After getting on so well with the Mazda last month, I decided to delve deep into the engine bay and sort out the slightly wobbly engine. Worn engine mounts tend to only show themselves when the car is being driven. Trying to rock the engine by hand to identify the problem rarely works – after all, they have the weight of the engine on them and gravity is going to mask the problem even if the mounts themselves are worn to bits.
I suspect I’m like a lot of people these days in that before I attempt any job, I have a quick search on the internet and see who’s tackled it before and if there are any common issues. On the subject of MX-5 engine mounts, comments fell into two distinct camps. The first saying they never fail, the second saying they’re terrible and quite literally fall into pieces. Good to see a consensus on the subject.
To see if I could identify which of the engine mounts were worn, I placed a jack under the sump. Using a piece of wood to spread the load, I carefully lifted the engine a little, while shining a torch into the engine bay and seeing what moved.
This story is from the Issue 254 edition of Classics Monthly.
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This story is from the Issue 254 edition of Classics Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
REINVENTING THE PAST
This may well be the newest car you ever see featured in Classics magazine, but we hope you'll agree that Morgan's 21st Century return to three-wheeled motoring is pretty close to being an instant classic.
AN MG RARITY
The MkIII and MkIV Magnettes have forever lived in the shadow of their illustrious forebear, the Z-Type Magnette. Sales were never strong and scrappage rates were high, but fans are now seeking out and cherishing the few that remain.
Out on the road again
I was in a great rush as usual when I checked out the Allard P1 late one evening, only to find that the lights wouldn’t come on main beam.
A CHEEKY CHAPPY
The Austin A30 and later A35 are tiny by today's standards, but back in the 1950s they were everyday transport for many a family. With all the charm of a puppy they had a tendency to worm their way into owners' affections, and Ray Lewis' lovely 1957 example is no exception to this rule.
Light Fantastic
We revisit Audi’s cleverly engineered lightweight loss-leader. Just don’t mention the A-Class.
Prized Companion
Originally the second prize in a national driving competition for lady drivers, this Escort XL is now a cherished family heirloom.
Exhausting Gentry
At the beginning of August I was in Denmark attending the 2017 Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix and as usual this was a brilliant event.
Major Minor Screen Problems
The last few weeks have been taken up with fettling the Minor’s wipers, as the motor was running too hot, despite smoothing the bends in the outer and replacing the grease with EP90 oil.
10 Things You Need To Know About... Bmc 1100/1300 (1972-1974)
For a car that was Britain’s best seller for most of its 12-year production run, the BMC 1100 and 1300 are remarkably scarce with survivors being just a tiny fraction of the two million plus cars that were produced between 1962 and 1974. Built in both Cowley and Longbridge, demand for the 1100 was so great that even after Longbridge started building the Austin version in late 1963, the Cowley plant had double shifts working to build enough cars.
Project MGF
Last month saw us going right through the MGF’s cooling system and since then I’m happy to report that the garage floor seems to have remained bone dry.
