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!
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Originally Posted by benedwards64
