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1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap

v8jim Posted a lot Posts: 1,304	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap v8jim @v8jim
	Sept 12, 2021 19:34:31 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I thought I’d do some investigation today so I removed the original rubber front floor mat to find manky soggy sound deadening which is never a good sign but I know this has been indoors since 1979 so was hopeful most of the floor would still be there After a quick scrape and a hoover I was pleasantly surprised to find solid floors with just surface rust and actually some original paint but the rear was even more shocking It’s almost like new I really cannot believe how solid this old thing is
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westbay Posted a lot Posts: 1,886	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap westbay @westbay
	Sept 13, 2021 11:10:43 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	They don't make 'em like they used too ...


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horrido Posted a lot Posts: 1,065	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap horrido @horrido
	Sept 13, 2021 11:17:19 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Damn! That's going to save so much aggravation.


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vulgalour Club Retro Rides Member Posts: 7,284 Club RR Member Number: 146	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap vulgalour @vulgalour Club Retro Rides Member 146
	Sept 13, 2021 11:33:22 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Well that's just saved you a whole world of time and grief. The interior looks very salvagable and some leather conditioner on everything leather and leather looking, applied copiously and regularly, should bring back the spring and prevent them from degrading. You'll be able to use the leather conditioner on the vinyl looking bits since it'll be leathercloth. I'm not sure if the seat facings will be leather or leathercloth on these, it's probably leathercloth on the back and sides of the seats. Water getting in is probably the windscreen seal, that's one of the things I was warned about when looking for one. A cover will keep the weather out well enough until you can get a new seal. Poofing a bit of talcum powder around the interior will show up water ingress paths pretty quickly and help you trace it. Looking forward to your adventures with this one and seeing what Lady V8Jim does to put her mark on it.
	> Prints on RedBubble > See My Cars

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v8jim Posted a lot Posts: 1,304	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap v8jim @v8jim
	Sept 13, 2021 12:34:44 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Vulgalour - yes the seats are saveable, the leather is mostly intact but sadly there are a few holes. We’ve been doing some research into proper leather restoration techniques and that’s going to be a winter project we can do in the house. The sides and bases are leather cloth but I didn’t realise you can use conditioner on them, I will definitely be giving that a try.
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vulgalour Club Retro Rides Member Posts: 7,284 Club RR Member Number: 146	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap vulgalour @vulgalour Club Retro Rides Member 146
	Sept 13, 2021 17:46:02 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I only know because we gave it a go on the Lanchester. You don't get the same dramatic result as on leather but it certainly makes them a lot less brittle and crackly. It was the only way we could have got the old fabric to fit the new door cards without it all breaking up. Also, if you're dismantling the door cards to redo them, you can iron the leathercloth once moisturised to take some of the creases out, just make sure you use a teatowel between the cloth and the iron and set the iron low so you don't risk burning the surface. Take it slow too, and it's surprisingly compliant.
	> Prints on RedBubble > See My Cars

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v8jim Posted a lot Posts: 1,304	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap v8jim @v8jim
	Sept 13, 2021 19:20:03 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Sept 13, 2021 17:46:02 GMT vulgalour said: I only know because we gave it a go on the Lanchester. You don't get the same dramatic result as on leather but it certainly makes them a lot less brittle and crackly. It was the only way we could have got the old fabric to fit the new door cards without it all breaking up. Also, if you're dismantling the door cards to redo them, you can iron the leathercloth once moisturised to take some of the creases out, just make sure you use a teatowel between the cloth and the iron and set the iron low so you don't risk burning the surface. Take it slow too, and it's surprisingly compliant. Top tips 👍🏻
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v8jim Posted a lot Posts: 1,304	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap v8jim @v8jim
	Oct 25, 2022 20:43:06 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Well a whole year went past with no progress at all because of diy and building projects one of which was a workshop to put the car in Oh and I bought a donor car And got my engine crane out of dad’s garage ready to crack on and start pulling both cars apart
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horrido Posted a lot Posts: 1,065	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap horrido @horrido
	Oct 26, 2022 8:32:33 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	This ought to be good.


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brc76 RR Helper Posts: 1,108	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap brc76 @brc76
	Oct 26, 2022 12:37:40 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I don't know how I missed this earlier, but I'm following


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v8jim Posted a lot Posts: 1,304	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap v8jim @v8jim
	Oct 26, 2022 19:26:02 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	The front end all came apart without much drama, no real rust hiding anywhere just lots of rusty bolts that snapped off while taking the wings off but that was to be expected. Working by torchlight as I hadn’t fitted any lights yet was a bit of a pain
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qwerty Club Retro Rides Member Posts: 2,419 Club RR Member Number: 52	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap qwerty @qwerty Club Retro Rides Member 52
	Oct 26, 2022 20:17:22 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	What a fantastic project. With the MX5 running gear it'll be much nicer to drive long distance! Tom
	Beetle Progress Thread

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oskar22211 Part of things Posts: 159	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap oskar22211 @oskar22211
	Oct 26, 2022 21:07:52 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Wants a nice mgb engine box and axle


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CaptainSlog Part of things Posts: 510 Club RR Member Number: 180	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap CaptainSlog @captainslog Club Retro Rides Member 180
	Oct 27, 2022 7:28:47 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I was going to suggest something with a transaxle to solve the gearbox issues but I see you are going the MX5 route - good luck with it, I look forward to following the build.


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dazee Part of things Posts: 96	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap dazee @dazee
	Oct 27, 2022 11:06:34 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Good to see yet another oldie being rescued and updated. Will be following with interest.


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daddyshortlegs Part of things Posts: 526	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap daddyshortlegs @daddyshortlegs
	Oct 27, 2022 20:14:41 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I'm watching.
	1954 Austin A40 Somerset - scruffy runner 1959 Standard 10 Companion - project 1995 Rover 216 Coupe - impulse buy

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v8jim Posted a lot Posts: 1,304	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap v8jim @v8jim
	Oct 27, 2022 20:20:18 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	This was a bit of a mission because I was supposed to start first thing in the morning but actually didn’t start till mid afternoon and had to get the engine out and the car moved so I could shut the garage. The MX5 engine and box are quite a bit bigger but that is no surprise at all really
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v8jim Posted a lot Posts: 1,304	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap v8jim @v8jim
	Oct 29, 2022 21:33:47 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Engine trial fit N0°1 It doesn’t fit but guess what….that’s absolutely no surprise at all 😂 Main issues are the exhaust so I’ll whip that off and the tunnel but I always knew that was going to be too small because the MX5 box is so much longer. I shall address both of these and give it another try.
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CaptainSlog Part of things Posts: 510 Club RR Member Number: 180	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap CaptainSlog @captainslog Club Retro Rides Member 180
	Oct 30, 2022 5:00:32 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Put the Austin engine in the MX5 and sell it on.


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horrido Posted a lot Posts: 1,065	1954 Austin Somerset MX5 swap horrido @horrido
	Oct 30, 2022 8:07:29 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Oct 30, 2022 5:00:32 GMT CaptainSlog said: Put the Austin engine in the MX5 and sell it on. You've just invented the MGB. :-)


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