MX520 2.O

[nevdrum]

Trial fit of dash. Pretty happy with paint finish for a cheapie gun. I will now be able to set correct position for support bar for steering column - then I can sort out firewall and trans tunnel.

 

 

[nevdrum]

Can’t do too much as getting ready to move - trial paint of bonnet and wings

 

[datzenmike]

Bonnet and wings..... don't get more British than that.

[nevdrum]

Managed to adapt a VW Transporter glovebox handle to the broken OEM handle as a pull knob. Looks ok I think. Radio delete looks quite clean. I will have a mag metic mount for my phone on the old radio panel - audio etc will be streamed to a Bluetooth amp under the dash, plus nav via phone. Settled on white for the wheels with a white roof on the cab. Hope to have most of cab painted in a couple of weeks

 

 

 

 

[nevdrum]

Cab exterior in undercoat. Move occurring over next four weeks, then tray off, engine + gearbox out so I can weld up firewall and tunnel then fab should be complete.

 

 

 

 

 

[nevdrum]

[projectrally]

Still making progress on the truck?  

 

[nevdrum]

Sorry - been a while. My new garage is small, so hard to work in winter as I have to roll the pickup out to make room. Back on the tools now it’s spring, but progress will be slow as new house means lots of other jobs! I’ve started putting the MX5 floors, tunnel and firewall into the 520. Slow process of measuring, cutting and fitting and checking. Seat floors (includes MX5 seat rail mounts) are tacked in - I will remove remaining bit up to sills once the firewall is in so the flowers remain fixed to a reference point at all times. Working on the drivers side of firewall (520 narrower than MX5 so it needs to be cut in the middle making sure to leave enough room for pedals and feet). I may have to massage the throttle and or side of footwell near wheel arch as clearance is close). I will the lock in other passenger side firewall, and finish trans tunnel. I will have to lower the trans tunnel as too high for gear lever but don’t think I will get it low enough to use bench seat (I may weld in the runners to give me the option). I want to retain MX5 handbrake. Anyways pics added for reference and I will chip away and try to keep the updates coming

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 8 by nevdrum
Add images

[nevdrum]

[nevdrum]

[nevdrum]

[nevdrum]

[nevdrum]

Slow time project continues when other commitments allow. Drivers side firewall welded in and tied into transmission tunnel and wheel arch. Very fiddly as I also found some corrosion in the air plenum on the scuttle that was I nightmare (for me anyway) to address. Next step is to have a new floor section bead rolled (I don’t have the tool) and weld in, then remove section between seat mounts and sill box section to tie the seat rail through to the sill….. then same again other side, which I’m hoping will be much quicker as I now know roughly how much material to remove and where. 

[nevdrum]

Drivers side Firewall 

[nevdrum]

Inside

[nevdrum]

Tied in. Note wheel arch will be finished as last step to ensure room for full accelerator travel 

[Rustbin]

9 hours ago, nevdrum said:

Very fiddly as I also found some corrosion in the air plenum on the scuttle that was I nightmare (for me anyway) to address.

 

I can relate to this issue, something about gravity pulling your weld out of the seam and onto you when trying to weld overhead.

[nevdrum]

Rustbin that’s part of it. It was mainly in an awkward spot welding thin metal onto old metal. I basically rust treated all of it inside and underneath then weld a strip of metal along the bottom edge. The kicker is the firewall also ties into this area. Mostly concerned with water ingress into the cabin via the scuttle cabin vent intake. There will be liberal amounts of seam sealer applied! The car is also a sunny day toy for me, so should see very little rain.

Edited April 11 by nevdrum
Finish post

[Rustbin]

Several years ago I was attending a local car show and there was this beautiful custom '30s Ford, gorgeous paint and interior. Then seemingly out of nowhere a cloud came over and it just poured down, every one ran for the covers that the vendors had set up for food. All the car owners put up there tops and rolled up the windows, except the Ford's owner wasn't there and it didn't have a top to cover the interior, some guys seeing this dragged a tarp to cover it but the floors where covered with several inches of water by then. I never saw that car come to the local show again. Moral of the story, make sure you seal it off so you don't get stuck in a rainstorm with water dripping on your feet.

You are doing quite an impressive job of it by the way, should be fun to drive.