Finally Started My Uk TME Underbody Restoration.

112964 Views 353 Replies 92 Participants Last post by adwo, 5 mo ago

Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · Mar 7, 2015

6

After viewing several impressive restoration projects on the MLR recently Ive finally plucked up the courage to start mine !

The plan being a complete underbody restoration, down to bare metal, rustbullet, paint (red, black and white) various parts to be blasted and powder coated, new bolts, bushes and other new bits as needed !!

Managed to bag myself a Bradbury 4 post lift from my mechanic friend who was upgrading to scissor lifts. Should make the whole job easier ! Had to buy and fit an inverter to convert to 3phase but with a lot of help from Sean a fellow Red Mak owner this was soon sorted !

Progress is going to be steady due to work and family commitments , and the fact I want it damn near perfect !

I will post the updates as and when they happen , a few photos below show this afternoons progress. A few parts removed and half a tank of super unleaded drained !

To be honest I was really worried about what may lay beneath - considering its a uk car ! Yes there are areas of surface rust underneath the underseal but the floor pan and sills look pretty decent considering . Hopefully will be getting down to some serious underseal and rust removal soon :smthumbup

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staffi

· #201 · May 17, 2017

Yes all good here thanks Chris, I've been car less since selling the Mak

a year soon, tbh I've not missed one AND I've got a lot more money :lol:

I just love the detail you're putting into this though, that slam panel just looks like you're viewing one with delivery miles on it

:thumbup:

Kieron Watson

· #202 · May 18, 2017

Great work, lots of profit yes but I can imagine the hours alone put into this will be break even

I suppose it depends how much you make at work if your self employed

.... People like me on full time it doesn't really matter how many hours I spend pulling it apart and putting it back together.

Keep up the good work, are you expecting to get it over to Cadwell Park?

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Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #203 · May 18, 2017

Kieron Watson said:
Great work, lots of profit yes but I can imagine the hours alone put into this will be break even I suppose it depends how much you make at work if your self employed .... People like me on full time it doesn't really matter how many hours I spend pulling it apart and putting it back together.

Keep up the good work, are you expecting to get it over to Cadwell Park?

Hi Kieron , yes the hours put into the project do add up :handsup: but I look at it this way . I am self employed and work and family always come first :smthumbup
But 99% of the hours I spend on the car are evenings and weekends when the only other option is to sit on the sofa watching crap on the telly. I don't put a value on the hours i spend on it as its not interfering with the day job and I really enjoy it . It's like a pleasurable hobby :smthumbup

I've no idea when it will be finished and ready to roll , if I put a deadline on it then I'd be fearful that the standards would slip . Id love to see it finished this year , but it takes as long as it takes . Hope all is good with yours ?

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H18BY0

· #204 · May 18, 2017

Looks like a brand new car at the front

Raf

· #205 · May 18, 2017

H18BY0 said:
Looks like a brand new car at the front

It is - isnt it ? :smthumbup

infamous pa

· #206 · May 19, 2017

Red Rooster said:
Had a few hours today due to the wet weather to spend on the project .

Fitted the new air conditioning condenser , new radiator and the refurbished fan .. this came out really well. I'd previously stripped it down , took the motor back to bare metal , primed and sprayed gloss black. The plastic casing accidentally found its way into the dish washer whilst the wife was at work . Vast improvement I think !!

How it was .. 2 years ago !

After today !

Shall now be trying to make the time to fit the intercooler and pipework in the near future

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WOW it really is starting to take shape now and you must be getting anxious now as to it's completion I know I would be.

Have you replaced every single bolt or have some of them been touched up with a spray can or sent for dipping ?

Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #207 · May 19, 2017

I've replaced all the nuts and bolts with new Mitsubishi ones

Most of the engine bay bolts range from £1.50 - £3.00 so in the grand scheme of things it's not to terrible . If I'd have been a bit more organised at the start of the project I'd have sent them all away for cleaning and dipping.

