Dave

Regarding lowering, from cars I've been in that are using just lowering springs, the ride is really harsh due to the springs needing to be a lot stiffer as the car has less damping room available. Decent coilovers will give you the drop in height, and can be set up to your taste. Don't be fooled though, even these will still be stuffed than normal, but a lot more compliant. Stay well away from cheaper eBay specials, they won't last long and give an unbearable ride, very crashy and way to stiff. For a decent set, look to spend around £600-£700

Soooooo looking forward to it mate!

Yeah, remember the Imps well, another uncle of mine had one. Remember when I was about 7yrs old, he was visiting and had the rear tailgate open. Asked me to close it as he carried something into the house and I pulled down on the tailgate and something went bang! Bloody pooped myself! Turns out you are supposed to lift it first which disengages it and then close it (much the same as the old 3 piece wardrobes we used to get in the 70's. The top cupboard doors on them worked the same way). He was ok about it and laughed it off. I was devastated I'd broke a car!! lol The wee Mini is a cracker Gerry. I've always loved the original Mini, had one years ago which I got for the grand price of £50 + a Ghetto blaster! It had 7 months MOT (which turned out to be a very, very dodgy MOT!) but had an engine fault so didn't run. Got it running though, and it had had a replacement engine, so no longer a 950 but a 1275GT engine fitted. It was all done up to the nines.......British racing green with the white roof and white bonnet stripes, big spot lights, red Cobra bucket seats, twin centre exit Peco exhaust, Mamba alloys (which I found out later were bloody rare at the time!). Looked really cool, but I soon found out it was rotten beyond repair with rust. There is a long long story involved with that car and it's MOT which I'll post up some time! Ended up scrapping it

Garage asked me to bring the car down first so they can check her over to see if new bolts etc are going to be needed, and to see how much rust on the old kit they would be facing. This would also give me the chance to have a look while she's up on the ramp. Looks like the shocks,/bolts will come off ok after some heat. On inspection, osr shock is completely gone, no damping at all. OSF shock is leaking like crazy, and not much damping going on. They also suspect that's where the knocking noise is coming from, although will know for sure once they get stuck in. NSF shock is a bit weak, NSR shock and spring have both been replaced. No wonder her handling is all over the place! They had me in the garage to have a good nosey underneath as you can't really tell much when viewing the car in the streets when buying it. Guys at garage even agree she is surprisingly very solid underneath. The wishbones look crap with all the underseal that's been slapped on them flaking off, but these will also be getting replaced as we go along. Underseal on floor etc looks untidy/old and needs wire brushed off and redone, but she looks really solid! Very happy and very relieved, as checking the underneath on any car is tricky, but on these it's even harder and also more crucial as they do rot like hell. Glad to see wee do appear to have bought a really good one on that front! So, she's booked in for Monday to get all her new suspension fitted! So looking forward to it! Martyn my friend at the garage also recommended a place not too far away from here to get the geometry set up done so will get that booked asap too. Next month, funds allowing, will get new tyres all round and new brake pads front and rear. Getting her booked into there to get all her fluids changed too, along with all filters and spark plugs/leads. Took her for a wee celebration run seeing as the sun was out! Love this wee car!

So, update time! Decided on plan B as the chosen plan of attack! Ordered her brand new shocks, springs and bump stops from MX5Heaven and it was delivered yesterday. Kit looks decent, and the reviews were all highly recommending it. Plan B involves my local garage fitting the kit as I have no patience any more and just want it done!!! Can't wait until I've recovered!!

Those wheels will look so much better on her mate, Yes, the SR MB1 is a very rare car now. I would even say that the MA civics now are probably rarer than a vtis or at the same level.

Correcto mundo Gerry. It's a Hillman Husky to be exact, which equates to an Imp van. Stunning condition this one and first one I've seen. Seen plenty of Imps (always had a soft spot for a metallic jade green Imp Californian) but never the van/estate.

Yeah, my bro had a 3 door Volvo 343 years ago......mind you it was a but of a shed that had been doctored (bodged) up to look good before he bought it. Pretty quick wee car though!! I always fancied a 340 GLT, or any of the GLT Volvos. Nice cars!

