Rags to Riches

[Andy_MK1]

Evening everyone. I have been on the site a few weeks now and I have introduced myself etc but I have been holding back starting a project thread as tbh I haven't really decided on what I'm doing yet. Anyway here we go to bring you up to speed. I've had 5 MR2's. 3 MK1s a MK2 NA and a MK2 Turbo so I know my way around them pretty well. I had a hankering for another MR2 a few months ago and I started looking around ebay, gumtree etc not really sure on what to go for. A few months went by and I spotted an ad for a MK1 local to me (Fife) for £200. I wasn't overly excited, it had been sitting since Spetember 2012 after failing it's MOT on a few things. I called my mate and with a set of jump leads we headed over for a look. We arrived at a ver faded 89 MK1B sunroof model with some rust here and there. The interior was all over the place as I think the previous owner was trying to dis connect the alarm. After a check of the oil, coolent ect it coughed into life. I popped some air in the tires and went for a spin around the block. It was rough but seemed ok. I thought at this price I could break it for more so I bought it. The owner disappeared into the house and came out with the gearknob (dunno what she was doing with it in the house haha) and a massive pile of papers and reciepts. A nice collection I thought. So I drove it around the corner, stopped and called the AA. Told them I had broken down and got a free tow home on a recovery truck (bought it on a Sunday so no garage open). Thats a top tip as its ther person not the car thats covered and I have done this a few times. I left it in my lock up for a few days with the battery on charge as I was working. I then had a few weeks off so I decided to get stuck in and see whats what. I started with the service history. Going throught the papers I found the origonal service book, user manual and walet. The service history was stamped from new until 9000 miles ago.....interesting I thought. Then I found every MOT from new.......hmmm. Then I found a reciept for a Magnex exhaust from 2010.....ok starting to be a bit more interested. I then found a DVLA print out with every owner from new on it....thats a first for me. After searching through everthing and putting it in order I have the most comprehensive service history for any car I have ever owned (at least 30). I have reciepts from Toyota in the 90s! I really like things like this with a car but the previous owner had it all in a pile and didn't seem to bother. So after that I went to the garage with the failure slip and a torch in hand. I took the rear skirts off to find the "rot" was next to nothing ???? ok ok I thought. I then checked the handbrake as it failed on a efficiency of 9% and the nearside recording no effort. Car jacked up and true enough the handbrake was shagged...or was it. Wheels removed reveled nearly new discs and pads. A mate putting on the handbrake showed the cables working as they should. Checking the adjuster under the under tray revealed lots of adjustment left. Now instead of just tightening it I decided to strip and clean the calipers as it had been sitting a fair few months. Of they came, cleaned and the handbrake re-set, re-adjusted and that was that done! Good as new. Woohoo I thought a free fix. I stripped the fronts aswell just to be safe, this reveled new springs and shocks...even better. The exhaust has a major leak of gasses that it failed on so back under the car I went, Remember that Magnex reciept...well it seems a chimpanzee had fitted it to the car as they only put on one of the circular gaskets that connect the downpipe to the SS System. I had a spare one from a previous Two I had, so that was a free fix wohoo! Next was a rear numberplate light not working errrr...not connected more like, the actual bulb holder was lying in the boot?? So another fix. Next was those sills. After speaking to a few people I had quotes of £200 to cut and weld new panels....Not bad I suppose but in true project style I thought I would buy a cheap welder and have a go myself. A few guides later and some practise on some old scrap I welded 2 small panels in. It went ok but it's by no means a pro job, sure you cant see it and its structurally solid but its messy. I bought the welder for £50 second hand and decided to sell it on as I really need to do a course so I got my money back. Some free metal from a mate meant another free fix. A tire was close to the limit but a spare revealed a breand new Uniroyal rainsport. Score! so everything was done but I wanted to go over other stuff. The floor is solid as a rock so I undersealed it with some stuff I had spare. A tatty rear arch after some grinding revealed a really good solid repair that just need spraying properly. I gave it a quick blast with an aerosol but I am by no means a sprayer. The wheels were horrible and blistered, they have been powdercoated or sprayed in the past but the job was done rubbish in my opinion. Some nitromors and Ford Panther black I had spare tidyed them up, they are ok now but I will get them Powdercoated properly. The paint next....that horrible faded red. Ages and ages on Meguires Ultamite Compound, Stage 1, Stage 2 Polish and Stage 3 Carnuba Wax eventully brung it back. Ideally it needs a Mop and I will get one at some point. That really brings me up to today....D-Day haha. The car was booked into the garage for half 8 this morning. I waited.......by half 9 the mechanic came to get me...Passed!!! No Advisorys. What a result!! For £200 I have a solid MK1 MR2 98000 miles, FSH, Timing belt replaced 15000 miles ago! What a reslult !! 6 moths tax is on the way as well. I have popped th car up for sale because at the end of the day I would make a massive profit...but I don't really want to sell it haha. On my list now as a decent service and new front drop links.....now for some pics!

