WIndblocker and cam belt
Discussion
I am thinking of getting a wind blocker, as Little Miss Dunc complains that the her (long) hair whips her face and eyes at high speed and this makes her reluctant to go topless for long trips, err, to have the roof down for long trips. Not having had one before, are windblockers effective?
There were a couple of windblockers on fleabay this week, which I missed out on as I only bid very cheekily low. Unless a second hand one is a real bargain, I would prefer a new one.
I normally get my MX5 bits from mx5parts.co.uk. They were formally known as Scimitar International, and many moons ago, when they were a lot smaller, and I was a lot younger, I ran a Scimitar or two, and they were my preferred parts supplier. They got into MX5s about the same time as I did, and while I don't buy much, I feel that I must be one of their oldest customers. Over the last 20-ish years, they have consistently given excellent customer service and provided high quality parts.
The mx5parts.co.uk windblockers are just over £116 and I am sure that it will arrive the next day and be a quality item.
However, if you look on fleabay, there are several sellers offering brand new windblockers for around £65.
My inclination is that I would rather go for a quality item from a supplier I know, but if anyone has a cheap fleabay item and thinks it is any good, I may take a chance.
I have a late mk1 which has the factory fitted brace behind the seats. The mx5parts description specifically says that theirs is compatible with this, but the fleabay ones make no mention of it.
My second question (should be a separate thread really) relates to the cam belt. The car is on its third cam belt and has just turned 60k miles, so should be due its first change. However it is almost 20 years old which is why the previous (only other) owner changed the belt twice in his time. I have had the car 5 years, so it is probably time I change it to.
My previous MX5 was a 1.6, and I changed the cam belt on that twice in the time that I owned it. I don't recall any issues, although it was a few years ago. I still have the workshop manual I bought for that car, which is specific to the 1.6 engine. My current MX5 has the 1.8 engine. Are the any differences in doing the cam belt on the 1.6 and the 1.8. I.e., if I follow the book instructions for the 1.6, will I run into difficulty on the 1.8 engine, or is it identical in all cambelt respects?
There were a couple of windblockers on fleabay this week, which I missed out on as I only bid very cheekily low. Unless a second hand one is a real bargain, I would prefer a new one.
I normally get my MX5 bits from mx5parts.co.uk. They were formally known as Scimitar International, and many moons ago, when they were a lot smaller, and I was a lot younger, I ran a Scimitar or two, and they were my preferred parts supplier. They got into MX5s about the same time as I did, and while I don't buy much, I feel that I must be one of their oldest customers. Over the last 20-ish years, they have consistently given excellent customer service and provided high quality parts.
The mx5parts.co.uk windblockers are just over £116 and I am sure that it will arrive the next day and be a quality item.
However, if you look on fleabay, there are several sellers offering brand new windblockers for around £65.
My inclination is that I would rather go for a quality item from a supplier I know, but if anyone has a cheap fleabay item and thinks it is any good, I may take a chance.
I have a late mk1 which has the factory fitted brace behind the seats. The mx5parts description specifically says that theirs is compatible with this, but the fleabay ones make no mention of it.
My second question (should be a separate thread really) relates to the cam belt. The car is on its third cam belt and has just turned 60k miles, so should be due its first change. However it is almost 20 years old which is why the previous (only other) owner changed the belt twice in his time. I have had the car 5 years, so it is probably time I change it to.
My previous MX5 was a 1.6, and I changed the cam belt on that twice in the time that I owned it. I don't recall any issues, although it was a few years ago. I still have the workshop manual I bought for that car, which is specific to the 1.6 engine. My current MX5 has the 1.8 engine. Are the any differences in doing the cam belt on the 1.6 and the 1.8. I.e., if I follow the book instructions for the 1.6, will I run into difficulty on the 1.8 engine, or is it identical in all cambelt respects?
I recently moved from a 1.6 to a 1.8, the only difference I found when changing the cambelt was that access to the stuck alternator lower bolt was very awkward due to the manifold, but I honestly cant recall if I had the same issue on the 1.6 the first time I worked on that. Once freed off and not over-tightened it was all easy.
Just dont do what I did and manage to get some slack on the exhaust side of the cambelt that makes it sound like a diesel - start from that side and make sure the belt is nice and tight, then work over to the inlet side.
The only differences I can think of now are things like the top hose and thermostat housing being different shapes, and all the plastic stuff leading to the air filter is different, but none of that affects changing the belt as you just remove it all.
Just dont do what I did and manage to get some slack on the exhaust side of the cambelt that makes it sound like a diesel - start from that side and make sure the belt is nice and tight, then work over to the inlet side.
The only differences I can think of now are things like the top hose and thermostat housing being different shapes, and all the plastic stuff leading to the air filter is different, but none of that affects changing the belt as you just remove it all.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 2nd July 08:45
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