What have you done to your car today?

[LuckyBenski]

Oh I also decided to buy some thicker oil for the Austin.

Its 20W50 as standard, and you tend to put thicker oil in more worn engines, but because the recommended oil is already thick by modern standards, I didn't really think about it.

Where do you go from 20W50 you might ask? Why, 25W70 of course! I've never heard the like... Turns out its a bit rough to get hold of these days too.

Pretty sure that's one step away from the gearbox oil I need

 

[Akagi]

Pretty sure that's one step away from the gearbox oil I need

I've changed my mind and ordered 20W60 now.

Although, gearbox oil and engine oil grades are not equivalent, gear oil uses much higher numbers to indicate the viscosity mainly to avoid the possibility of people using it for the wrong application.

75W gear oil is about the same viscosity as 15W engine oil.

The A35 actually uses 20W50 engine oil in the gearbox, which is equivalent to 75w90 ish, but gearbox oil is generally not compatible with the yellow metal and stuff in there.

 

[LuckyBenski]

TIL!

The SAE has a separate viscosity rating system for gear, axle, and manual transmission oils, SAE J306, which should not be confused with engine oil viscosity. The higher numbers of a gear oil (e.g., 75W-140) do not mean that it has higher viscosity than an engine oil. Interestingly a 90-grade gear oil viscosity falls between a 40 or 50 grade engine oil, and 80 grade gear oil is similar viscosity to a 20-grade engine oil

 

[Akagi]

I've now cancelled my order for any oil at all because it turns out theres like 50 litres of it in a drum in the shed already.

 

[Akagi]

Got fed up with the brake pressure switches for the brake lights failing and just generally not working correctly. Rigged up a motorbike brake light pull switch under the floor and wired it through a relay and the lighting fuse which I added a while ago.

I'll tidy up the relay location/etc at some point.

Wheelarch repair complete. Looks crap, which is perfect.

 

[grudas]

Least you’re having fun @Akagi

I pulled the diff out of the s2000, now it’s at my mates getting rebuilt ready for some track action in August.






Snapped many bolts. Love it

 

[Akagi]

what you laffing at @grudas?

 

[mjt]

Got fed up with the brake pressure switches for the brake lights failing and just generally not working correctly. Rigged up a motorbike brake light pull switch under the floor and wired it through a relay and the lighting fuse which I added a while ago.

Ah, good ol' Lucas, Prince of Darkness

Awesome little project that!

 

[avatar12m]

Took the engine out , just a blown head gasket (hopefully) or possibly cracked cylinder head , will be taking it in this week to local machine shop.

https://imgur.com/a/eLxNjGc

 

[jpaul]

poll - has everyone got freezing spray in their toolkit ?
I only have a blow-torch but that can be hard to direct, and I had adjacent carbon fibre in below case, and I had dissimilar metals alloy+steel too

---
lunch time success celebrating finally got the seized barrel adjuster out - was on the verge of ordering drills and tap, or fear that support would rip (even though had a wrench on it)
had spent several hours with plus-gas and wrenches at w/e babying it.

Spoiler: enemy

can't find a replacement online - it has a 16.5mm length M5 ?
will have to buy some of the stuff I employed to put in toolkit, rotated bike and sprayed some upwards into bolt head, nice frost pattern at tip as it travelled

Spoiler: surprise tool

 

[Akagi]

Hooked up the oil pressure gauge in the Austin, wished I hadn't once I saw the hot idle oil pressure
Fitted a door mirror!
Changed the oil and filter.
Checked the plugs and adjusted the mixture.
Went for a drive about.
Washed it for the first time!

 

[Axeboy]

Got the reg number for the Subaru import today, very pleased.

I sent in the docs and then had a panic if I did it right. Messaged DVLA today and got the reg number but Im in Poland for a few weeks. But at least its all been approved. Really looking forward to it

I hope it lives up to expectations. If not, sold then probably get a facelift ISF, always loved them

 

[lordrobs]

I blame the heat (30.4C in the office at the moment ) but I bought a super cheap Android Auto single DIN head unit from Ali Express for the MX5

I mean, it's got to be great for £32 right?

I've been wanting to get an Android Auto setup in there to get rid of the god awful phone holder I stuck on top of the dash. My options for single DIN seem to be mega bucks for a branded unit or cheap as chips Chinesium so I went for the latter. Same one is £80 on Amazon but decided to roll the dice on Ali Express for less than half the price.

It looks a bit **** in the photos which doesn't bode well but it was one of the few that is actual single DIN sized, not 'fits in a single DIN hole then the screen overlaps the centre console'. Which is important because I already end up punching the Alpine unit I have in there when shifting to third, this one looks like it will sit a touch further back.

