he wants.

Dann

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 2:37 pm

maybe

there are days when I think should I go titanium grey or do the total opposite and swing :lol:

in the direction of the limited edition blazing yellow

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:03 pm

Leave it white. It looks good.

Danny · Postby **Danny** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:23 pm

Some colours accentuate the curves and bulges more than others with the NB. Mine's red which seems to work better for the bulges over the rear wheels, the low folds near the rear wheel openings and the bonnet bulge. I think yellows and bright blues are the same.

Then again if you don't like that sliver, black and white tends to hide them.

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:46 pm

always good to have choices :wink:

to remove that rear body sill molding first off into the rear parcel tray section and unhook the carpet clips. I later found out if I had used a good quality fork I could have just slide it under and lifted it out.

next up you have a section of 3 steel inserts from one side to the other to hold the rain rail in position ...10mm nuts and all off and good to go

once I had those out of the way and the 3 bars removed it was hard to decide how to get the rear bottom of the soft top off. it first appears it was riveted to the frame. in the end I got my fingers underneath the rain rail and with a bit of effort it free itself - but it did take a bit of effort

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:51 pm

after that I got outside the car and pushed the soft top off the bolts and worked my way right around the sides till all came loose.

after that it was just a matter of undoing 3 bolts which hold the frame in position then lift it off.

finally the only thing left was that bit of body mold I was chasing in the beginning and it too was bolted to the car in several places but easy to get at

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:54 pm

while at it I removed a few more bits from the doors which would get in the way of the painting

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 6:03 pm

Huge amount of work! Interesting reading :wink:

madkeen · Postby **madkeen** » Thu Dec 08, 2016 11:26 pm

When I see a beautiful Hollywood actress lighting up the screen, I don't like to think how she might look without the lipstick, the foundation, the fake eyelashes, the solarium, the hair stylist, the hair colourist, the designer clothing, the plastic surgery work.... you get the picture. It's sometimes best just to see what's in front of you and appreciate it.

BB I LOVE your build story. Your effort is MONUMENTAL. Your skills are SUPER HUMAN! But for God sake if you decide to try and sell this car again after this latest Hollywood makeover..... DELETE this build thread because I think it will terrify the crap out of a potential buyer. :lol:

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:36 am

madkeen wrote:
BB I LOVE your build story. Your effort is MONUMENTAL. Your skills are SUPER HUMAN! But for God sake if you decide to try and sell this car again after this latest Hollywood makeover..... DELETE this build thread because I think it will terrify the crap out of a potential buyer.

gawd isn't that the truth. :lol:

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 10:45 am

well I really had no choice. up close it never had that movie star silver screen looks - more like from the set of home and away or soap oprah.

remember in the '70's what they did to steve Austin............the 6 million $$$ man. well I too can rebuilt it :lol:

hopefully back in one piece :lol:

with a smarter exterior :wink:

I can't delete the tread because I think there is a lot of good and interesting info in it. plus I can look back and see how bored I was at times :lol:

to do all this work.

I doubt very much if it will every go up for sale again. after this slight make over and I say slight :lol:

next year it will go back to nitro dann's for the e85 power upgrade

the eldest daughter who picked up the car really likes it so I told her when I have had enough of it -she can take it. but first I have to hit it one more time with a paint job :lol:

it's like an old friend :lol: