Rev2 MR2 Turbo - a diamond in the rough or just rough?
Discussion
Whilst on a slightly drunken eBay browse, I came across a Black 1991 Toyota MR2 Rev2 Turbo which was only 18 or so miles away.
After a brief chat with SWMBO, swallowing some brave pills, I started a conversation with the seller and heard everything that should in sensibleness, made me run a mile. The seller hadn't had it too long, it was very modded, there was a disclosed oil leak, possibly from the turbo seal.
I've been after a bit of a project for a while so thought what the hell and arranged to go and have a look today.
I was reasonably pleased with the state of it upon inspection and test drive, the leak doesn't seem to be that bad at all, the body work was in much better condition that I expected for 90k miles and 25 odd years old, it had all of the Japanese paperwork as well as all of the MOT's and history since import in 2000. Being the T-Top, it also had the shades and leather bags for the glass panes (very rare), as well as the suede and leather interior in good condition.
Looking over the car, it has had a full set of Bilstein suspension at some point (not on the advert) as well as upgraded side mounted intercoolers. It also had the
On the negative side, the very dodgy looking Wolfrace alloys came with China's best Linglong's on the front and Landsails on the rear, that although had loads of tread looked as though they had been on there for some years, going on the crazing to the sidewall. The exhaust is also a "Project Dragon" baked bean can special, coupled with some ASBO attracting dump valve.
After haggling, it was picked up for not much more that shed money with a load of spares thrown in the boot as well. Insurance and tax sorted out and off I set for the drive home, which was interesting with significant standing water and shockingly bad tyres, 220bhp and rear wheel drive. A very different experience to my daily driver of 600bhp, Quattro and Pirelli winter tyres!
After a quick poke at home, I'm pretty chuffed. A good project for the next couple of months to spanner on, a reasonless quick and fun car for weekends and an opportunity for a bit of an appreciati nag classic, with a bit of TLC and putting back to standard. Plan is at this statt the revert by proper staggered figment MR2 alloys, a standard or standard look exhaust and a full service, see if I can trace the oil leak and a decent set of tyres for the standard alloys.
Pics to follow shortly.
After a brief chat with SWMBO, swallowing some brave pills, I started a conversation with the seller and heard everything that should in sensibleness, made me run a mile. The seller hadn't had it too long, it was very modded, there was a disclosed oil leak, possibly from the turbo seal.
I've been after a bit of a project for a while so thought what the hell and arranged to go and have a look today.
I was reasonably pleased with the state of it upon inspection and test drive, the leak doesn't seem to be that bad at all, the body work was in much better condition that I expected for 90k miles and 25 odd years old, it had all of the Japanese paperwork as well as all of the MOT's and history since import in 2000. Being the T-Top, it also had the shades and leather bags for the glass panes (very rare), as well as the suede and leather interior in good condition.
Looking over the car, it has had a full set of Bilstein suspension at some point (not on the advert) as well as upgraded side mounted intercoolers. It also had the
On the negative side, the very dodgy looking Wolfrace alloys came with China's best Linglong's on the front and Landsails on the rear, that although had loads of tread looked as though they had been on there for some years, going on the crazing to the sidewall. The exhaust is also a "Project Dragon" baked bean can special, coupled with some ASBO attracting dump valve.
After haggling, it was picked up for not much more that shed money with a load of spares thrown in the boot as well. Insurance and tax sorted out and off I set for the drive home, which was interesting with significant standing water and shockingly bad tyres, 220bhp and rear wheel drive. A very different experience to my daily driver of 600bhp, Quattro and Pirelli winter tyres!
After a quick poke at home, I'm pretty chuffed. A good project for the next couple of months to spanner on, a reasonless quick and fun car for weekends and an opportunity for a bit of an appreciati nag classic, with a bit of TLC and putting back to standard. Plan is at this statt the revert by proper staggered figment MR2 alloys, a standard or standard look exhaust and a full service, see if I can trace the oil leak and a decent set of tyres for the standard alloys.
Pics to follow shortly.
Edited by VeegasRS6 on Saturday 30th January 17:44
I'm aiming for a lot lower than that, hopefully be able to offset some of the cost of standard stuff by selling the ricer mods and do most of the work myself.
Gents; thank you for the kind works, I've already taken a real shine to the MR2 and feel it's a civic duty to sort the poor thing out and return it to fine fettle.
Gents; thank you for the kind works, I've already taken a real shine to the MR2 and feel it's a civic duty to sort the poor thing out and return it to fine fettle.
Right - after a furious weeks' scouting of owners clubs, eBay and the dreaded Facebook pages; shopping has been significantly done!
