New to MR2s...

[doctor924]

HI All,

Just a note to say Hi from an MR2 newbie....
I have an MR2 MK1 semi project that I bought which I hope to get back on the road in a month or so (!) It is a G plate mica blue car, needing arch work, new clutch and a general service. I don't intend to make this pristine or concourse - just a solid , reliable car.

I bought it as a daily to take some pressure off my other 'classic car' a 2.7 944.
First impressions are good - small, compact, nippy and distinctive - can't wait until I can take the engine over 3K revs (at which point it currently slips now!)

MR2s are a new departure for me as I have a somewhat biased car history...:

@19 - the obligatory MK1 Fiesta! (now a classic!)
MK1 polo (another classic)
MKIII Escort (not a very nice car- or mine wasn't anyway...)
MK2 Scirocco (GTL)
Then lots of Sciroccos - which I still like - including Scalas (carbs and injected), Storms (*2), MK1 GTi (*2), GTs etc (about 15 in total over 10 years or so...)
MK2 CRX - nice car -but for me - not that involving to drive
Porsche 924 (red) - nice, reliable, cheap!
Matra Murena 2.2S - the only really top quality /condition car I have ever owned - lovely car - sold to pay for flooring and house work!
Pontiac Fiero 2.5 - odd wee beastie - sold on as a partially completed project - just a bit too American for my tastes in the end!
Porsche 924 (blue) - super condition for a 1980 car but just sold it!
Porsche 924 turbo S2- tired body - but mighty quick car!
Porsche 944 2.7 - 7 month resto after 5 year lay up - and current daily - lovely car.
MK1 MR2 - current project!

Struggled to remove the engine over the weekend - a difficult job compared with other engines I have removed and lifting the car high enough to pull the (heavy!) engine out from underneath was a challenge too!
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2010/09/mr2012-1.jpg
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2010/09/mr2011-1.jpg
Not an easy job!

Anyone else in around Scarborough with MR2 interests?
Cheers
Ian

[mr2mk1chick]

Hiya and welcome

I'm sure you'll love the car when you get it sorted, as you really do need to get above 5000 revs :+:
if the suspension is sorted i have passed many a 924-type porker on trackdays ;)
I passengered in an old 944 turbo on track but the turbo lag was well-laggy, hence our mk1 nipping round him on circuit.

I also had a love for the old scirocco and loved the red scala i had a while back. with the suspension and carbs sorted it ran like on rails :+:

sounds like you're having fun gettign the engine out. its amazing how high the car has to go to be able to drag the engine out underneath. we used a jcb thing to lift the car last timem LOL

keep us posted :+:

[doctor924]

Thanks for the reply and welcome - and yes, I can believe the need you had to use a jcb to lift the back end of the car. I am fortunate in that I have access to a very large engine crane (designed for bus engines I believe) - so it can lift upto 5 tonnes and has a good service height - but even so, lifting the car was not easy!
Will update piccies as and when I can cheers
Ian

[Kateg28]

:wave:
Always good to see a mica blue car. My favourite :+:

Welcome and have fun.

[doctor924]

quick update - that the clutch, release bearing and pressure plate have been changed. Cambelt changed and engine tidied up. will post piccy later.
Also of note is that the 944 engine lock also works fine on the mr2 engine to remove the crankshaft pulley bolt!
next weekend i'll reinstall the engine then try to figure out the wiring!

[doctor924]

Hoping to reinstall the engine this weekend after clutch repair and a service.
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2010/10/engine002-1.jpg
And a quick shot of engine in - done over the weekend
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2010/10/mr2enginein003-1.jpg

[oukie]

:shock:

Wow you work quick.

Chris

[doctor924]

car is basically sound another weekends work will see the car back on the road, solid again. Want to be able to use it over the weekend and take some pressure of my current daily.
And of course - I want to drive it!

[kevin..in]

:wave:
Always good to see a mica blue car. My favourite :+:

have you recently had a change of mind on this statement?

[mr2mk1chick]

great work so far :+:

hope you get it running soon as planned

[Kateg28]

:wave:
Always good to see a mica blue car. My favourite :+:

have you recently had a change of mind on this statement?
Hmm.

Okay, I admit I have now that I have seen the beautiful dark Red Mica, that might have taken top spot :oops: but of all the more 'common' colours, Mica blue is my favourite.

Does that work?

[doctor924]

Hi all

Just wanted to let members know of my first experiences of driving my mk1b ....
WOW - a very nippy car!
It really feels a light and nimble car, eager to be pushed a bit harder into corners especially and such a contrast with my 944. True the mr2 feels a bit tinny by comparison with the 944 - a bit like a terrier and an old english sheepdog!
But I like it!
Cheers
Ian

[No3157]

Excellent adage that...glad you're enjoying her!! :clap:

[alfiembra]

Get rid of that throttle spider and get a Jimi bracket in there, will tidy up the engine bay no end. :+:

Welcome BTW and also impressed at how quickly you turned that around. :clap:

Alan

[doctor924]

Just a quick update to this old thread:

Since the work in late last year I have changed the front wing for a perfect and same colour replacement and tidied up the A post which was showing a little surface rust. Wing looks great and lacks the large rust hole I had become accustomed to!

Also replaced the gearbox (again) which I found out when running the car, that the original had worn bearings.The new box makes the engine very quiet and the car has been 100% reliable during the cold weather and snow. Very happy with it. My estimation is approx that the car owes me £850 all in for the parts and original purchase price (not counting my work), which is pretty good I think.

Current job is refurbing the wheels - I have one more to do and will post piccies from a dry day soon. But an hour or so cleaning off the old paint, then polishing it up to a mirror finish and masking off the little teardrops for painting - has made a world of difference to how the car looks.

The only downside so far is shopping with a partner when you are buying duvets and bed linen is tough in the MR2 - but its amazing what you can squash in the boot, behind a seat or around the spare wheel....

Cheers - Ian