Still Reconditioning Parts

Had a round trip to Wales to have a look at a diff and a steering rack. It seemed like a good idea to "downgrade" the power-assisted-steering rack to a manual. Partly coz the PAS one off the donor didn't work (most likely due to a knackered pump than the rack itself), and partly coz even if I spent time getting it working there would be more to go wrong. A circa-500kg car doesn't need PAS in any case.

The parts came from a Mk II Mx5, one that had been in quite a collision judging from the bent tracking rods on the steering rack, and unfortunately the diff wasn't a lot of use being from a later model. Interestingly I was assured that after the accident and until it had been dismantled the car had driven OK (I would guess only in circles due to the banana shaped rods).

Was a shame about the diff, but the rack was easily reconditioned with a couple of new rods and a bit of elbow grease. I've now got one duff diff and a different diff, ho hum.

The lower steering column came back from Westfield following their modification of it, which curiously turned the male end into a female - so how that will fit onto the female connection on the rack remains very much to be seen.

Besides the outstanding diff there is now one upright, the engine, the alloys, and the wiring loom to be sorted before I can start wrecking the nice shiney new bits.