Full set of Rev3 alloys and new Toyo Proxies, brand new ceramic coated JapSpeed stainless exhaust & down pipe, high spec race radiator and fans as well as a standard gear knob!
Looks like a full weekend of tinkering ahead!
Can't believe the difference between the standard 15" alloys and the 20's on the RS6!
Full set of Rev3 alloys and new Toyo Proxies, brand new ceramic coated JapSpeed stainless exhaust & down pipe, high spec race radiator and fans as well as a standard gear knob!
Looks like a full weekend of tinkering ahead!
Can't believe the difference between the standard 15" alloys and the 20's on the RS6!
ks - forgot how hard it was to get these things up on a trolley jack! 
A bit of a weekend of highs and lows for the MR2.
New alloys fitted, which look so much better on the car than the black Wolfrace alloys that were on there, and nice having a full set of decent rubber on it.
Next job on the list was to replace the exhaust, but after jacking the rear end right up to get at it and the down pipe i've found that helpfully, whoever put the last exhaust on decided to remove both standard exhaust hangers and bodge a new one on. So a new set ordered and that'll have to be done over the next couple of weekends.
I've started to strip down the front, in preparation for the front bumper coming off for the radiator replacement. The state of the current one is shocking, I knew it looked bad but not like this. Going on the state of some of the trim retaining clips, i know that i'm inevitably going to snap a load of them getting the bumper off, so again thought i'd leave this to when i've got a full weekend to get it done.
Tasteful after market gear know removed and standard TRD one refitted.
Whilst giving it a bit of a clean out, i've found about two and a half, full Toyota tool kits including the bags, an old oil pump and pulley & belt, a full set of EBC and delphi pads, a Toyota moulded boot protector and a very strange lead in the front storage area under the spare. Any ideas what it might be, the clear bit looked as though it was possibly a fuse at some point and the cable is copper cored, it goes back through the bulk head but can't trace it after that.
New alloys fitted, which look so much better on the car than the black Wolfrace alloys that were on there, and nice having a full set of decent rubber on it.
Next job on the list was to replace the exhaust, but after jacking the rear end right up to get at it and the down pipe i've found that helpfully, whoever put the last exhaust on decided to remove both standard exhaust hangers and bodge a new one on. So a new set ordered and that'll have to be done over the next couple of weekends.
I've started to strip down the front, in preparation for the front bumper coming off for the radiator replacement. The state of the current one is shocking, I knew it looked bad but not like this. Going on the state of some of the trim retaining clips, i know that i'm inevitably going to snap a load of them getting the bumper off, so again thought i'd leave this to when i've got a full weekend to get it done.
Tasteful after market gear know removed and standard TRD one refitted.
Whilst giving it a bit of a clean out, i've found about two and a half, full Toyota tool kits including the bags, an old oil pump and pulley & belt, a full set of EBC and delphi pads, a Toyota moulded boot protector and a very strange lead in the front storage area under the spare. Any ideas what it might be, the clear bit looked as though it was possibly a fuse at some point and the cable is copper cored, it goes back through the bulk head but can't trace it after that.
Edited by VeegasRS6 on Sunday 7th February 16:04
Edited by VeegasRS6 on Sunday 7th February 16:10
Thought about time for an update.
Not too much going on, the front is now fully stripped down for the radiator change, which I'll hopefully get done this coming weekend.
I've had a load of deliveries,mostly trim clips and bolts as I hamfistedly broke a load of them removing under trays and trunk covers in the front, for doing the radiator.
The rear section of the exhaust is off (relatively) easily, but the centre section, where it joints the downpipe is a nightmare to remove. I tried it with the usual spanner and wd-40, no luck. Penetrating fluid and ratchet spanner, just some skinned knuckles. Lots more penetrating fluid, a heat gun for a bit, small breaker bar and some effing and jeffing equalled still no movement.
I wondered off for a sulk and a coffee, came back with a bigger breaker bar, my FOB torque wrench and the rest of a can of penetrating fluid. Still no movement, but many bloody knuckles and the dog was scared at the amount of shouting from the garage! So by Sunday afternoon, I've got a stripped down front and 2/3rds of an exhaust.
Doing a bit of research, I came across PB Blaster, which if to be believed is the best rust penetrating fluid going. Anyone used it before? Can ordered and hoping it works.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/272128960950
Not too much going on, the front is now fully stripped down for the radiator change, which I'll hopefully get done this coming weekend.
I've had a load of deliveries,mostly trim clips and bolts as I hamfistedly broke a load of them removing under trays and trunk covers in the front, for doing the radiator.
