Sharkriders Eunos Roadster

[skomaz]

Back from the garage, and the hole has gone!! It still needs filling properly and painting properly , but looks allot better!

 

 

and we have a luggage rack  for the picnic basket

 

 

 

roll on summer!

 

Just a quickie re that luggage rack – it’ll need the straps to the edges of the boot quite tight to keep it in place when loaded up and will leave small round marks in your paint (I know as I have one similar). Hence, before you fit it check whether you have an aluminium boot lid (some cars did in addition to the aluminium bonnet) as the edges could crumple as you tighten the edge straps.  Even with a steel bootlid I’m wary!  And load the rack up before doing the final tightening as the rubber feet can compress over time meaning the straps can loosen and the rack move (not nice if it’s loaded up).

 

Also you’ll find that the boot lid skin will flex under the feet until it hits the framing inside the boot.  When I fit mine I use some cork spacers (cork coasters) between the skin and the frame to prevent the skin flexing too much and remaining permanently bent, so I’d suggest you do the same.

 

And finally for info I never use mine for luggage – what I’ve done is made up a couple of timber spacers and a bracket so that I can bolt the space saver spare wheel to the rack and free up space in the boot.  I mount the wheel so that it creates a dish on the rack for storing things like a first aid kit and other odds and sods that won’t matter too much if they get wet, put a black painted hardboard ‘plate’ over the top, use the spare wheel cover to hold it down and then put a luggage strap round it all to secure it.

 

Combined with a modification to the boot lock so that the internal boot release can be disconnected with the key and I have a much bigger,  secure boot for valuables and still have a spare wheel just in case.  It’s served me well for many trips abroad to Spain and France where I’ve had no qualms leaving it parked up en-route with the hood down and the boot full of stuff.

[skomaz]

ordered some nuts! lol... will post proper wheel pics when I can get the center caps on

 

Looks like the ones you have on at the moment are McGuards - the original will have had a set with one locking nut for each wheel that looks like a spline with one larger nib somewhere on it.  If it was an import and someone has changed the nuts check in the toolkit or the toolkit recess on the left of the boot floor - they are often to be found in there!

Edited 21 March, 2014 by skomaz

[sharkrider]

Havent really looked around the boot! lol...... but I will! 

 

re: the luggage rack, it has two metal fixings that twist to size to tighten up and with locking nuts, like a track rod end.... just not shown in the pics... its an old one from a classic MG that we bagged for a paltry £15 from fleabay its in pretty good nick! I doubt it will be used for luggage, maybe the picnic basket and real travelling the vRS will be going with us...... this is more like summer fun thanks for the info with it, we will be careful

[sharkrider]

ok... a nice little trickle charger to keep the battery topped up for when the cars not in use!

 

 

and no grill protecting my radiators! ....

 

 

this is better

 

[aidy.t]

It's looking good. I have a massive soft spot for these. Cracking little cars! You will have plenty of fun in it, especially as spring is arriving.

Looking forward to using mine more now.

[sharkrider]

right, my new wheel nuts arrived... finished my wheels off with correct centre caps

 

 

car looks much better with the correct wheels on in my opinion! more spaced out arches

 

 

got the back wheel on some wet gravel to kick it out, was having none of it I will work up to its limits! lol...

 

[skomaz]

Looking good and I'm loving watching what you are doing with it! What is spooky is that you seem to be having the same thought processes that I did many years ago. I too have a solar trickle charger in the garage window to keep the battery topped up (is it still on the original Panasonic by the way or a westco replacement gel or a vented lead acid - if either of the first two don't let it go completely flat as they tend to die - I've lost two that way so now have a varta sealed lead acid instead as they are easier to keep). I also have what looks to be the same mesh grille fitted albeit I sprayed mine black in the end.

[simonsheil]

Get a mini drive organised Dave. I'm working in Cumbria again now. Currently at Keswick as well.

[sharkrider]

Duplicate, stupid phone!

[sharkrider]

Get a mini drive organised Dave. I'm working in Cumbria again now. Currently at Keswick as well.

Working on it Simon been talking to Ian (captain scarlet) and we should be organising a lakes meet, to be organised in the NW section in here, but open to all makes and models of course

[sharkrider]

rustproofed the bare metal , with fetrtan and hammerite stonechip... this pic shows how bad the paint is....

 

[ChrisRs]

...if you want some polishing doing Dave.............

[sharkrider]

it will be polished properly, but not until the bodywork is done....

[ChrisRs]

I realise that...LOL

Nice project

Do we now call you Ed?

[lfc958]

My son has a 5 -   As you want to have an original he has passed on a couple of bits of info that might be interested in.

 

1- Is it a 1. 6 as your LSD will be a VLSD & will require checking regularly

2- Are you looking to put the headrest speakers back. - if you put OEM's in, check the charcoal canister has not been removed.

