Rebuilding my MX5 - Ideas please!
Discussion
I am toying with the idea of whether or not to sell my '96 MX5 Merlot.
I have decided that if I am to keep it (which is currently the favoured option as I can't find anything else I'd like within the same budget!), I would like to rebuild it over the winter so it is 'immaculate' for next summer. It has already been taken off the road in readiness for this.
The idea is to strip the car into its component pieces and replace/refresh/rebuild any worn parts so when it goes back together it'll be pretty much a 'new' car. At the same time, I'd like to introduce any 'improvements' to the car so I will be 100% happy with it and it'll (hopefully) last me for many years.
As the Merlot is reasonably rare, I'd like to keep the car as standard as possible with only minor improvements.
I am now starting my 'wish list' so all ideas/suggestions are welcome! I will be of course keeping a complete photo diary of any rebuild which will be posted to PH
I have decided that if I am to keep it (which is currently the favoured option as I can't find anything else I'd like within the same budget!), I would like to rebuild it over the winter so it is 'immaculate' for next summer. It has already been taken off the road in readiness for this.
The idea is to strip the car into its component pieces and replace/refresh/rebuild any worn parts so when it goes back together it'll be pretty much a 'new' car. At the same time, I'd like to introduce any 'improvements' to the car so I will be 100% happy with it and it'll (hopefully) last me for many years.
As the Merlot is reasonably rare, I'd like to keep the car as standard as possible with only minor improvements.
I am now starting my 'wish list' so all ideas/suggestions are welcome! I will be of course keeping a complete photo diary of any rebuild which will be posted to PH
Dont get me wrong. I like the idea of something to do in the winter etc and getting a better car at the end of it. But does it really need a total strip down and rebuild?
As for improvments.
Suspention and stiffness. I did this with the Hard Dog roll bar and stiffer ARBs. Would be better though the skip the ARBs and throw in the Puredrive suspention from P5.
Throw an aftermatket ECU in there and spend hours tuning it to get better fuel ecomony and a bit mroe power....or....throw on a supercharger as well and go for power.
As for improvments.
Suspention and stiffness. I did this with the Hard Dog roll bar and stiffer ARBs. Would be better though the skip the ARBs and throw in the Puredrive suspention from P5.
Throw an aftermatket ECU in there and spend hours tuning it to get better fuel ecomony and a bit mroe power....or....throw on a supercharger as well and go for power.
Merlot is a very nice special edition so I'd say no external/interior mods to keep it looking as it should. Possibly a style bar but not full roll-bars.
I would replace the shock & springs though and if you have the skills/tools to do it, replace the bushes too.
As for engine mods, do you want any more power? If so how much?
I assume you are planning normal servicing i.e. replacing the engine, gearbox & dif oils and coolant. Maybe you should change the plug leads & plugs too, especially if the car will be sitting around for a while.
What condition is the exhaust in?
How about waxoyl under the car?
Other than that, just temporarily remove parts under the bonnet so you can give the engine & engine bay a good clean and you should be good to go when the weather returns (like it was ever really here
).
I would replace the shock & springs though and if you have the skills/tools to do it, replace the bushes too.
As for engine mods, do you want any more power? If so how much?
I assume you are planning normal servicing i.e. replacing the engine, gearbox & dif oils and coolant. Maybe you should change the plug leads & plugs too, especially if the car will be sitting around for a while.
What condition is the exhaust in?
How about waxoyl under the car?
Other than that, just temporarily remove parts under the bonnet so you can give the engine & engine bay a good clean and you should be good to go when the weather returns (like it was ever really here
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