Engine rebuild - options?

It depends really. A few thousand can be shaved off that price for the rebuild if you're willing to have the motor rebuilt in Sydney & provide some parts upfront. Alternatively, you'll probably be able to locate a decent long motor & have it fitted for a significantly cheaper price too.
 
Anymore details/pictures of your MR2? Being a Gen3, I'd rather keep that over an 86.

it just seems that without my technical skill of my own, all the little things that keep happening to a car of this age end up costing me more and more money.
 
don't have any pics with me, but a basic run down of the mods (mostly minor) are:
 
"stinger" piggy back ECU
pod filter
3" canon exhaust (turbo back)
auxiliary fuel pump
boost controller
boost gauge on steering column
 
stock body kit, single piece spoiler, round tail lights. front lower lip is a red one resprayed black, some small chips in the lower bit showing the red underneath. stock 15" wheels (the two 7" on rear and two 6" on front). stock spacesaver spare. stock "man in dandism" floor mats. a scuff on one rear wheel arch that I never got around to getting buffed out.
 
if this had happened last week, i would have tried to get someone to put the 3vz-fe  V6 out of my vienta in it. except the reason I was driving my MR2 is because I got run into crossing an intersection in the vienta and rammed into a pole. I am not having a good week.

That sounds great, dylmrt. Except I have no idea who a reliable engine rebuilder would be in the ACT (although I have somenoe I could call), nor what parts I'd need to tailor in/out of that kit. I assume the rebuilder would pull the thing apart first and then I'd get them to order off you?
 
But then I'd likely still want to sell the car afterwards....
 
good to know though. I'll make some calls and see what I can work out.

Yeah but depending on transport costs, might make the whole exercise not worth it. anyone have any idea what it would cost to get a car transported to Sydney?

I felt it would be easier to sell if it was working properly.
 
However, I'm not too keen on all that extra effort. Rough guessy figures were sell it for $11k running. But if it'll cost $5k to fix, and I can sell it as is for $6k, then I'd rather save myself all that running around since financially I'd be in the same position either way. I really don't want to do the figures on purchase price plus money I have sunk into it compared to sale price.....I'll just assume the enjoyment of having it for these years will compensate for that loss. The car was a bloody great drive when running.
 
Not keen on parting out, as that also seems like a whole lot of effort for no gain.

So you would sell for 6k?

Well i have the spares to make it a car again, so if you do decide to go that way and advertise it let me know.