{"id":5885,"date":"2022-06-16T17:19:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-16T17:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=5885"},"modified":"2024-02-08T09:47:50","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T09:47:50","slug":"mx5-cam-belt-gasket-cont-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=5885","title":{"rendered":"CARS: MX5 Cam-belt & Gasket, cont."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Getting the engine under-tray back in situ.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The large and rather unwieldy plastic under-tray ought to be fixed at about nine points. One old and two new bolts secured the flat frontal portion nicely enough. But at the rear, one old bolt had to suffice. The other (passenger side) bolt had broken off, and remained in her hole. So I had to zip-tie that off!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Three bolts hold the front (at left).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Both sides of yon under-tray go up into the wheel arches. But the two holes on either side don\u2019t seem to correspond with any locating holes in the body. So they\u2019ve been left – see picture directly below – as is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Under-tray wheel arches not secured.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So now all that really remains is the major coolant leak, which urgently needs addressing. I\u2019d bought a few bits at BOFIracing, inc a new thermostat gasket, and rubber doodads for the soft-top latches. I installed the latter there and then, before a surprise visit to mum and Malcolm, who live nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it happened they\u2019d already passed me, earlier in the day. So my surprise wasn\u2019t quite as complete as planned. But still, it was nice to visit them with the ol\u2019 jalopy back on the road! Albeit still suffering from the coolant leak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thermostat housing, front, before cleaning.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As can be seen, from the above photo, the old (new!) gasket needed removing. And the two faces of the thermostat housing needed to be thoroughly cleaned and flattened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gasket originally in the car seemed to be made of something metal like, and brittle. And was in pieces. Whereas both of the new gaskets appeared to be made of card, or some similar compacted fibrous material. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thermostat rear, all cleaned up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I got conflicting advice about adding RTV, belt and braces style, to this gasket. I\u2019d done so on the previous newly installed one, and that failed. So this time I just left it at the gasket, and torqued up my nuts – ouch! – to the appropriate degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New gasket on, and back together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And so far so good! She\u2019s holding. No major coolant issues since I did this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst at BOFI, I enquired re a complete engine bay hose set. And they have them in, at roughly \u00a3100. That\u2019s something I\u2019ll do as soon as funds allow. There is another lesser coolant leak, coming from the very old and worn out main radiator hose (the radiator end clip of which is busted!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve taken her out for several runs since things have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion. Having my wheels back is sheer bliss!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The large and rather unwieldy plastic under-tray ought to be fixed at about nine points. One old and two new bolts secured the flat frontal portion nicely enough. But at the rear, one old bolt had to suffice. The other (passenger side) bolt had broken off, and remained in her hole. So I had to … <\/p>\n

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