The rear section of the exhaust is off (relatively) easily, but the centre section, where it joints the downpipe is a nightmare to remove. I tried it with the usual spanner and wd-40, no luck. Penetrating fluid and ratchet spanner, just some skinned knuckles. Lots more penetrating fluid, a heat gun for a bit, small breaker bar and some effing and jeffing equalled still no movement.
I wondered off for a sulk and a coffee, came back with a bigger breaker bar, my FOB torque wrench and the rest of a can of penetrating fluid. Still no movement, but many bloody knuckles and the dog was scared at the amount of shouting from the garage! So by Sunday afternoon, I've got a stripped down front and 2/3rds of an exhaust.
Doing a bit of research, I came across PB Blaster, which if to be believed is the best rust penetrating fluid going. Anyone used it before? Can ordered and hoping it works.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/272128960950
Hey Dan,
Bit of an update, the last few weekends have been taken up with life stuff, but had some time this afternoon.
(James May Voice) GOOD NEWS!
Radiator is off and changed. Half of the problems is the leak was on the drivers side at the bottom, so had rusted itself onto the mount, and the mount had rusted itself onto the frame, so ended up having to get a wrecking bar to prize it apart!
I've jacked the rear up to refill the coolant, but ineviatably run out before its filled up
The casualty was that when removing the radiator the air conditioning condenser basically fell apart.
This is most of what's left.
I've doused the exhaust in the PB blaster and will give it a go of taking it off tomorrow.
Bit of an update, the last few weekends have been taken up with life stuff, but had some time this afternoon.
(James May Voice) GOOD NEWS!
Radiator is off and changed. Half of the problems is the leak was on the drivers side at the bottom, so had rusted itself onto the mount, and the mount had rusted itself onto the frame, so ended up having to get a wrecking bar to prize it apart!
I've jacked the rear up to refill the coolant, but ineviatably run out before its filled up
The casualty was that when removing the radiator the air conditioning condenser basically fell apart.
This is most of what's left.
I've doused the exhaust in the PB blaster and will give it a go of taking it off tomorrow.
Well the car is back together in preperation of going to the garage tomorrow to get the evil begotten spawn of Satan exhaust off and the shiny new Japspeed stainless steel on one!
First time out of the garage for a couple of weeks and I forgot how much of a handsome car they are, well proportioned.
I've replaced the old tinted yellow wing indicators with a nice new set of USDM clear ones, as I happened to break one of the old ones getting the bumper off!
New wheels and tyres look loads better than the old Wolfrace ones.
And an "interesting" challenge of how to fit an exhaust in a mid engined, two seater.
First time out of the garage for a couple of weeks and I forgot how much of a handsome car they are, well proportioned.
I've replaced the old tinted yellow wing indicators with a nice new set of USDM clear ones, as I happened to break one of the old ones getting the bumper off!
New wheels and tyres look loads better than the old Wolfrace ones.
And an "interesting" challenge of how to fit an exhaust in a mid engined, two seater.
Edited by VeegasRS6 on Monday 14th March 17:12
Whoop whoop, it's back home and sounding fantastic.
The JapSpeed gives a nice deep resonance to the MR2, isn't loud and doesn't look too far off OEM, which is what I was ideally hoping for.
Parked next to the RS6, it's easy to see the size (and weight) difference. Parking up, I was about eye level with the top of the RS's alloy!
The JapSpeed gives a nice deep resonance to the MR2, isn't loud and doesn't look too far off OEM, which is what I was ideally hoping for.
Parked next to the RS6, it's easy to see the size (and weight) difference. Parking up, I was about eye level with the top of the RS's alloy!
Thanks Dan,helpful information.
I've spent a couple of hours this morning giving the MR2 a thorough detailing, just to see how bad the paintwork was under a fairly embedded layer of grime and road debris. The spoiler is really poor, the paint looks as though it's been poorly touched up on it previously and now going again, so maybe a new bootlid and spoiler is on the cards!
It's been on the drive for the last 48 hours as well in the biblical downpours and very high winds we've had in the southeast and the T-bar doesn't leak either, which is a bonus.
Otherwise, I don't think it's looking too bad for 25 odd years old.
I've spent a couple of hours this morning giving the MR2 a thorough detailing, just to see how bad the paintwork was under a fairly embedded layer of grime and road debris. The spoiler is really poor, the paint looks as though it's been poorly touched up on it previously and now going again, so maybe a new bootlid and spoiler is on the cards!
It's been on the drive for the last 48 hours as well in the biblical downpours and very high winds we've had in the southeast and the T-bar doesn't leak either, which is a bonus.
Otherwise, I don't think it's looking too bad for 25 odd years old.
Edited by VeegasRS6 on Monday 28th March 12:07
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