[Andy_MK1]

As I bought it

http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2013/05/IMAG0355_zps100657a5-1.jpg (http://s368.photobucket.com/user/l1nuxxx/media/IMAG0355_zps100657a5.jpg.html)

Bad Arch (solid underneath)

http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2013/05/IMAG0350_zpsd9e8a987-1.jpg (http://s368.photobucket.com/user/l1nuxxx/media/IMAG0350_zpsd9e8a987.jpg.html)

http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2013/05/IMAG0356_zps32e9dda1-1.jpg (http://s368.photobucket.com/user/l1nuxxx/media/IMAG0356_zps32e9dda1.jpg.html)

http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2013/05/IMAG0357_zps69f9b65f-1.jpg (http://s368.photobucket.com/user/l1nuxxx/media/IMAG0357_zps69f9b65f.jpg.html)

After a wee Clean and polish

http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2013/05/IMAG0366_zps4331b0d8-1.jpg (http://s368.photobucket.com/user/l1nuxxx/media/IMAG0366_zps4331b0d8.jpg.html)

And after the test today

http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2013/05/car3_zpsa3f56209-1.jpg (http://s368.photobucket.com/user/l1nuxxx/media/car3_zpsa3f56209.jpg.html)

http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2013/05/car2_zps0e7d60aa-1.jpg (http://s368.photobucket.com/user/l1nuxxx/media/car2_zps0e7d60aa.jpg.html)

Some service history after organising it haha

http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2013/05/service_zpsf2e30917-1.jpg (http://s368.photobucket.com/user/l1nuxxx/media/service_zpsf2e30917.jpg.html)

http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2013/05/service2_zps4a2af54d-1.jpg (http://s368.photobucket.com/user/l1nuxxx/media/service2_zps4a2af54d.jpg.html)

[Andy_MK1]

If I keep it and I think I will tbh my plans are as follows,

Full suspension replacement for some nice aftermarket untis
Full Polybush (Already done the engine mounts)
Wheels powdercoated in anthracite and kept as spares, replaced with some nice Advan style 80s 3 spokes
Bodywork done properly
Engine clean properly and health check

I'm more into nice standard cars nowdays getting old (24 lol) and with the service it would be ashame to bucher it with wide arches and roll cages haha

I will also be joining as a full member at the end of the month but thats my £300 all in project so far.

Thanks for looking and updates to come

[Ben]

After all that work I'd hang onto it, it's a hell if a lot of car for the money and as you've said it owes you barely anything. Take the time to enjoy the rewards from the work you put in!
Welcome, btw. That's quite an intro :)

[Andy_MK1]

After all that work I'd hang onto it, it's a hell if a lot of car for the money and as you've said it owes you barely anything. Take the time to enjoy the rewards from the work you put in!
Welcome, btw. That's quite an intro :)

Thanks :-) Yeah I think I will to be honest. Because it was so cheap and its solid it's a good blank canvas to practice bodywork on. I've been quoted £800 to get the car looking perfect again so if I make a horses arse of it it's going to get done anyway. I forgot how much fun a MK1 is on the twistys as well. And insurance....my god it was cheap. I have 5 years NCD and im 24 and it's only something like £280 per year fully comp. Last time I insured a MK1I paid over a thousand pounds!

[snoball]

wow -- you've scored properly with this one :cool:

i can't decide what to do with mine - cos it's like yours totally clean n original and like you am struggling with the whole butchering thing - i mean that it's lived a really good life and i'm thinking just retire it and let it be and then i can't................

just enjoy one of the sweetest handling cars ever produced imho............and it's cheaper than a mk2 :)............

[Andy_MK1]

wow -- you've scored properly with this one :cool:

i can't decide what to do with mine - cos it's like yours totally clean n original and like you am struggling with the whole butchering thing - i mean that it's lived a really good life and i'm thinking just retire it and let it be and then i can't................

just enjoy one of the sweetest handling cars ever produced imho............and it's cheaper than a mk2 :)............

See i'm the same. Half of me wants the originality of it to retain value for the future but the other half is telling me to do something different,

I have been looking at the 3SGTE converstion and mulling it over then I had a thought. I'm thinking a REV 3/4 na Conversion. 173bhp wouldn't be to bad in a MK1 and no tubby issues. I know they aren't really tuneable but that doesn't bother me. Hmmmm. My mate also has a REV5 Beams Mr2 thats he had a bump sitting tired in the garage. Its had a fair amount spent on it and is around 240/50bhp from the Beams NA! That could be an interesting swap. Apart from the engine I think any mods I make shoul;d be able to be returned to factory in the event i sell him :-). I have seen a REV3 NA for £300 as a full car.........tempting

[Ben]

Beams engine would be cracking, but I'm not sure the reward will be worth the effort if you go for a 'normal' 3S-GE. You'd get more power fitting a 4a-gze and from what I understand it's a far simpler swap to do.

Have a word with Paul Woods about the options, he'll be able to go into far more detail than I can!

[crazylegs]

def. have a word with Paul. I am sure he would like to give the beams a go.

[Andy_MK1]

Yeah the more i'm thinking about it a Beams would be cool and it keeps it MR2 standard. In the mean time I have ordered; Thermostat, Rocker cover gaskets, Oil filter, fuel filter, plugs, dizzy cap, rotor arm and drop links. Gonna have a busy weekend. Might do a couple of How Two's haha

[Ben]

Please do! :)

[tommundy]

Hi Andy,

Welcome to the forums!

It looks like you've landed on your feet there! Just goes to show what can be done if you get your hands dirty and get stuck in, rather than taking things for face value. Great news about passing the MOT too!

I've moved the thread over to Member Introductions as it seemed more appropriate.

When you join up to the club you get more access on the forum, bigger PM allowance, access to the club magazine (next issue published this coming weekend) and lots of offline benefits! :D

Cheers,
Tom

Club Chairman

PS: Just a small note; the club doesn't condone the dodgy use of recovery services as mentioned in your opening post. Apart from that and perhaps a few carriage returns required, a nice introduction! :) Welcome!

[Rinzler]

Welcome aboard!, great to see another mr2 saved!.:thumbup: