Will the Car still Roll?

[BlackLeaf]

Hi There

You may recall from my previous posts that:
1> I had written-off my Mariner Blue NA in May 2015 (retained salvage and presently sitting in my garage)
2> I took ownership from MattR of a well sorted red NA in December 2014, and
3> I am pretty much a gumby when it comes to the mechanical side of cars (this provides context for the questions which follow)

While the last few months have been about transplanting the interior from the blue to the red, a bit of painting (very happy with how the car is looking!), and just enjoying driving an MX5 again after using a Mitsubishi Grandis as my daily drive for eight-months. I am now at the next phase which involves trying to recover my FM 2.5 Suspension Kit which was installed in late-July 2015 and only has 8k on it. Given I've got the next few days off work I thought I'd have a go at it.

Having done a bit of research I am feeling only moderately panicky about killing myself as I undertake the next steps, but there is one thing that is bugging me and for which I haven't found an answer. After removing the shock assembly will the car still roll okay on to the back of a truck when it is time for it to be taken away? It looks like it should but I just want to make sure before I proceed.

Right now it is a Mexican stand-off... I have the front of the car currently on stands waiting to start but my old blue girl... well, it feels like she is staring at me balefully just waiting for me to exceed my mechanical capacity.

While I am at it, are there other parts I should look to recover (perhaps for spares) but still leave the car able to roll?

Cheers

[hks_kansei]

it wont roll as is, without the shocks the tyre will simply sit on the wheel arch, and of course, wont roll.

HOWEVER.

if you want to keep it able to roll you can simply wedge some wood blocks in the suspension arms to hold it up enough to not drag the tyres.
Not perfect, but fine for just rolling it around the garage and onto a trailer/truck. (wrap some tape or whatever around the wood and arms before loading, that way they wont fall out with the jiggling on the truck and cause annoyance at the unloading end.


Alternatively, if you want to retain all the subframe/arms etc you can simply purchase 4 caster wheels from masters/bunnings and bolt them to the floorpan and scoot the body around like a really big shopping trolley.

[rascal]

After removing the shock assembly will the car still roll okay on to the back of a truck when it is time for it to be taken away? It looks like it should but I just want to make sure before I proceed.

Short answer is no. You will need something to keep the wishbones from moving upwards and jamming the tyre up into the guard.
However, since its only to allow it to be rolled onto a truck to be taken away, then just put a block of wood in there to keep the wishbones apart enough to keep the wheels rolling.

[BlackLeaf]

Righto... wood! I can do wood. Thanks.

[Steampunk]

... on to the back of a truck when it is time for it to be taken away?

Hang on.... where will it be going? You can salvage and sell virtually everything that's not broken, and give-away parts to earn karma points

I can't remember if I mentioned this to you when I came around, but if you feel like you've salvaged all that's worthwhile and can't be bothered taking stuff off, get into contact with racers as I'm sure they'll give you more $$ than junkyards.

Hit me up if you would like a hand, as I'm "between contracts" at the moment, and could do with some karma points myself

[Magpie]

Steampunk has a point. I have started to strip the shell I have at home and collecting the nut, bolts, fuses, etc to put into a small toolbox for taking to the track. You never know when it will come in handy.

[BlackLeaf]

Hang on.... where will it be going?

It's not going anywhere yet. Was just checking to see what I needed to do to make sure the car could still roll (sans suspension) when it is eventually ready to be taken away.

You can salvage and sell virtually everything that's not broken, and give-away parts to earn karma points

I agree with you . The car is sitting there ready and I am happy to sell parts at better-than-fair-prices, or donate parts where it makes sense to do so (I like karma as much as the next person).

Hit me up if you would like a hand, as I'm "between contracts" at the moment, and could do with some karma points myself

That's a very neighbourly and karmaly offer, Steampunk, and one I will gratefully accept. I thought I had the rest of the week available but I have had to delay removing the suspension because it turns out I am going camping from tomorrow through to Sunday. At another time in the near future maybe we can tee something up.

[madjak]

An old skateboard works pretty good. Sit the chassis on in and you can steer it a little by leaning it or dragging the back around. I can't count the number of motors, cars I've moved around on my old skateboard!