Ians series 3 restoration project...

CHC (RIP) · March 09, 2011, 08:17:12 PM

I\'ve probably chosen the wrong thread - so please forgive me.
I can recall some time ago you were asking if anybody had or knew the availablity of the \'rubber stop\' fitted to the rear springs - did you ever get any feedback on this?

I was asking my local agent last week for some bits and they tell me the \'rubber stop\' is available on \'back order\' from Mazda for Â£13.11 + vat (if this is of any use).
Ta
Cliff

Ian65 · March 12, 2011, 08:28:56 PM

Quote from: CHC;747950I\'ve probably chosen the wrong thread - so please forgive me.
I can recall some time ago you were asking if anybody had or knew the availablity of the \'rubber stop\' fitted to the rear springs - did you ever get any feedback on this?

I was asking my local agent last week for some bits and they tell me the \'rubber stop\' is available on \'back order\' from Mazda for Â£13.11 + vat (if this is of any use).
Ta
Cliff

good info Cliff...
I have a cunning plan to bond the bump stop back to it\'s mounting plate with POR15 but if this fails, I\'ll buy some new ones.

Went yesterday and picked up my poly bushes from Steve ( nice to meet you mate! Gotta say lads that Steves work on his RX is a credit to him.... can\'t wait to see the finished article)

Had a look at the bushes today and after I got rained off from building the garden fence (he he he), I decided to have a go at putting some of them in...
what a B*****d of a job...
the \'lube\' you have to use is more like wet araldite and sticks to your fingers/hands/ clothes/ workbench/ tools/ gloves.... every bloody thing!

Nearly all in now though... they better be good after this!

I\'ve also managed to get the Elford engine onto the bench for cleaning prior to dropping into the car... time to get the polishing kit out!

Cliff called in to pick up the Elford wheels for his RX... great to meet Cliff and his good lady too... we could have talked RX7\'s all day!
I\'ve always wanted a set of Elford sonic wheels and when I finally got a set, they wouldn\'t fit either of my 1st gens1... drat and double drat!
I\'m glad Cliffs had them though... they\'ll look the absolute business on his S2.

Things are starting to move forward with this car now... just need a couple of new lower balljoints and a good S3 gearbox then I can get it back on it\'s wheels and get the lump back in.

.

Ian65 · March 13, 2011, 10:10:48 PM

Inspired by the arrival of my new poly bushes, I\'ve set to work cleaning up the remaining few rusty items from the donor car, ready to paint and fit to this car.
I\'m a bit fed up with grinding off rust so today I set up an electrolysis tank for rust removal and put my 1st rusty part in, the bit that links the front strut to the steering...

Here\'s my home made setup consisting of a plastic tub, 3 gallons of water mixed with washing soda to make electrolyte, an old battery and a battery charger.

and here\'s the rusty part...

and here it is after an hour in the tank...

and the dirty water after fetching all the rust and rubbish off the link...

What an easy way to prep parts and all it needs is a bit of soapy water and a battery / charger...

Steve-A · March 13, 2011, 10:13:42 PM

Wow, thats awesome Ian. I might have to steal that idea off you! Were you using the metal parts to be cleaned as the anode or cathode? How long did they need in there to clean up?

antnicuk · March 13, 2011, 10:25:27 PM

that is very clever, can you do a bit more of a step by step guide on how to do this,

Ian65 · March 13, 2011, 10:32:20 PM

it depends how rusty and oily they are, this process will lift all old dirt, rust and paint... it\'s great for bits of tinware where you can\'t get a wire brush inside and other delicate stuff.... this link was in for an hour.
In the past I\'ve used an old brake disc as the anode but any old bit of iron will do. I hadn\'t got any to hand today so I just used some large steel brackets I had in the cupboard... not ideal but they did the job.

I bought the washing soda from tesco, about 45p a bag...

just put a cup of soda into about 3 or 4 gallons of tap water, connect the positive battery terminal to the brake disc or whatever you decide to use and then connect the negative to the item to be cleaned. Then connect the battery charger to the battery as normal. The current flows from the item to the anode, taking all the rust etc with it.
I\'ve used this in the past to free off rusted bolts on small items as well
Easy!

Ian65 · March 13, 2011, 10:39:46 PM

here\'s a pic i found on the net...shows the connections... sort of...

