Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) MX5 dilemma

I'd pay for it. Life is too short

If you can afford it do it.

Depending on your age scrabling under cars in less than ideal conditions is wearing on you body and sanity.

Just the stink alone is worth farming it out to someone who knows what they are doing.

yes there's sufficient money in the 'car fund'

When I started messing with cars 30 plus years ago I made a pledge thats I'd keep my 'car fund' separate from 'our money'. After buying, fixing, improving then selling around 50 classic cars I've turned my previously modest investment into a Morgan, Morris Traveller and MX5 with still a few ££££ spare. But thats why I'm a tight wad - I don't waste anything if I can avoid it, if I can fix it I will.


More and more I'm inclined to pay for it to be done tough

Cheers

Your car fund is there for the work needed. That’s why you created it.
Several years ago I bought a Proton as a cheap runabout for jnr when he came home on a placement as part of his degree. I used it instead of him and let him use the main car. Kept the mileage down. I was seriously impressed with it as a runabout and commuted 120 miles daily in it. Only cost was routine servicing and one new calliper. Sold it a year later for what I paid for it. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT IT ! I still regret selling it years later.

Your MX5 will be the Mk.3? I have a MK3.5 which is similar and has improved hood drainage which was bad on the Mk 2.5. So firstly check the reason for the rot which may well be related to hood drainage. I had a mk2.5 previously and drenched the inside of the sills with Dinitrol. However you do have to keep the drainage holes under the sills clear. After a hot summer the Dinitrol melted and blocked up the drainage holes. The sills eventually filled with water and started to rot!

The MK3 and 3.5 are nice everyday practical fun sports cars (especially the 2 litre). Nothing to compare really (apart from the Honda S2000). Probably worth keeping hold of and getting the work done. Having said that I'm selling mine this spring and using the Morgan if I need a car when the wife's car isn't available.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Oh dear!

At a loose end this afternoon so had a little look and a fiddle, couldn't resist a poke with a screwdriver, then a wire brush, then it just continued...



an hour later and the rust is cut out ready to weld in fresh metal

Oh, almost forgot. Its very common on MK3s not due to the drain holes (with do block) mostly because the damp gets trapped on one side by the arch liner and on the other side by the side skirt. It becomes muddy and then just retains damp. The hood drains exit inside the transmission tunnel facing the prop shaft.

Sill rot is common on all Mazdas...
The MX5 of all generations is well prone (I had a Mk1 1.8s which needed outer sills - lucky it hadn't got to the inners).

My GTR33V was a japanese direct import and at 6 years old was beginning to show serious rust problems with the front strut tops. I was told the Japanese cars did not get the same rust treatment as UK models and this was common among Japanese makers. Given they live on an Island I don't get that personally? It is a pity that the makers don't work out that a known problem fixed for a small cost creates real customer loyalty.

Indeed!

I understand the Japanese MOT is very strict and makes it difficult for cars over 8 years old to pass so they get shipped off to other countries with less strict MOTs, like the UK. Imported MX5s (eunos) rot like mad.

Nearly done one side now - taken a couple of hours so far.