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30-08-2007, 23:46
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I'm going for a scuttle...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,021
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First up is/was getting it through an MOT. It had failed on rear ARB droplinks, inefficient rear handbrake, front brake imbalance (37%), headlight aim too high, nearside repeater not functioning and was advised that the brake pipes were inadequately clipped.
Thankfully, the previous owner had bought the droplinks (I wouldnt have bought the car if these werent sorted) because as the mk1 ran out for the start of the mk2 production run, they had started to fit rear ARBs (something that was dropped after 1986 at the end of the mk1a). This means that a handful of very late mk1bs have ARBs (mine is one of those) but they are completely undocumented and in any case, only Toyota stock the parts and they aren't cheap! So with that out of the way, my attention turned to the brakes. No pictures of this but basically the rear caliper is a bastard to sort. The self-adjusting mechanism is built into the piston, meaning that its difficult to reset and get just right. Thankfully, the guy that last changed the pads probably went through this and merely forgot to tighten up the adjustor under the middle of the car. 5 minutes later and I once again had a handbrake (within MOT spec at least) - sorted. Front brakes were shagged. The calipers need looking after on these cars and these ones had seen better days. Refurb calipers are £70+vat per side but you can get rebuild kits yourself for £20ish per side - this is what I chose to do. As you can see here, the problems were down to the rubber boots perishing and allowing dust into the sliders. I had to put the calipers into a vice and hit them with a hammer to get them to come out... www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/DSC00012.JPG Once this was done I put it all back together and waited to get the pads in. The old pads here vs the new ones: www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/DSC00010.JPG www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/DSC00011.JPG Once we'd got the brakes back together and verified all was well it was time to move onto the lights. The repeater was a simple fix - the contacts were corroded! I cleaned them up and straight away there was light. Good start! The headlight bulbs were dim to start with and could have been contributing to the beam pattern issue so I took the opportunity to change the bulbs. As I was working to a time budget I headed down to the local Halfords and bought some Super Brilliance bulbs. Not as bright as possible (I really want brighter) but I am scared of melting the reflectors, so for now these will have to do. Getting them in is done in one of two ways - removing the black plastic surround and then removing the lid or removing the chrome trim and then removing the whole headlight. I went for the former option because that way, I wouldn't have to tackle so many rusty screws! The offside went fine and I got that done in about 15 minutes but the other side proved to be more tricky. This was the last, most stubborn bolt: www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/DSC00004.JPG It was too rusted for a screwdriver and too rounded by the rust for a socket to do the job. First up, mole grips: www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/DSC00003.JPG No dice. Right, out with the only tool known to work on every job, no matter how small - the angle grinder! www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/DSC00007.JPG www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/DSC00008.JPG Ground off the head and drilled out the rest. Sorted! Tomorrow morning she goes back for a (free) retest. Hopefully she will pass 
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31-08-2007, 00:04
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Ambassador of Awesome
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Edinburger
Posts: 3,676
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First pictures of work i've seen. Hopefully she will pass this time
Last edited by Blackstar; 31-08-2007 at 00:07. |
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31-08-2007, 08:54
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The Stig
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Fightertown USA
Posts: 1,458
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Quote:
Quote:
 http://www.tcbparts.co.uk/lights.htm Quote:
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31-08-2007, 09:20
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I'm going for a scuttle...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,021
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Pretty sure I read that on the owners club somewhere, but I have been doing loads of reading so it could have been from anywhere. Thanks for clearing it up anyway
There are several bolts on this car that are not meant to look like they do. I think the previous owner has tried to do a few bits and bobs for himself and obviously has never heard of penetrating lubricant. Thankfully, so far, its only been minor stuff like that - the brake bolts etc are fine...
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31-08-2007, 14:20
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I'm going for a scuttle...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,021
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MOT PASSED!
 It was raining on the way home, so I decided not to go home and go for a hoon instead Today was brought to you by the chemical symbol H2O and the word "sideways"
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31-08-2007, 18:12
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BBx woz 'ere :P
Join Date: Jan 1970
Posts: 2,147,487,208
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Sideways is fun innit?
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31-08-2007, 20:37
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Deep Throat
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,512
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They look a bit of an odd car! But w00t for you!
I don't think I'm massively big on speedy looking cars (though jag coupes are another thing altogether - and yus Will, your ride was uber funnage!) I think I'm a bit of a plain Jane with cars... (hence the toyota thread!) Picky wants a ford fiesta ST and a ford capri to play with. I've promised him the ST when I'm uber rich.... (not said nowt about the capri though )
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01-09-2007, 15:24
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I'm going for a scuttle...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,021
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Alrighty!!
Today I save spent pretty much the whole day outside working on the paintwork. Really, really backbreaking work to get it looking as good as I wanted it to but on the panels that haven't been sprayed by a f**ktard with a spraycan, its looking good. There is hope for some of the rest but in other places, a respray is going to be the only option. I didn't take a before pic because I am a fool but here it is looking shinier: www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/polished/DSC00005.JPG www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/polished/DSC00006.JPG www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/polished/DSC00007.JPG Its not pink any more \o/ I also did the boot lid and spoiler: www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/polished/DSC00008.JPG www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/polished/DSC00009.JPG And the doors arent looking too shabby either: www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/polished/DSC00010.JPG So, I just have the stonechips to sort out: www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/polished/DSC00011.JPG and also where the weld on the arch is starting to come through rusty again: www.statichiss.co.uk/MR2/polished/DSC00012.JPG That last one and the other little bits of rust are going to be taken back to bare metal, rust sorting out and then smoothed, primed and painted properly. In the flesh, it looks so much better for this and with the few little bits sorted out around the body its really going to look stunning!
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01-09-2007, 17:05
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ex SAS
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: JO01ou
Posts: 10,062
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Looks good.
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01-09-2007, 17:18
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Penelope Pitstop
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,426
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Looking good
Sounds like hard work but it also sounds like you are enjoying it which is the main thing. You really need some Raybrig headlamps like the ones in Phils post - they make the world of difference. I'd also recommend a Jimi bracket, which replaces the big spidery thing on the engine!! (Throttle bracket) It takes a lot of the play out of the throttle cable, and looks better too! Its the bit that says MR2 in it in this pic:  Another thing I would recommend is an air filter - purely cos it makes the car sound nicer  Spent enough money for you yet?
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