A Volcano has erupted in CANADA

[terreneuve]

I just received my newest MGF today a 1997 Jap Import Volcano VVC. Vin 015599.

I just picked the car up from the docks this morning so never had a chance to clean it , just put gas in and took it for a 100km test drive!

I thought I would share a few pictures of Canada's newest citizen.

Cape Spear, Newfoundland

Quidi Vidi

Quidi Vidi

[Charless]

Thanks for the pics - first job is to pump the suspension up a bit!
Don't they look so much better without a front plate.
What element of their fabled tough MOT regs makes it no longer possible to keep such an immaculate looking example on Japanese roads - is it age alone?

[colintf]

that looks great.

I think with Japan there is a 10 year rule, but I may be wrong?

[terreneuve]

For some reason the Japanese actually lower the cars, but I have a pump so an easy cure!!

Japanese shayken inspection is very strict, probably the strictest in the world and even doing a brake replacement can cost a massive amount of money. Many cars like this one where its shayken inspection expired in March 2012 are put through auction as owners just dont want the expense. Other than a good detailing and a pump up the car will pass inspection easily in Canada. Even the tires have 8mm of tread left where the legal limit is 2mm!
Its the first one I have seen that doesnt have the SRS light on!
John

[adrianclifford]

As John says, their cars have a very strict test at ten years old ( a bit like our old 10 year test for those of a certain age) this took many cars off the road in the UK, sobeit similar in Japan.

That's a beautiful looking car there John, a good find indeeed and thanks for the vin, can you send it complete as the letters could be interesting, also can you send a picture of the vin plate as it shouldn't have the EC approval stamp.

[Rob Bell]

Gorgeous car John - add a bit of fluid the suspension, and it could be showroom fresh 1995 all over again!

[Stan_B]

We got lots of RV8s back from Japan here about 10 years ago. There was just nothing wrong with them. If i was Japanese it would really annoy me to be forced to give up a car like that. Its designed to keep the economy ticking nothing to do with safety or the environment. If our leaders try it on here please letme know where the lynch mob is meeting up.
At least thar F is safe, and should be quite at home there.

[swindrum]

Beautiful car, you have me so excited about mine! It is still a month away..

[Rich in Vancouver]

Me too!
I've already started ordering parts for mine!

[terreneuve]

What goodies have you got coming Rich???

[Rich in Vancouver]

So far only flag badges, convertible top helper straps and an MGF badge for the back of the car.
In the next few days I will be ordering LHD headlights (I know most guys make do with the RHD lights but I really like the way the beam of the LHD lights illuminates the road), and a bunch of maintenance parts like fuel and oil filters, plug wires, cap and rotor etc. I will source Iridium plugs and a DTRL module locally. I will wait till the car arrives to order the fun, longer term project stuff like poly bushings and lowering pins.
I'm still undecided whether to swap the clear lens indicator and side lights over from the charcoal car.
Fun, Fun, Fun!

That reminds me...iIs there any truth in the rumour that RHD headlights can be converted to LHD by swapping the reflectors side to side within the light housings? That would save me 230 quid plus postage!

[swindrum]

I have a few things that have arrived for mine as well, now if the car would arrive soon!

Rich, it was really good to meet you on the weekend!

[terreneuve]

We are doing our part to keep the UK economy alive!!

I dont drive my cars much in the night but I know what you mean about the headlamps, but from what I have read the beams still will not be correct if you swap out the reflectors.

[terreneuve]

A few more pictures taken yesterday at Cape Spear,Newfoundland , but this time with a cool backdrop and no fog, it was 27C here yesterday, great cruising weather!!

Pumped up the suspension too so the ride is much better!!

[swindrum]

Beautiful photos!

[Charless]

""That reminds me...iIs there any truth in the rumour that RHD headlights can be converted to LHD by swapping the reflectors side to side within the light housings? That would save me 230 quid plus postage!""
Yes, Rich!
I heard this from a french forum a few years back, and having disassembled a few headlight units myself, can see the principles. F dip beam lenses are made of glass and can very usefully go through the dishwasher to clean off the years of aluminium oxide misty deposit if you are going to open them up. The misty deposit transfers from the very hot plastic reflector bowl to cooler glass lens through incandescent bulb heat over time(which has no way out of the small 'double glazed' reflector bowl). The lenses are 'handed' with two tabs fitting into recesses to ensure correct dip alignment - however if you swap the left one to the right side and vice versa, reversing them so the smooth side now faces into the bowl - et voila, dip to the right!
MGR kept this principle alive with the TF making a switch over lever in each headlight unit, which only enthusiasts can find. It makes sense with a non mainstream car.
Think what goodies you can buy with the £220 saved!

[adrianclifford]

Rich, I can send you pictures of the headlights all stripped out when I took them apart on my F, this could bolster Bruce's comments as he may well be right. They're not on the lap-top so it would have to be this evening when I get home if this helps.

[Rich in Vancouver]

I just found my way back to this thread so sorry about the late reply!
Adrian, if you could forward those headlight pics that would be great.
Today I compared my LHD lights to the old RHD units, and the lenses wouldn't be the same if swapped side for side.
I do think I will try dismantling my spare set and doing the swap just to see what the result is. When I have both cars here I will be able to compare the genuine LHD trophy lights in my charcoal car to the genuine RHD lights in the new volcano car and also the modified set (Which were originally in the charcoal car). I will be taking the front bumpers off to swap over my SS grilles so it won't add a lot of extra work. Pictures will be taken and results will be posted!

[Rich in Vancouver]

Darn! Looks like bad news on the RHD to LHD headlamp conversion.
I stripped a headlamp unit this evening and found the low-beam lens is D-shaped and not
reversible so switching side to side is not possible.
From what I can see these lenses are the only difference between LHD and RHD lights, so if anyone in the UK
has a set of LHD lights they want to convert let me know and we can swap lenses.

[Rob Bell]

Are you sure you need to convert? UK spec RHD lenses dip to the left, but I suspect that Japanese spec lamps just dip vertically without a filter to direct the light to one side?

Here's how I disassembled my RHD head lamp assemblies...: http://mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/lighti ... semble.htm