Finally Started My Uk TME Underbody Restoration.

113227 Views 353 Replies 92 Participants Last post by adwo, 6 mo ago

Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · Mar 7, 2015

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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Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #141 · Oct 24, 2016

It's been a while but things have started moving slowly in the right direction. Got a few hours in today to refit the rear subframe and diff . All stripped down and freshly painted, hangers and subframe blasted and powder coated. All new oem bushes and nuts / bolts as necessary.

Looking a bit shabby prior to starting ;

Work in progress , fitting the hangers ;

Good tools for the job ;

Job done ;

Looking forward to the next step - fuel lines and fuel tank . Really pleased with how it's looking now !!

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4G63EvO

· #142 · Oct 24, 2016

Stunning work, well done.

Jon.

J90ELB

· #143 · Oct 25, 2016

cracking job

Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #144 · Oct 28, 2016

Started to put the the freshly powder coated fuel tank together today , with all new oem bits and bobs !

We decided the original tank wouldn't stand up to media blasting very well . Several areas of heavy corrosion.

Managed to source a very decent secondhand tank from the guys at Evo GB , which I had blasted and then powder coated satin black . Started to fit all new components, Still waiting on a few new nuts/clips though .

New fuel tank protector powder coated silver and fitted . Looking good I think !

Hopefully get it fitted to the car soon , just waiting on bits I thought I'd already got !!

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Mr Ralliart

· #145 · Oct 28, 2016

I think that was a good call on the fuel tank :lol: :smthumbup

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M3 ROB

· #146 · Oct 28, 2016

Fantastic attention to detail, can't wait to see this finished :smthumbup

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smithyl23

· #147 · Oct 28, 2016

Enjoyed reading through this - fantastic work:smthumbup

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Kevin Troy

· #148 · Oct 29, 2016

Work to me admired!!
Fantastic!

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squeakyclean32

· #149 · Oct 29, 2016

Wow.... Such great attention to detail :smthumbup:smthumbup..... As said above this car is going to be mint when finished :smthumbup

You've really got to be dedicated to the restoration to put this much time & effort in. The finished results speak for themselves .... this will be absolutely stunning when it's all back together :smthumbup

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Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #150 · Dec 31, 2016

Didn't plan on ending the year with the mak still in a 1000 pieces but I guess most projects take longer and probably cost considerably more than first thought

but it it's worth doing it's worth doing properly and all that !!

So the plan is to get the project finished before the summer ,it's basically just bolting it all back together. A few small components to treat to freshen up but nothing major really .

Bit depressing opening the garage door to be greeted to this lot .

But roll on 2017 , and I wish everybody a happy and healthy new year !!

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M3 ROB

· #151 · Dec 31, 2016

Keep at it, will be worth it in the end, Happy New Year :smthumbup

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DanHawkes

· #152 · Jan 8, 2017

Red Rooster said:
Didn't plan on ending the year with the mak still in a 1000 pieces but I guess most projects take longer and probably cost considerably more than first thought but it it's worth doing it's worth doing properly and all that !!

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Never a truer word spoken. Good luck with the completion of your resto.

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Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #153 · Jan 13, 2017

Started the year as I mean to carry on .. full on Mak Attack !!

Built a new shed to be used as preparation and spraying facility with power and decent lighting!

Rounded up all the tools that were last seen under the car , and a quick trip to Halfords.

First victim the rather sorry looking steering Rack ..

Stripped and rubbed down to bare metal and primed ..

Spraying in progress..

New bits n bobs ..

Job done , original sticker cleaned and reapplied , steering rack mounted back onto the powder coated subframe ready for fitting back on the car .

Hopefully updates will be coming a bit quicker now !!

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M3 ROB

· #154 · Jan 13, 2017 (Edited)

Great job, shed looks fantastic :smthumbup

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gordonm

· #155 · Jan 13, 2017

Amazing!

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swapmeet

· #156 · Jan 14, 2017

Excellent work Chris :smthumbup

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146732

· #157 · Jan 14, 2017

Yep nice work! I'm on driveshafts at the moment

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Mita

· #158 · Jan 14, 2017

How do you find the MBX?

Ralliart Rous

Discussion Starter · #159 · Jan 14, 2017

Mita said:
How do you find the MBX?

It's a fantastic bit of kit , expensive but makes light work of paint , underseal and rust removal :smthumbup

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Mita

· #160 · Jan 14, 2017

Brilliant, glad you said that as I've ordered one! My concern was they didn't get in everywhere. And yes not cheap!

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