Hey everyone, got my MR2 Turbo hardtop today. LOVE it to bits. I've always loved the MR2s, I own a mkiv supra, which I love too! I had the biggest up and down day today. I managed to snap the ONLY key I got for the car in the boot! luckily for me i was able to retrieve the parts and take it down to the key cutter at Forrest hill and get another one cut, but all the dicking around (had to go buy pliers too) took forever.

1990 SW20 White JDM
HKS blow off valve (old)
ebay exhuast (asiperformance)
BC Coilovers (BC V1 i think)
Porche Rims!?! I think from a 944 or boxter
I believe a aftermarket clutch but unsure.

The car needs some TLC and was very dirty inside and out.


In the ad it was listed as "has a leak".
Well from what I can see so far, its coming from trans (drive shaft seal) and also somewhere in the engine (more investigation required).

I gave it a good wash today and took the front coilovers out, which needed adjusting. The preload was incorrectly set on one shock - so badly that the spring was actually loose! My mate and I set it to the BC factory recommended preload, and adjusted the camber (front has positive!!)


I also changed the steering wheel from the SAAS one that came with the car (it had plastic hand rests) to a Sparco racing one my mate gave me! with pushbuttons for the horn :)

Tomorrow we're going to look at:

• getting the front toe right. It looks like currently the left has 7 degrees of toe out and the right has 2 of toe in (yes handling sux a bit atm).


• The rear also has issues i'm positive, so we'll look at that.


• its past due for an oilchange


• will check out the trans fluids


• remove stickers on body and windscreen


• clean rest of interior (basically dash)


• Start making a list of interior clips and bits and bobs to get from toyota Various screws, clips etc are missing from the car


• Polish the black trims (they have white on them from a previous polishing attempt (not me))

I also want to do:

• colour code black strips


• get a quieter exhuast


• repair or replace rear middle dressing (between the lights) - the key barrel is deep inside the boot and there are two holes in the dressing


• sort out fuel cut

Things I want to buy for the car (subject to change):

• Change the headunit for a car pc (or dvd navi unit that runs on windows CE/7 embedded etc


• clear indicators, and sides


• New steering wheel (not sure on this) prolly looking at a late model toyota one


• Clips mentioned above


• Rails for Recaro SR3 (I believe that Bride type MO rails will work well - I may have a source for the drivers rail


• maybe a front lip, depends how mcuh I lower the car

I'll post pix tomorrow, but until then you can have a look in the for sale thread. ( http://www.mr2australia.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20221 )

White hardtop - nice!

I look forward to seeing pictures of your progress and spotting your car on the streets of Melbourne

Welcome to MR2 ownership bigh, looks like you got the bargain of the century! Also looking forward to seeing your progress with this car, sounds like you have good solid plans for it.

There's a place in the US that stocks squillions of different trim clips, etc. at fractions of Toyota's prices - if you need a few of the same types it may be worth looking at them. More info in[url='http://www.mr2australia.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19675&SearchTerms=trim%2Cclips']this[/url] thread.

im trying to source a drive shaft seal too, drivers side. Looks like the best place to go is toyota atm, 26 bucks for one haha

thats cheap :)

Day Two of working on the car. Lots of work done.

• Pulled the rear coilovers off and adjusted.


• Improved the alignment, using the string front to back method spacing it out from the hubs. Car doesn't pull so hard to the left anymore, and the steering wheel is basically on center! (castor still hasn't been set though, and is different left to right)


• I kept up my list of things i need to do / replace source, found a few more things broken, nothing major though.


• checked the engine oil, and air filter. both look like new (the car hasn't been driven much so is good


• went to autobarn and bought new trans oil, additives


• removed the shopping list from the rear quarter, and the the TRD logo - glue relaxer and very careful work with a razor scraper = good results


• spent two hours removing polish and overspray from the black strips, and indicators.


• went to remove the cusco sticker, then read the text on it an pissed myself laughing - pure engrish. Apparantly you can train parts on your car to do what you want. I'll transcribe it when i have some light :P.

[*}pictures were a fail today - the camera wasn't charged. Grabbed some shots of the overspray removal and sticker removal before and after though.

• zip tied the exhuast temp sensor to the chasis of the car instead of having it dangle down.


• cleaned out collection of random screws(not from car) and screwdriver etc from boot.

unplanned things:

• found how the engine bay rod (used to hold the engine lid up) was hiding, and it looks like the end that attaches to the lid is stuffed, and the clip that holds it too.


• found the source of my front weird noises when going over bumps - the bolt that holds the spare wheel doesn't cover the wheel properly, so the wheel moves around when driving (but only over hard bumps)


• Started to count the number of missing screws and retainers missing from interior panels / coverings. Knowing toyota's prices, its gonna cost a fortune!

its time to start matching some of the missing parts and screws to toyota part number. Its also time to start ordering parts for the car. Clear indicators are at the top of my list, along with Dash LEDs and a replacement ashtray.

I'm sure there is more, but I'm too tired to bother to put it up.

You've been busy! Sounds like you are a very deserving MR2 owner

Hey Darren, I actually met you and saw your MR2 a long long time ago, in a car park with Hewan, Timmus and a couple of others. I had the NA supra, now I bet that exercises your memory!.....

Ok not a lot of progress on the actual car, still don't have pix. I've ordered, clear side indicators, picked up an ash tray (car didn't have one - thanks Brendan), ordered leds for the interior, gas strut for the engine bay lid, clips for various places around the car, new drivers side power window facade, and a late model key barrel for the boot.

I need to replace my rear pannel (between the lights, but the quote from toyota was $250! yuck!) and one of my vents is broken, the cost new from toyota is also excessive!

I've done a lot of planning as to how i'm going to have the in car entertainment - will be a car pc with 7" touchscreen in the double din section, running to an amp.

I'm also on the hunt for some rims with the correct offset!

oh and the P/s light is on - will look at that later
fun fun :)
I promise i'll get some decent pix up soon..

Just to throw in my 2c. Do you have the early or later model rear centre garnish? early model one you should be able to pick up for $10 and then just paint it yourself to look like new. Alternatively the later generation garnish will probably cost you around $150 if you can find one separated from the lights.

The P/S light on... Is your power steering working or is it not? If it isn't this is more than likely a common problem that has probably shown up on most members cars. All you need to do is stick the key into the ignition and switch it to the click before starting the engine (so all the dash lights come on). Quickly do this on and off around 10 times and repeat until the P/S light turns off and you regain power steering. I read it was due to carbon build up :).

mrskylighter found agood source for interior clips not long ago. Search his posts.

Cheers,

James.

The trim clip place is :

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Toyota_Lexus_Clips_And_Fasteners_s/13.htm