Time to start a thread on my project car, the White ZXI.

Bought it from a girl down in Brighton, in much need of TLC and work to get it back to perfection. Towed her back on a trailer, no MOT or Tax and sorned.

Rear wheel arches have rust, and further surface rust around the car, nothing serious, but needs to be sorted and will be. Paint work is shot, dont think it has been polished in years, but will be fully resprayed in Brilliant white, and finished in high gloss black.

Mechanically seem ok with a few exceptions, tappets are noisey, CV's are clicking, door locks are worn and need to be juggled to turn, remote central locking not working.

Interior is a little dirty, but in great condition, apolstry is pre-Ford grey stripe, and in good condition but will be replaced with full black leather (already have this), but the carpet is wrecked from car being driven in "high heels". Will replace carpet initially with a black one, but hope to change it to grey once I can find a good grey one.

Plans for her are to bring her back to perfection, brilliant white finished with black trimmings, not going to go mad with body kits, but want a MS front splitter and may look at a rear bumper kit. Will in time be looking to fit a 2.5 KLZE and hopefully find a 6 speed gearbox.


I will place the odd pic in this thread, but will also put links to Photobucket Albums as and when the project progresses.

Album pics:

http://s1036.photobucket.com/albums/a44 ... 20project/

First pics of the car with my others.



Album: http://s1036.photobucket.com/albums/a44 ... ni%20meet/

Your a brave man Shayne , damned if i'd be outside car washing at the moment

She does look lovely though

Shayne, you must arrange a meet at yours when the weather gets better. I need to see the white ZXI with my own eyes

Brave ??????? not so sure Debz, mental, lost the plot, deranged, and so cold, thought I had lost my feet they were so cold, the water kept my hands warm. Was so tired of seeing it filthy and no pics.

I know this feeling... done some bits to the outside of mine and would love to take some pics, but its stuck up my driveway at my parents house and is filthy If I use the pressure washer I'll just end up turning the slopey drive into a ski ramp thingy.

@ Darren, anytime mate, will be moving fairly soon, no date yet, but with no central heating and only a small log burner, its beyond liveable at the moment, so looking for another rural place with heating.

@ Sloth, dont think the pressure washer would be a good idea, any washing isnt, the water, even though warm, was freezing pretty quickly when I was washing it, so guess your drive would become a suicide slide of the icy kind.

Looking for 6-speed manual tranny?? Is if from mazda3??

Sylar, yes, I am looking for a 6 speed tranny, I believe there were a few MX6's in South Africa that came out with 6 speed gearbox's. If you are able to get your hands on one, please let me know. Thanks.

Edited and corrected in red.

Hahaha....maybe I should keep it for my 'F'
V6 + 6 speed + LSD = yum yum

Well you couldnt ask for more than that, will worry about an LSD when I eventually get me a Lantis type R

good luck with it

Weather has held up getting work done on the project car, but started by stripping the rear seats and boot to clean, removed all the sea shells and trash that was behind the panels, now need to wash before sound proofing.



The marks in the seat wells is only dirt and stains that need to be scrubbed out.

Although work hasnt progressed much, I am still buying and colleting what I need and want for the car, already have a number of items and waiting for a few more to arrive one of which is special and I believe rather rear. Will post pics when it arrives.

Already have the following ready for fitting, full black leather interior, Pioneer sound system, steering wheel and boss, clear standard fog lights, puddle lights, centre cubby hole and boot carpet. Will add pics when the other itms arrive.

http://s1036.photobucket.com/albums/a44 ... ite%20ZXI/

Oooh I'm intrigued now!!

JDM rear strut brace !!!!! yeah

Very nice

Hopefully the weather will improve and warm up a bit so you can start on the outside too

Nice mod.

Don't stop there, though. Go for the lower front one and rear too if your budget can stretch.

In time and with them being available, they will be aquired and fitted, Thanks Si

looking really good Shayne

Update as of today.

Work on the car itself is currently on hold due to immanent house move as I need the car mobile when this happens. So although I am and will do minor work, nothing major that would prevent the quick moveing of the car is taking place.

I am however still buying the things I need and want for the car, some of which I have now got and pics added to the album. Items already in my posession are;

Leather gear lever gaiter,
Mazda badges (for Stainless kick plates, purchased awaiting delivery)
JDM rear strut brace,
Cubbie for dash.
Centre consol cubbie,
Stereo, Pioneer,
Steering wheel and Boss,
Passenger side pre-ford mirror,
Puddle lights,
Clear lens fog lights and brackets,
Full black leather interior.
Boot carpet, a nice thick one in excelent condition, (no pic, packed away),

I have also purchased the following and waiting to collect or receive the following;

Grey floor carpet,
4 x Doors complete, (white - ex Cosmos)
Wiper arms,
Side lights, (to be de-tangoed)
Parcel shelf,
Stainless kick plates, (badges already here)
Mazdaspeed horn button, (for steeringwheel)
4mm Sound proofing rolls.

Will keep this updated as it progresses.

the parts are looking good and the list looks even better

Thanks Ayrton, cant wait to be in the new place and start to put it all together, but still many more items to get and work to be done and then of course what I am not looking forward to having to do, but cant wait to see the results:- POLISHING and even more serious POLISHING so that I can park my car next to the likes of yours and Howies without being embarresed or ashamed.

I love having a selection of goodies to fit

As for the polishing, if funds can allow for a DA when it comes to the polishing, it's well worth it Makes it 100x easier and gets far better results.

Nick, that is a definate must as I dont like polishing by hand, anything to make it more acceptable and bareable

Polishing by hand cannot get the best out of the polish...needs the speed and heat to break the abrasives down

Cheaper to get it done than buy a DA and all the kit though, in my heavily biased opinion

This is true, if you want good results straight away its probably going to work out a lot cheaper and easier. I'm one of those people that likes to be as self sufficient as possible, and quite like having a go even when it fails

well all i got is one of those halfords 240v ones and it works fine for me.

Marc, when the car is ready, you will have the pleasure of getting the paintwork to where it should be, thats a promise, and if I was closer to you, it would be a regular visit.


Ayrton, I also have a 240V polisher that I will use innitially, but once it is ready, Marc will have it to get the paint to perfection, and then I will simply maintain it.

Wow Shayne, this car is gonna be awesome when you're done with it

Debz, I sure hope it is, and it wont be for lack of trying.

Debz, I sure hope it is, and it wont be for lack of trying.