There\'s a lot of info on it on the net but some people seem to get a bit carried away and over-complicate it.
If you\'ve got a battery, charger and a bucket, which most of us have, you only need a bit of wire, some crock clips and the washing soda... couple of quid and you\'re up and running.

steve garbutt · March 13, 2011, 10:52:26 PM

Some fantastic work there Ian :Thumbsup!
Think im going to be trying your rust cleaning method on some of the smaller bits on my RX3 :Thumbs-up
Also noticed that you know a bit about the black box on the elford turbo so i may be picking your brains if thats ok.

captainbizzaro · March 13, 2011, 11:38:37 PM

I\'ve gotta try that out!

Ian65 · March 13, 2011, 11:43:46 PM

trouble is, once you do, you\'ll end up plating stuff like I did. It\'s just the same system but reversed. the part to be plated becomes the anode (+) and the zinc plate becomes the cathode (-) and the zinc flows from the zinc plate and sticks to the part.
I started off cleaning old rust and paint away and before I knew it, I was in full production zinc coating.

CHC (RIP) · March 13, 2011, 11:53:00 PM

Hi Ian - good to see you yesterday and your better half but what you doin\' callin\' mine the good lady? You know she prefers The Dragon or The Witch he.he.he:rollin:rollin

No seroiusly though, I too could have talked and looked all day but unfortunately we had other pressing engagements to go to. Listen guys, Ian\'s cars are better than the photos and really should be seen, they are a real credit to him and all the work and love that he gives them.

Yeah collected the Elford rims and tried one on JAZ today - alas couldn\'t bolt it on! My wheel studs are too short!!!! Never thought of that - daft me :Hammer. The PCD is the same @ 110mm so otherwise will fit
Don\'t suppose you have a spare set do you or anybody else out there watching?
They need to be 35 - 40mm length of thread - mine are only 20mm long.
Ta
Cliff

CHC (RIP) · March 13, 2011, 11:55:31 PM

Quote from: Ian65;748781here\'s a pic i found on the net...shows the connections... sort of...

There\'s a lot of info on it on the net but some people seem to get a bit carried away and over-complicate it.
If you\'ve got a battery, charger and a bucket, which most of us have, you only need a bit of wire, some crock clips and the washing soda... couple of quid and you\'re up and running.

Fantastic set up there mate - you\'ll have us all setting up cottage industries as chemical cleaners.

Ian65 · March 14, 2011, 12:15:49 AM

Quote from: CHC;748810Hi Ian - good to see you yesterday and your better half but what you doin\' callin\' mine the good lady? You know she prefers The Dragon or The Witch he.he.he:rollin:rollin

No seroiusly though, I too could have talked and looked all day but unfortunately we had other pressing engagements to go to. Listen guys, Ian\'s cars are better than the photos and really should be seen, they are a real credit to him and all the work and love that he gives them.

Yeah collected the Elford rims and tried one on JAZ today - alas couldn\'t bolt it on! My wheel studs are too short!!!! Never thought of that - daft me :Hammer. The PCD is the same @ 110mm so otherwise will fit
Don\'t suppose you have a spare set do you or anybody else out there watching?
They need to be 35 - 40mm length of thread - mine are only 20mm long.
Ta
Cliff

I\'ve still got the front studs on the front hubs... I\'ll press them out of the hubs and drop them in the post to you.... haven\'t got the rears though as they disappeared with the rest of the shell! At least you\'ll have a pattern to use for reference.

CHC (RIP) · March 14, 2011, 09:43:40 AM

Quote from: Ian65;748814I\'ve still got the front studs on the front hubs... I\'ll press them out of the hubs and drop them in the post to you.... haven\'t got the rears though as they disappeared with the rest of the shell! At least you\'ll have a pattern to use for reference.

Think my terminology was out a bit last night Ian :Hammer, not sure we are talking the same here, my hubs do not have studs in them - they need a bolt to secure the wheel.
Don\'t worry if you have none, I\'m sure I\'ll be able to pick them up from somewhere

Ian65 · March 14, 2011, 05:49:27 PM

Quote from: CHC;748839Think my terminology was out a bit last night Ian :Hammer, not sure we are talking the same here, my hubs do not have studs in them - they need a bolt to secure the wheel.
Don\'t worry if you have none, I\'m sure I\'ll be able to pick them up from somewhere

sorry, my mistake, I still had my S3 head on..... forgot the S3\'s changed to wheel studs and nuts but the S2 had bolts. You\'ll need to bolts and the seats... there are a few places on thre net that do them though... I bought a set for some Alleycat Slots on my Spitfire and they did many different types.