 

I have been told the best place for original parts is www.mx5parts.co.uk

[sharkrider]

thanks what does VLSD stand for? and what does it need checking for? seems to work properly already got the "paint" off my new tyres

 

I will be putting the headrest speakers back in, but they are way down the line of importance so far

 

thanks for the help, and do keep checking in, I am relatively new to these so appreciate input

 

I have checked mx5 parts, and they are very comprehensive and available, but massively expensive compaired to thingslike flea bay or (and this is a good one!) the mx5 buy & sell page on facebook! really good page thats where I got the car from... I had been looking for a good one for months, and found only trash on ebay and autotrader, (or really good ones!) no "wheeler dealer" cars..... and when I asked on the facebook page, I got offered 3 good ones! I chose the one that was close enough for me to go and see first

 

note for all : I know these are pretty reliable, and engines rarely die before bodies ect , but it IS a 22 year old car , and the mechanics seem fine, but under the bonnet (maybe I'm too used to new cars!) its got lots of damp surfaces ect ... it isn't loosing anything though, nothing on the drive, no fluids lost from any reseviors ect (even the aircon works!) but I would like to know what to look for ..... 

 

main mechanical niggle (besides broken electric windows!) is the high biting clutch! its doesnt slip, but If I come off the pedal completley quickly, it can keep engaging by itself!! so it must be close to slipping.... someone already noted that it could be the clutch slave cylinder, (which apperas to be damp with dirt stuck to it! but again, NO fluid loss) but the history says that was replaced 2 years ago.... the pedal feel is good, not heavy, good action, no spongeyness, and it seems unlikley the clutch has worn out at 50,000 miles.... sooooo can they be adjusted?!

 

also if there is a guide or a hints and tips for the electric windows that would be cool.... the drivers is very slow, and wont go all the way down, and the passengers seems to be disconected (motor works) ... so this it quite high on my list with summer approaching! the mx5 forums are not very well organised, and VERY different from briskoda, I feel I would get more help here!

 

ANYWAY... I'm still researching.... and enjoying it! took it out yesterday just because I could and the sun was shining and the top was down

 

Sahrk

[sharkrider]

may post in the freedom tech help section too

[lfc958]

VLSD = Viscous Limited Slip Diff.  The Oil here needs to be regularly checked if you dont want to naker it ( according to the son - he & his GF both have 5's ) 

 

WRT the windows & clutch, if you want any tips E mail - [email protected] to see if he can point you in the right direction in one of the 5 forums he is on, he does not have freedom to Brisky ( no need anymore since he replaced his Mk1 Octy Vrs with the 5) to see / feed into this thread.

 

At least you now have a last resort of MX5 Parts you can get, & another ref point.

[sharkrider]

its MOT is due in june , in may I'll take it to my tame mechanic, and have him check over things like diff oil ect  

[@Lee]

new sticker for you

 

[sharkrider]

speakers I bought from an MX5 specialist on ebay (who said they were from a eunos) dont fit.... lying ****** now wont refund unless I pay to return them, which would leave me massively out of pocket.... he's be arguing with me in the resolution centre, that they are correct..... look at them FFS....

 

 

they are too big, dont fit the holes and you cant get the door cards back on! I will escalate it with e-bay the bugger wont budge.....

 

SOOO I bought some proper ones that were actually from a eunos, and they fit...

 

 

guess what? They dont bloody work!

 

*sigh... gives up on speakers.

[sharkrider]

got a cheap security device

 

 

noticed all the dents in the o/s rear wing.... looks like from inside..... what do we have? an (illegal!) non secured battery that has been bouncing about smacking holes in the bodywork!

 

 

got on fleabay and got a spare battery holder with all accessories..... fixed it! legal , safe, and no more small dents in the wing!

 

[dobbey]

Lovely car, I intend to have an MX5 before I die

How about upgrading the speakers in the seats? I've stripped and am currently rebuilding a pair of mx5 seats for one of my cars and I'll go with something like this http://www.mazda-madness.co.uk/2010/11/fitting-new-headrest-speakers/

Its also worth checking the seat pans - mine were a little rusty and know a few people who've had to repair them. Mine were sorted with a wire brush and some rust protector

[sharkrider]

I had a nice afternoon driving it today after doing the work above the interior was changed (good stuff out and sold!) when I bought it! in the headrests the wires for speakers are there, with no speakers, so an upgrade is possible, however under the seats , the connectors are not the same , so its all unconnected! shouldn't be too hard to sort out....

 

low down the list though! I need to sort the high biting clutch next..!!!

[skomaz]

speakers I bought from an MX5 specialist on ebay (who said they were from a eunos) dont fit.... lying ****** now wont refund unless I pay to return them, which would leave me massively out of pocket.... he's be arguing with me in the resolution centre, that they are correct..... look at them FFS....

 

 

they are too big, dont fit the holes and you cant get the door cards back on! I will escalate it with e-bay the bugger wont budge.....

 

SOOO I bought some proper ones that were actually from a eunos, and they fit...

 

 

guess what? They dont bloody work!

 

*sigh... gives up on speakers.

 

You need some shallow 17cm speakers - I think from memory I upgraded mine to Sony XS-A 1724's (165mm diameter).  Find something similar and you should have cracked it (although you may need to drill one extra hole in the speaker rim as they are 3 screw fitting rather than 4...   If you want to be certain buy from someone like Andrew Stott at Autolink, David Manners, Moss or MX5Parts (although the latter two can be expensive).