Rotten MR2s

Author
Discussion

JohnL

Original Poster:

1,763 posts

266 months

Wednesday 31st July 2002
quotequote all
I'm sure there are a few Mk1 MR2 owners out there ...

I've recently bought a 1988 Toyota MR2 for very little money. As is pretty common (I believe), the offside rear wheelarch is rusted to f**k.

Does anyone know if anyone makes a replacement wheel arch in fibreglass (ie no future rust!) or will it have to be welded (or bodged, err custom-assembled, with fibreglass and filler)?

John.

craigalsop

1,991 posts

269 months

Thursday 1st August 2002
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Apparently a Mazda 323 rear arch is a pretty good fit for an MR2 MK1 - dunno about getting a fibreglass one though.
There may be something on www.mr2.com/

cheers,
Craig

P.S. Good price!

neilr

1,514 posts

264 months

Friday 2nd August 2002
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I used to own an MK1 MR2 struck down with that very affliction (as are many). Toyota quoted me an eye watering 1900GBP (3 yrs ago) to repair both sides. I politely declined.

I'm pretty sure the Drivers Club had repair panels made but can't be sure as I'm not a member.

www.mr2dc.com or try www.imoc.co.uk bound to be someone on their talk boards who can help.

I gave in and swapped it for a MK2 and now own a turbo, FWIW I still think the Mk1 was the better balanced car of the lot.

JohnL

Original Poster:

1,763 posts

266 months

Monday 5th August 2002
quotequote all
Thanks for the help. I'd heard about Mazda wings fitting, but no-one else knew which model.

The MR2 club - one of them - do wheel arches only, for I think £90 per arch supplied. These need welded, which I'd be reluctant to do myself but I will if I have to. Fibreglass I thought would be future-rust proof, would cost a lot less to fit, and would be more of a DIY option.

Given what the car's worth (5 times what I paid for it! Maybe, once it's in decent condition) I don't want to spend too much if I can help it.

£1900 for Toyota to do it - I think not!

jamesc

2,820 posts

285 months

Tuesday 6th August 2002
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Saw a Mk1 MR2 for sale on the A46/A45 roundabout in Coventry for £595. As ROTTON as hell!

neilr

1,514 posts

264 months

Friday 6th September 2002
quotequote all
www.mr2-solutions.com/rear_overarch_kits.html

may be worth a look, dont have a clue as to whether theyre any good though.........

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

266 months

Tuesday 24th September 2002
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I've had two mk1 MR2s and they both rusted through the rear arches. My brother put the first MR2 through the central reservation of the A11 before I could sort out the rust, but I've welded new steel panels from the MR2 Drivers Club on to the new one. Panels look good and they also do extended panels the reach to the back of the door or to the seam under the rear bumper. I haven't got prices as I'm no longer in the club.

Does anyone know of a good way of fixing the roof? Mine has rusted like mad across the top of the windscreen...

danger mouse

3,828 posts

262 months

Tuesday 29th October 2002
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Hey Muppet,

Do you know if anyone does the same for Twink, you seem to in the know on CR-X's too.

She's going pretty mouldy in the same place. The alternative is to cut the section out of one in a local scrap yard. Just happens, that's the only good bit on that car (rock solid).

Mouse

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

266 months

Wednesday 30th October 2002
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danger mouse said: Hey Muppet,

Do you know if anyone does the same for Twink, you seem to in the know on CR-X's too.

She's going pretty mouldy in the same place. The alternative is to cut the section out of one in a local scrap yard. Just happens, that's the only good bit on that car (rock solid).

Mouse



Mouse,

No sources on CRX panels I'm afraid - mine is totally rust free (now the sills have been replaced), my other CRX (wife's) did have some rust on both rear arches but I repaired it myself in a dodgy 'filler and aerosol' stylee (black is such an easy colour to match). Sorry to hear that Twink has been infected with the italian rust virus - I never had a problem with either CRX until my brother bought an Alfa...

Muppet, Cpt (ret)

danger mouse

3,828 posts

262 months

Wednesday 30th October 2002
quotequote all
I've long held the beleif the Honda had the AlfaSud very much in their sights when penning the CR-X, looks like they did too good a job.That's why I purposely got a car in flat red(R63), 'cos I knew this would happen after a while.