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Mita

· #208 · May 19, 2017

There's some very good home kits available. I have one, it's great as you can do them bit by bit and not end up with a bucket of bolts!

Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #209 · May 28, 2017

2

Only a small update but quite a bit of work involved . Stripped down and refurbished the bulk head electrics bracket and resistors , gave the loom a good cleaning and refitted . New wiper motor fitted as well.

Found the time to bring the engine and gear box back home , this will be stripped of all the auxiliaries and treated to a major tidy up . Its the first time the patient has seen its non beating heart for a while !! Nice to have everything in one place at last !!

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Mr Ralliart

· #210 · May 29, 2017

Good stuff! Those little jobs are the ones that make the difference

Mita

· #211 · May 29, 2017

What's the mileage on the engine? Will you be leaving it alone internally? And do you have any mapping plans?

Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #212 · May 29, 2017

Mita said:
What's the mileage on the engine? Will you be leaving it alone internally? And do you have any mapping plans?

It's done 48k miles , I will leave it completely standard and won't change anything :smthumbup

To be honest I like the way it drives in standard trim . Plenty fast enough for a old man like me :lol:

Reactions: 3

Gg3001

· #213 · May 29, 2017

Lovely to see this taking shape now, very similar car to mine, UK car pre resto condition etc.. Looks like you will finish before me!

What number is this btw? Mine is Number 36.

Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #214 · May 29, 2017

Gg3001 said:
Lovely to see this taking shape now, very similar car to mine, UK car pre resto condition etc.. Looks like you will finish before me!

What number is this btw? Mine is Number 36.

Yeah it's a good place to be with the project , putting it back together is pretty enjoyable :smthumbup

It's number 053 :smthumbup

Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #215 · Jun 12, 2017

2

With the underside and engine bay looking pretty good the rest of the body work has been playing on my mind , it's not bad at all but with the odd blemish and chips that I know exist has really sent my OCD into overdrive !!

Going for a little ride out tomorrow to a highly recommended paint shop for a inspection and to see what can be done . We also have a slot provisionally booked at the end of the month . Seems to make sense to bite the bullet now before I put anymore parts back on . Might seem a bit drastic but I'm not 100% happy with certain bits .

Loaded up ready for a early start !!

Bit of protection to save the cats life ... because it would be dead if I see footprints on the roof

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Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #216 · Jun 21, 2017

Project on hold for a few months now guys

Just got too many other things going on with work and family commitments . It's safely tucked away in the clean garage all covered over. I'll be updating the thread when we eventually get moving forward again :smthumbup

Reactions: 3

infamous pa

· #217 · Jul 4, 2017

Red Rooster said:
Well after just over 2 years the Mak has left its temporary accommodation and made the short journey home !!

With no diff oil in the rear diff we decided against pushing it 300 meters !

Looking rather dusty ...

Gave the engine bay a polish up then started to fit either cleaned , refurbished or new parts ....

Really enjoying this part of the restoration now , it's had its ups and downs along the way but this is the most rewarding part

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I don't suppose you know the part no for the bulk head insulator do you as I'm after one and would like to know the part no before I order it as it's dam exspencive

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Mita

· #218 · Jul 4, 2017

Pretty sure the bulkhead insulator is discontinued now

infamous pa

· #219 · Jul 4, 2017

Mita said:
Pretty sure the bulkhead insulator is discontinued now

Yeah they are but I've found a brand new one somewhere, trouble is they don't give a very good description and don't speak much English but it does have the :mitsi

art no on the bag.
I've punched that no into the internet etc but my god that don't put my mind at rest and when it's going to be over £110 I would like to have some assurance.

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Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #220 · Jul 4, 2017

I couldn't find one anywhere in the UK when I was looking . Mr Ralliart found me a brand new one in Japan and sent it over for me . He's been a very helpful decent chap . I think I've binned the wrapping it came in with the part number label . Sorry .

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