Photos from our wee trip to Myreton Motor museum in Mindy our MX5. We decided on a nice run to Dunbar via the coast road, so taking in Longniddry, Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick then Dunbar. This is a tiny wee museum based in East Lothian just outside Aberlady. The building(s) are basically in the middle of nowhere, but it is sign posted well! Lots of classic cars in various states of repair, some wearing original patina, some restored or part restored. Also lots and lots of interesting stuff including a history on Jim Clark. Also motorbikes, memorobilia and anything car related. Great wee place and well worth a look. Entry is just £7 for adults so quite reasonable, and you can be in there as long as you like. Excuse the photos, just took them with my phone! Customized 1980's Fiat X/19. The paintwork on this is amazing, multicoloured metal flake! Old Citroen is in beautiful condition. As was this wee beauty! Only done 1800 miles if I remember rightly! Always been a sucker for old Fords! Love this, so cool! And this wee pair were in stunning condition! Amazing how small both of these are compared to their modern counterparts. My favourite Rolls Royce, the Silver Shadow (series 2 I think?) Mini Innocenti replica Jowett Bradford van. I knew Jowett made the Jupiter and Javellin, but never knew they made a van. Unusual and very nice condition. Sunbeam Rapier. I used to love the shape of these when I was little, my uncle had one in metallic turquoise. Was a stunning car back then! Got a thing for old Humbers like this too.........look so much like a 57 Chevy or 57 Plymouth Volvo 340, used to be such a common sight on our roads. This ones a nice 1 owner low miler. Then on to upstairs! Lots of memorabellia, bicycles, pedal cars, toys, petrol ration books and so much more! Bugatti pedal car!! Would have loved this when I was a kid! Although I did have a Mini pedal car which was really cool! And Mindy, sitting relaxing in the sun before the second part of our run.

3k does seem steep mate. Might be worth sending a pm to some of the members who are building track cars

Keep us updated as you go along mate with loads of photos! I've even been thinking about Ruby again lol, another civic M I totally miss! Just something about these cars eh!

Deffo still a lot of love for the Civic M's mate! Think this time of year (over christmas/new year and then with it being winter) is usually quiet around most forums. Come spring time these civics will be making there appearances! I think also a lot of the civicM's are now into modern classic car territory, so a lot are not on the road all year round. I've still got the aerodeck (will always have DD, never ever going to be sold) but due to my health at the moment (had a heart attack in January this year) might be a wee while before I can get to work on her. Your MA is looking sweet! Reminds me of wee blue Betty, my first ever Civic M! Still miss that wee car even now!

hmmmm.............think I bought the wrong one........I'm just not feeling it!

Something tells me my Google search isn't getting the correct result! lmao

Loving the VTiS front lip mate, they totally change the look of the Civic M's at the front. Love the Rhino lip too, deffo makes it look more aggressive

Think once the engine in it kinda spurs you on with the project eh? Know when I worked with my brother in a garage restoring old rovers (P6,s , SD1's and a few P5 coupes) it would feel like it was taking forever to get a car completed, but once the engine was in we got a new lease of life and cracked on!

That looks mint! Nice job mate!

So, a little update! As some of you may already know, when I went to work on Carly (replacing rear calipers then bleeding brakes) things did not go smoothly! After new calipers were fitted, Gayle and I were in the garage finishing off bleeding the brakes. And that's when it happened! I had a heart attack! I didn't have a clue what was happening but luckily Gayle spotted the signs and got me into the house then called for an ambulance. Wont go into too much details but they had a team waiting at the door pf the ERI who took me from ambulance straight into theatre. Two stents fitted then up to cardiac care unit. Both the team and the ambulance crew said if Gayle hadn't acted so quickly, I wouldn't be here now. So obviously restoring Mindy has ground to a halt due to me having to recover and rebuild my strength/repair my old ticker. Well, not entirely ground to a halt! hehehe. I have changed her head unit again, after picking up a Pioneer DAB/USB head unit really cheap (like, £20!). Got it all fitted although it did have a fault with it's own wiring harness which I had to repair but all as good as new now. Had a spare brand new DAB ariel lying about in the garage so fitted that and all working perfectly. Love having the USB, as it means (like my other cars) no more CD's rattling about in the car. Will get photos of the new head unit when I remember, but here's a few of Mindy on a wee run yesterday down the coast road. Decided it was sunny, and I needed cheering up so off we tootled. Actually gave her quite a good blast, and even with the knackered suspension, totally enjoyed it. Flashed at a silver MK2 MX5 going through Port Seton but he blanked me! lol And my fav photo of her so far.. Hope you like. Will be tackling replacing the suspension once I have my strength back, then engine service/belts along with draining the brake fluid and renewing it (hopefully no dramas this time round!!)

Lmao bloody spool chacker on this tablet! Always changing the words!!!

Stunning mate! Been waiting a while to see this! Lol well worth the wait!! That's a superb power result too!

Lol wot search button.........ohhhhhh that's what that is! Lmao

Was your mx5 the 1.6 or 1.8 Tom? Can't remember.

Will deffo be getting brand new suspension this year, it's top of the list. Although did just buy her a new stereo! Got yet another Pioneer, similar to the one in DD, but without Bluetooth. Has USB, DAB, CD etc and iPod/Android compatible. Should retail at £140...........got it 2nd hand for £20!!!! Fitted it today (did have to repair wiring on it though) and also fitted the spare DAB Ariel I had in garage. All working sweet, sounds superb and looks pretty good too! Will get some pics tomorrow.

Yeah, DD is garaged all year round, although most cars aren't so those shocks should last a damn site longer than that! Will check DD's in the next few weeks. Thinking about getting new front calipers then get her down for an MOT.

Lol this time of year really bugs me.......always cold, roads are always camp and dirty with salt etc. Car stays clean for about 30 seconds of driving!