My plan is to take a week off around Christmas and do a cut and shut job using the section from the scrapper I mentioned before.


:donscheekyhat:

...from what I can tell, you are quite local to me. Do you have welding kit, or did you do the hiring thing?....You know what's coming next so I won't bother saying it.....


Mouse

P.s: Pretty please with a Moonroof on top

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

266 months

Tuesday 19th November 2002
quotequote all

danger mouse said: I've long held the beleif the Honda had the AlfaSud very much in their sights when penning the CR-X, looks like they did too good a job.That's why I purposely got a car in flat red(R63), 'cos I knew this would happen after a while.

My plan is to take a week off around Christmas and do a cut and shut job using the section from the scrapper I mentioned before.


:donscheekyhat:

...from what I can tell, you are quite local to me. Do you have welding kit, or did you do the hiring thing?....You know what's coming next so I won't bother saying it.....


Mouse

P.s: Pretty please with a Moonroof on top


Bugger - only just read this! Sorry for the late reply.
I didn't do the welding to my MR2 but I do have some welding kit. It's bust at the moment but it's only the trigger that needs rewiring. I'll try to have a go at it this week end...

danger mouse

3,828 posts

262 months

Tuesday 19th November 2002
quotequote all
Nice one, I'll book some time off then...if indeed you are the master-craftsman I hold you be.

Then I can clean up Twink's scabby bits so she'll decent enough to meet your rexxes's.... hang-on that can't be quite right, I've got get there somehow.

Guess you'll get a before and after in that case.

Sorted out her wheels the other weekend. I sprayed them dark steel, and will paint in the H's in crimson, type-R stylee, they look much more puposeful now.

Its amazing what a difference decent looking rims make to a car. It's taken years of her. Wonder-wheels is great stuff. It brought up the calipers a treat too. The gimp who had her before me painted them red, but they do look quite cool on a red car.

Look forward to hearing the micro-sugery is a success...

Mouse

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

266 months

Tuesday 19th November 2002
quotequote all
I am a long way from a master craftsman - my welding is good enough to join things together (for a while) but that's it - nothing neat and I always end up using loads of filler. They guy who owns the welder (I'm storing it for him while he is away on business)has used it to build a decent mini shell so it must decent kit.

Don't worry about making Twink look good - my CRX has one odd wheel

danger mouse

3,828 posts

262 months

Wednesday 20th November 2002
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...Twink's worse, she's got one odd nut behind the wheel...:groan:

Andy Mac

73,668 posts

256 months

Thursday 30th January 2003
quotequote all
Do Mk2 MR2's have any problems with rust. The engines have a reputation of being bulletproof, but what abnout the bodywork??
Cheers
Andy

Umar B

1,484 posts

268 months

Wednesday 5th February 2003
quotequote all

Andy Mac said: Do Mk2 MR2's have any problems with rust. The engines have a reputation of being bulletproof, but what abnout the bodywork??
Cheers
Andy


No problems what so ever unless its been in an accident,

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

256 months

Sunday 9th February 2003
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Captain Muppet said: Does anyone know of a good way of fixing the roof? Mine has rusted like mad across the top of the windscreen...


AFAIK the only good way is the proper way, i.e. sut out all rust and weld in new metal. I wouldn't leave it too long either as it's very common of the rust to crack the windscreen if it gets bad enough.

JohnL

Original Poster:

1,763 posts

266 months

Monday 10th February 2003
quotequote all

Mr2Mike said:

Captain Muppet said: Does anyone know of a good way of fixing the roof? Mine has rusted like mad across the top of the windscreen...


AFAIK the only good way is the proper way, i.e. sut out all rust and weld in new metal. I wouldn't leave it too long either as it's very common of the rust to crack the windscreen if it gets bad enough.


The rust, combined with a stone chip, has cracked my 'screen. Anyone know if it's a viable DIY replacement for a used screen from a scrappy? I'm on the verge of writing mine off, it needs a f**k of a lot done to it but if all the labour's mine and the parts are 2nd hand then it might be worth hanging on to as I like it to drive, a lot.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

256 months

Monday 10th February 2003
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Probably not, it's a bonded in screen isn't it? I have seen some very nasty DIY installations involving several tubes of silicon sealer...