91 mr2 restoration project (pics)
Hey guys, just subscribed a few days ago, and thought i would introduce myself and give you some info on a few thoughts of mine.
To start off, im a 20 yr old mechanic at subaru, and obsessed with all things cars. my first car was a peugeot 307 i bought off me old man, and sold it about 6 months later for a honda s2000 (fantastic car loved every minute of it) whilst owning that i purchased a 1990 subaru liberty for a thousand bucks, done about 30,000 km's on it so far and have never had a problem with it, needed some love but its slowly getting closer to perfection. (this is where it gets interesting) About 4 months ago i sold my s2000 with the intention of buying either an ap2 s2k or an e46 m3, both lovely cars with plenty of stick, but about 3 months ago i hopped in the drivers seat of a 1994 Honda NSX (mid engined, starting to get an idea of where im going?) it was amazing, i had never drove anything like it before, handling is as tight as my s2 on coilovers but more comfortable if thats makes sense?? more power than the s2k but so usable, and omg was it hot so low and sleek, stunning to look at.
So 3 months on and i am yet to find a manuel nsx in australia for sale that suits me, so i thought what the hell i need to get more of a taste of this mid engined idea, i have been looking on ebay and carsales for a while now for a project car as i have plenty of free time after work, was looking at cars such as 80's rx7's, old school 240z's and yours truly the toyota mr2. Now i dont see an nsx popping up anytime soon. So on carsale i found an old 91 sw20 mr2 for $2,500.00 with 136,000 km's had some panel damage a bent radiator and unkown about the rest, next day (this is wednesday just gone) i went and checked it out, man! the radiator was routed! needed replacement for sure and a new front bar and god knows what else, took it for a drive seemed fine, clutch was ok, i was happy, tried to bargain the guy down not that i needed to, but either way he didnt budge so i thought what the hell, 2.5k cant go wrong, put the deposit down then and there.
5 hours ago it was about 5pm, gave the guy the cash, threw his extra set of wheels and ****ty bodykit in the back of me'old suby and off we went with father in liberty and me in my new toy/ project car.......
**** me was i in for a suprise, about ten minuts down the road the car stalled, suprised i cranked it over and off it went again, next set of lights, stalled again, and wasnt so lucky to get it going again. Opened the radiator cap to find both no coolant, and what has to be the most terrible smell i have yet to smell from an engine, it was god awfull and i think i was gagging at one point. So leaveing it at the side of the road me and dad ducked accross the road to get some water, about 10Ltrs worth, put about 5ltrs in and thought sheesh shes drinking alot, looked under the car to find not weeping, not dripping, not even leaking, but gushing out water like no tomorrow, pretty much whatever was going in was coming straight back out, not to mention the damage i have probably caused to the engine from it overheating.
Eventually we got the thing cooled down and stopped at litirally every servo from heathmont to berwick to flush water through it, and eventually got home about 3 hours later, not bad for a standard 30min trip.
So, as of now i know that the best part of all the cooling system is gone, atm im assuming hoses, radiator for sure, possible water pump, who knows. The indicators dont work (hazards do, but not the stork) one parker globe is out, feels like it has no brake pads, i get ocassional clunking around where my feet are, driving along, struts are knocking/ squaking, paint is routed (not that, that matters) i need a new front bar, and god knows what else, but i took tomorrow off (usually work 7 days a week) to dedicate myself to finding out what i need to get this old girl on the road.
If i was to point out exactly what i want the car for it would be to learn the basics of how to work on a mid engined car, how it handels, and if i intent to keep it, get a few mods going in the form of coilovers, decent rubber, nice seats, and depending on financials, some f.i. At the very least get it to shcmick running condition for a great daily driver.
For all you guys please feel free to let me in on something i should know in relation to the mr2, good sites/ guides, and most importantly a good wreckers! or mr2 specialist.
Anyway thanks for taking the time to read my little some up of my automotive life to date, ill try get some pics up by tomorrow so you can check out this beast.
post edited by brendan1990 - Sunday, July 03, 2011 10:53 AM