Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

[Rob S]

That interior is mental!
Love the transformation, how it's gone from something quite humble to a little street fighter spec nutter!

[hoodedreeper]

So its been awhile since my last update,i'm used to updating this pretty much every couple of days.

First up,casting back to the end of July i caught a question on Facebook with regards to aftermarket bumpers,and a fella on there said he had one. So i sent him a cheeky message asking for photos. Payment was taken and me and the girlfriend embarked on a 400 mile round trip. Google Maps said it would take 3 1/2 hrs each way. But with how the London M25 is and local road works,it ended up being a nice 10hr round trip (and her BMW E36 323i only used 1/2 tank in total!)





As you can see its been repaired and just needs finishing. This will be booked into the Body Shop for winter time along with some other bits and pieces being painted.

After speaking to the original owner (Richard) of the Purple Monster and looking back on some old photos,coupled with watching some Initial D,i wanted to 'try' and go down a slightly different route. The car has a (what i think) a USDM look,but i wanted to go down the Import look. Now after doing some searching it seems the MX5s in Japan are either near stock looking,or they're all out with big body kits,spoilers etc etc

Now this is gonna be difficult as i've already got the body work how i wanted it. So i set to start making some small changes. The first one being some new Show Plates. The current show plates are some California plates with REAPER embossed. I thought it would be awesome to replicate the licence plate the Monster had while it was in Japan. So i came up with this:



I know its not exactly the same,but for a DIY job it didnt come out too bad (considering a pressed Import Plate to me made is £28.00! (nearly $47 each for those in the US))

Next up was Japfest 2 at Donington Park. MX5Nutz had an incredible club stand of 120+ MX5s on display ranging from stock,to modified,to drift,to race. There was certainly something for everyone. Sketchy (who did an amazing job organising the show and day) had kindly asked me to join the display cars at the front,which circled Ron's Damm'd MX5. It was an emotional day for most and i know Ron was looking down smiling and laughing. I really hope we done him proud





The following Weekend was the RPM Live Show at North Weald Airfield in Essex. This is a new Show for the calender and it a very good day out. A big selection and variation of cars on display,and it was good to see the local drifters putting on a display too.





On the way home from the show i stopped off at the Essex Fives' first Monthly meet,would have been rude not to say hi



This brings me to Yesterday (Wednesday 27th August). The car was in for it's MOT first thing in the morning,and she passed with flying colours! Thats a relief off my shoulders for another 12 months! Also that day i taxed her,it was quite an expensive day!

Just before the MOT the Monster hit a pretty funny Mileage count



During the Bank Holiday Weekend MX5Parts had 10% off everything,so it would have been rude not to place an order :P In amongst the goodies was a set of I.L Motorsport Pedal Covers. I luckily found a how-to guide on MX5Nutz written by 2bfrank,it can be found here: http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php? ... 8&hl=pedal



Awhile ago i was browing Club Roadster and came across a photo of a Mk2/NB dashboard with this strange looking air vents. So i did some reading into it and the vents were from a Mitsubishi Eclipse 00-05 (from memory). So i trawled through Ebay.com and managed to find a seller with them for a reasonable price. A 2 week wait later and they arrived on my door step. Fitting was straight forward and incredibly easy,and they finish the dash off nicely





Along with these i fitted a Mk2.5 centre arm rest as i prefered the cup holders on this one (small creature comforts like this makes things so much easier)



So it seems alot has happened in the past month,and i apologize for the lengthy read. Lets see what the next installment brings

[Rob S]

They could have done a lot more to advertise that RPM show you know.
I live on the new estate next to the airfield and only saw signs for it by luck the day before. Looked like a good mix of cars assembling in the morning as I trundled home after my night shift.
Cars looking great.
I thought I saw it at a car park near a roundabout last week whilst near Norwich, it certainly looked like yours.

[hoodedreeper]

That'll be my Work

[Rob S]

In that case, your car looks the absolute tits in the flesh

[hoodedreeper]

Small update

So it was that time of year again where the UK's finest Japanese vehicles would come together for one show,and that is JAE (Japanese Auto Extravaganza). Situated in the heart of Kettering at Wicksteed Park,the 4 day event is certainly one not to be missed!

It was great being back after the unfortunate loss of my previous MX5,i enjoyed the show a lot more having missed out. The event seemed quieter from my previous visit,but that didn't put a downer on the weekend. Plenty of cars to look at and drool over,and was great seeing so many familiar faces and having a well deserved catch up.

On the Saturday evening,MX5Nutz had special agreements with the Pyrotechnics of the show and they set off a 60 shot firework with some of the ashes of the legend Ron 'Tattoo Ron' Morgan,who sadly lost the fight to cancer a couple of months ago. The entire park shared a minutes silence,until the remainder of the fireworks display had continued.

It was a very emotional weekend for most,but we're all glad that Ron had the greatest send off,and it was what he wanted



Photo Courtesy of Style Case



Here is a video taken by a GTOUK member who was next to the Nutz Stand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV87Kex ... e=youtu.be





My photos from JAE can be seen here >> CLICK HERE <<

I recently won a Nardi Deep Corn steering wheel and boss on eBay,which was promptly fitted once I got home. I also received my Jass Performance Sport Gear Knob and Handbrake Lever too





It was exactly one year today that I took delivery of the Purple Monster,oh how this year has flown by!

[RX7]

Blimey all those mods in a year !! You have been busy.

Love the interior now, looks superb.

[hoodedreeper]

[maff]

You big tease.

[hoodedreeper]

I recently sold the Carbon Headlight Covers and fitted a stock and vented cover which have been colour coded.



I also sold the Carbon bootlid and got my old Bootlid with KG Works Spoiler painted and fitted (the car is still covered in Dust from the bodyshop)





Now for the part you've been waiting for...

The car got dropped off at H&S Performance and the engine was pulled out. The car was then dropped off at AutoDoc Bodyshop for the main work to begin. While the car was in the bodyshop,the guys at H&S Performance did a full service of the engine while it was out.

Spark Plugs
Oil/Oil Filter/Sump Plug
Cambelt & tensioners
Waterpump
Clutch
Thermostat & Coolant Sensor
Painted Upper and Lower Thermostat Housings
Painted Inlet Manifold with Throttle Body
Painted Rocker Cover
Painted Cambelt Cover
Engine Block Painted

The car was finished and dropped back off at H&S where more parts were fitted along side the re-fitting of the engine.

Clutch Slave Cylinder
Alloy Radiator
Eunos Racing Development Silicone Radiator Hoses
New Expansion Bottle
New Washer Bottle
Polished Oil Cap
Polished Plug Cover
Stainless Fusebox Cover
Painted Radiator Panel cover
Painted Scuttle Panel Cover
Countersunk Purple Washers and Bolts

Its far from finished,there's still alot to fit/change but the main bulk of changes have been made

I was torn between painting the bay Purple or White. White was a big gamble but I think I've pulled it off well