Well...
Where do I start?
I picked up the parts I thought best to get in order to do a full service, as it was leaking a bit of oil, and no warranty was given.
I started to strip down the engine in order to do all the seals, as well as cambelt/tensioners/waterpump etc, and then I encountered a problem.
The crankshaft oil seal wouldn't fit. Cue me getting in a huff, and jumping on the phone to MX5Parts, with the attitude of "you've sent me the wrong bit!"
However - the guys I spoke to there were very helpful, and after a conversation lasting well over half an hour, including looking up the chassis number in the EPC, they told me that the chassis number related to a 1.8 automatic, V-Limited, in British Racing Green...
NOT the (originally red), then purple, then pink MANUAL car I had in front of me, with what appeared to be an early 1.6... hmmmm...
This was confirmed when I took a closer look at the chassis number stamp, which had, in fact, been welded into the chassis in front of me!!
Oh ****, a ringer!
On the phone to the dealer we got it from, to inform them of the "wonderful" news... and they have been good with it - came out a couple of days later to have a look at it with one of their mechanics, and they proceeded to hack out the VIN plate, showing a nice shade of BRG on the back of the VIN number stamp. They then agreed to refund us, or find an alternative MX-5 - this time definitely a 1.8 in manual.
Last week, however, whilst I was away with work, I was browsing AutoTrader, and spotted a nice one that, after a quick check of post-codes, was only 40 miles away from where I was staying with work (but 160 miles from home!). A call to the owner, and I arranged a viewing - telling the dealer that I was doing so, and if I liked it, I'd probably like to purchase that, rather than let them source one of an unknown quantity.
I went to look at it, and liked what I saw. I told the dealer I wanted it, and we arranged how I was to get it, as he had yet to source one himself for us.
Thanks to a work colleague, he drove my car back, and I drove the new MX-5 back
Anyway, it's a 1993 J-Ltd-2 - 1.8 in yellow, with black Momo wheels, Momo steering wheel, custom black/yellow leather interior (no speakers in headrest, though)
One of only 800 (according to the listing on the OC site)
However, the windscreen surround has been painted yellow to match.
Anyway, onto the pics:
Garry
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
