What'd you do to your car this week/weekend?

Bwarp · Post by **Bwarp** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:00 pm

I've only really put it on to annoy people.

Seems its doing the trick.

chris · Post by **chris** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:21 pm

^ Trolling 101

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:17 pm

haha like wearing an 80's Bain style jersey, jeans and sneakers: you may well be taking the mick...or you could actually think it looks good. Sometimes it's hard to tell

Snapfrozen · Post by **Snapfrozen** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 3:43 pm

Taken from my build thread from another forum

So today, what a day. I hadn't cleaned the car and had owned her for almost a week now. The outside paint was fine, inside - god it was SO dirty! My total haul came to 1 vacuum bag and $5.30

Decided to remove the seats, clean out under them, check there was no rust on the rear shelf and go from there.

My first surprise, my seat rails, to be fair, the car is only a year younger than I am, it doesnt look TOO bad

IMG_5208 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

IMG_5209 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

Attacked them with the wire wheel on my dremel (Cheers dad, best birthday gift every recently) and after a few coats of primer and paint looked like this.

IMG_5215 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

I did look at replacing the bolts that mount them to the chassis as well, but figured I'd attack those with the wire wheel to see how bad they were.

IMG_5218 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

IMG_5217 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

And the end result

IMG_5223 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

Then came the replacement of the HORRIBLE DIY mudguards.

IMG_5210 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

These came with the car, but the previous owner was worried they would get scratched.

IMG_5213 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

My weapon of choice

IMG_5216 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

Excuse the mess, we're renovating the home too (Happy wife, happy life)

IMG_5219 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

My man cave while I was in action

IMG_5220 by Jarred McLachlan, on Flickr

Furai · Post by **Furai** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:58 pm

Sooo had a really nice cruise today. Went to pick up my Watanabes up north from the place that was unpacking the container from Japan.

Used about 10L to do 185Km which I was really happy with! Thats about 5.6L per 100Km which is really impressive, I guess thats thanks to just smooth driving and not trying to be on the speed limit the whole time.

Yeah she needs a wash after driving on dirty roads.

They sit 20mm further out than the old wheels, It doesnt look much but its that suttle change that makes it perfect in my eyes.

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:32 pm

When I went to Ruapehu on the weekend just gone I really pushed it in terms of fuel economy. On the way down I had a lead foot and on the way back I had to drive super economically to Taumaranui as my odometer had 480km from the last time I filled up, the needle was waaaay below the E and the GPS was saying I had 10km to go...

Made it there in the end, put in 41.3L and thought that was a job well done

I always thought that the tank was 42L for some reason.... Google has since told me it's 45L so I know I should be able to safely get 500km from a tank next time

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:40 pm

The tank is 42L

but you have the filler pipe as well remember, and if you have put in an after market pump it will possibly improve your tank volume

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:43 pm

Hmmm, definitely cut that with a bit fine

I guess if I plan to tour the South Island in my car then I need to install an aftermarket pump

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:45 pm

Just make sure its a smaller volume pump than your current one

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:59 pm

I was going to use the theory that with forced induction and more fuel, I spend less time on the road and thus less likely to run out of fuel

dylann · Post by **dylann** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 6:23 pm

Damn sounds like you guys get some sweet fuel economy haha, i put $40 in and get ~200k's

Tried putting in my stereo today. After driving around with interior bits here there and everywhere and waiting a week for the Headunit > iso connector to come, the stereo just makes a cd-spinning noise then shuts down :\

chris · Post by **chris** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:43 am

That is cutting it bloody fine!

Dylann, if you're still having that problem next week let me know, I'll be all over the country (literally) keen to meet anyone out of Auckland!

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:07 am

Yeah I think next trip I'll fill up at the 400km mark rather than aiming for towns to tie it in with getting food...

chris · Post by **chris** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:12 am

Pssh, Just bring a petrol container in the boot!

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:24 am

Always worried that I'd end up setting my car on fire... I'll just be a bit less ambitious next time

Might even put the spare wheel back in on the next long trip...

chris · Post by **chris** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:28 am

Hahaha!

I used to carry a spare petrol container with me, it was wrapped in gladwrap and a blanket.

I actually take my spare wheel out when driving around Auckland, if I venture out I put it back in but god, that thing is scary!

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:43 am

Yeah around town I rely on not having a blowout and being able to fill it again with my can full of compressed air and gunk to plug the hole. Ah well, on long trips I think I'll carry a full sized wheel on my luggage rack now that I'll have 2 sets of wheels

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:51 am

Hmm I might have to acquire all your guys space savers. I want to take a lulzy pic of my car dropped on ridiculously skinny wheels ha

chris · Post by **chris** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 12:01 pm

Born_disturbed wrote:Hmm I might have to acquire all your guys space savers. I want to take a lulzy pic of my car dropped on ridiculously skinny wheels ha

OMG I HAVE TWO SPACE SAVERS AT HOME! PUT IT ON MINE FOR MOAR SLAM

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:39 pm

Skid pan tyres?

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:48 pm

Mad Kiwi wrote:Skid pan tyres?

Yes that was the plan

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:55 pm

Kasey (my nephew and fellow MX5 owner) and I fitted the 949 Racing braided hoses on Tuesday evening to the "wee1".

I was somewhat sceptical as to the potential improvement but have to say they feel a lot firmer and more precise in the application.

Very noticeable and I really like it.

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:04 pm

They look like the good-win ones I picked up. Initially felt a bit strange with the pedal feel but wasn't as drastic as I was hoping. Steel lines on a motorbike are much more drastic.

Twice brewed · Post by **Twice brewed** » Sat Aug 25, 2012 3:21 pm

I changed the gearshift gaiters and oil! Got the parts from MX5 mart, took ma deep breath and went for it. Apart from roping in my wife's small hands to retrieve a bolt I dropped between the gearbox and chassis, it was a lot easier than I thought. The old gaiters were trashed and the car is now much quieter and gear change slicker.

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:11 pm

Mad Kiwi wrote:Kasey (my nephew and fellow MX5 owner) and I fitted the 949 Racing braided hoses on Tuesday evening to the "wee1".

I was somewhat sceptical as to the potential improvement but have to say they feel a lot firmer and more precise in the application.

Very noticeable and I really like it.

'

Could possibly be also due to fresh oil and a good bleed?

What'd you do to your car this week/weekend?

Who is online