Winter woes.....

[93 Mk1]

Brilliant results on the roof and shows there’s no need to spend a fortune on specialized products

Funny you should say that. Jack Smith trimmers in Swansea recommend just Fairy Liquid, nothing more.

[Steve]

Great job on the roof, heater and battery carpet. Where did you pick up that set (am missing a few too)?
Must try that trick with the silicone spray on my heater and ashtray cover.

[mrges]

That's a great set of "little" jobs you've done - that make a big difference. And as Steve asks above, where did you pick up the kit for the studs/poppers for the battery cover? (mine are all awol).

[93 Mk1]

Silicone spray is a great trick for plastic and rubber. I've been using it on things like motorbike footrest, handgrips etc over the years with great result. I find allowing it to soak in gives the best results.
The popper kit I sourced on Amazon last year. This is the kit:

Canvas Snap Screw Stud 3/ 8 Inch Boat Fastener Screw Replacement Kit 20 Set with Setting Tools 3 Pieces and Storage Box https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06ZXYNM4Z/ ... zAbWZMJVDT

[Steve]

perfect, thanks.

[93 Mk1]

These smaller T5 bulb covers arrived which means I could finish the clock....finally (it went from red to white to green lighting at last....epic stuff !!)



Then, just when I thought I was getting on top of these niggling jobs, another crappy job adds itself to the list I was changing the spark plugs when I pulled out plug #2 and noticed a tiny amount of engine oil around it's base. Oh well, nothing major I thought. Then I pulled plug #3 and it was oil-fest !! I'd swear that hole was half full of good ol' 10W-40 So now it looks like I've the rocker cover gasket to replace...and I may was well do the CAS o-ring while I'm there. Grrrrrrrrrrr !!



MX5 Parts UK and Autolink will probably be able to retire off my proceeds soon

[Steve]

These smaller T5 bulb covers arrived which means I could finish the clock....finally (it went from red to white to green lighting at last....epic stuff !!)



Then, just when I thought I was getting on top of these niggling jobs, another crappy job adds itself to the list I was changing the spark plugs when I pulled out plug #2 and noticed a tiny amount of engine oil around it's base. Oh well, nothing major I thought. Then I pulled plug #3 and it was oil-fest !! I'd swear that hole was half full of good ol' 10W-40 So now it looks like I've the rocker cover gasket to replace...and I may was well do the CAS o-ring while I'm there. Grrrrrrrrrrr !!



MX5 Parts UK and Autolink will probably be able to retire off my proceeds soon

Suprised you didn't have a misfire or something with that amount of oil in there. Yeah couple of gaskets will sort it.
Nice job on the dials

Sent from my MIX using Tapatalk

[93 Mk1]

Y'know what Steve ? Lately, I thought I was hearing things but I could have sworn the hydraulic lifters sounded noisier when I start the engine. In hindsight, they probably were since
the oil was going elsewhere !! I'm surprised it didn't misfire too but glad it's only the rocker gasket that's causing it. The new gasket and o-ring arrived today from Autolink so that's a job penciled in for my next day off.

[Len]

Thats an incredible job. You can see the effort that went in to it. Anyone have any tips to bring a vinyl roof back to life. use the regulas autoglym vinyl and rubber but I'm not so sure it is very good. Looks good for a day or two.

[93 Mk1]

Thats an incredible job. You can see the effort that went in to it. Anyone have any tips to bring a vinyl roof back to life. use the regulas autoglym vinyl and rubber but I'm not so sure it is very good. Looks good for a day or two.

Thanks Len !
I believe "Renovo" that MX5 Parts sells is supposed to be a decent product for vinyl roofs ? Might be worth checking out.

[93 Mk1]

My gear stick boots arrived the other day so it was time to get the interior finished. I opted for the budget version from Autolink. Looking at the box that they came in, these originally came from Holland.



Now when I removed the gear stick, the turret was drier than Ghandi's flip flop. God only knows how long it's been like that. I had some Castrol Syntrax in the garage (shaft driven motorbikes !) so I opted to use that. I filled it up to about 3/4 ways.




I used good old Aldi washing up liquid to get the rubber over the shaft ( ). I have to come clean here - I made a b*locks of something here. While feeling smug that it was all going fine, I realized that I forgot to put the paper gasket on first.....rats !!! So it was trying to rectify this that I ripped the rubber while trying to get it back off. Double rats !!! Once the red mist passed, I cut the end off a rubber gaiter that I had in my box of spares.



As it turns out, this may have worked out for the better (I hope !!). The rubber piece that I inserted will hopefully create a better seal than the standard paper/cardboard gasket once tightened down by the three bolts.....



As I was finishing up, I remembered seeing some cars with a sound deadening material that was missing on mine. So once again, I found something laying around the garage - it was a sheet of foam which might do a similar job so I cut it to shape and fitted it over the new upper gear rubber.....



So that closes out my interior jobs for now.



Next up: leaky cam cover gasket and CAS o-ring......

[leamyj]

Dunno if I'm being alarmist or not, but it gets very hot in the area around the gear turret..Maybe double check as to the fire retardant properties of that piece of foam??

John

edit: Ignore above..I thought you were putting it below the boot...Jeez, gotta stop the early morning browsing sessions!!

[93 Mk1]

That's one way to give me heart failure John !!!

[93 Mk1]

Another few bits done...and back up and running. While the bits were coming off, I took the opportunity to fit a replacement fan belt adjuster. Cam cover gasket next:



The CAS o-ring was rightly squared off. I also noticed somebody had tried sealer on it in the past.



Glazed and cracking fan belt:



Before fitting new belts, I gave the the pulleys a jolly jood seeing to with some brake cleaner and a brass wire brush. Some fresh 10W-40, new filter and the motor sounds so quiet: no more tappet noise and no more squealing belts ! Sometimes it's the small things make all the difference.....

[Steve]

great job, its encouraging me to get my act together with mine