I'll report back with the 'shock horror cheap headunit ends up being rubbish' post sometime after the 17th July

 

[GSXRMovistar]

I blame the heat (30.4C in the office at the moment ) but I bought a super cheap Android Auto single DIN head unit from Ali Express for the MX5

I mean, it's got to be great for £32 right?

I've been wanting to get an Android Auto setup in there to get rid of the god awful phone holder I stuck on top of the dash. My options for single DIN seem to be mega bucks for a branded unit or cheap as chips Chinesium so I went for the latter. Same one is £80 on Amazon but decided to roll the dice on Ali Express for less than half the price.

It looks a bit **** in the photos which doesn't bode well but it was one of the few that is actual single DIN sized, not 'fits in a single DIN hole then the screen overlaps the centre console'. Which is important because I already end up punching the Alpine unit I have in there when shifting to third, this one looks like it will sit a touch further back.

I'll report back with the 'shock horror cheap headunit ends up being rubbish' post sometime after the 17th July

What unit did you go for? I ordered a Naively OD9 from the Aliexpress for the pricey sum of £28, installed it back in March and quite frankly for the price its been outstanding.

CarPlay works fantastically, have added DAB+ via a cheap USB adaptor, and even the tiny built in microphone works well, manages to pick up my voice even with the roof off (as long as not going silly speeds).

 

[lordrobs]

What unit did you go for? I ordered a Naively OD9 from the Aliexpress for the pricey sum of £28, installed it back in March and quite frankly for the price its been outstanding.

CarPlay works fantastically, have added DAB+ via a cheap USB adaptor, and even the tiny built in microphone works well, manages to pick up my voice even with the roof off (as long as not going silly speeds).

Damn, that was the one I nearly went for

I was really worried about fitment so ended up going for the 5mm smaller "Essgoo" brand one with a mix of physical and touch sensitive buttons and small 5" screen...

TBH for what they cost I'm happy to try one and if it doesn't work out shift it on second hand for a tenner and try another one. The only branded one that seemed to be the right firm factor was a £349 Alpine so I can try a few out and still be quids in!

Another big event for my car today... I drove it somewhere other than Tesco

200 odd mile hack from Norwich to Stoke on Trent. Took the boring route (A11, A14, M6) because I was short on time so not exactly MK1 MX5 home turf. Car was fine but I was too blooming hot despite not leaving until about 5:30. Only became pleasant temperature from about 8:45.

32 miles to my destination of Oulton Park in the morning then a day of sunburn and overpriced burgers at Mazda Mania before the return leg

 

[Akagi]

Checked the timing on the Austin and I really should have done that sooner because it was extremely *extremely* incorrect, probably 25 degrees further advanced than it should have been...
It turns out that the mechanical rattling noise I'd been hearing and had put down to a worn engine was actually extremely bad pinking/detonation...

Now the timing is set correctly the engine is so much quieter, smoother, has more power, revs more freely, and it runs cooler, which has also had the side effect of the oil pressure being improved when warmed up.
I'd been torturing the poor thing this whole time assuming "its just rattly"

But hey, for all I know it could have been like that since forever... They are very resilient engines fortunately! I've never heard pinking before and I had assumed it would be a more distinctive sound than it was.

 

[Akagi]

Sorted the alignment, using period correct tooling naturally.

 

[lordrobs]

Checked the timing on the Austin and I really should have done that sooner because it was extremely *extremely* incorrect, probably 25 degrees further advanced than it should have been...
It turns out that the mechanical rattling noise I'd been hearing and had put down to a worn engine was actually extremely bad pinking/detonation...

Now the timing is set correctly the engine is so much quieter, smoother, has more power, revs more freely, and it runs cooler, which has also had the side effect of the oil pressure being improved when warmed up.
I'd been torturing the poor thing this whole time assuming "its just rattly"

But hey, for all I know it could have been like that since forever... They are very resilient engines fortunately! I've never heard pinking before and I had assumed it would be a more distinctive sound than it was.

Knowledge is best gained through experience, next time you'll instinctively know what the issue is.

Give it a few decades and you'll be like one of those car guru old boys who don't need an OBD port to tell them what the issue is and can follow up every diagnosis with an anecdote. "Yep, thats your timing out. I once had an old Austin....."

 

[Akagi]

Knowledge is best gained through experience, next time you'll instinctively know what the issue is.

Give it a few decades and you'll be like one of those car guru old boys who don't need an OBD port to tell them what the issue is and can follow up every diagnosis with an anecdote. "Yep, thats your timing out. I once had an old Austin....."

I thought I knew a fair bit about cars but working on this silly little thing has taught me so much.

 

[Akagi]

Fitted the horn and wired it up.

Added 12v outlet and horn button.

Also wired in the accessory gauge lighting, and fitted the centre trim in the steering wheel.

Its like a real boy car!

The BMW gets attention next. I've finished organising all the nuts and bolts to reassemble the rear end.