So I finally have time to work on the MR2! I took inventory of the spare parts and I have… a lot. Some things in triplicate, even.
Good find: air freshener in a torn package, but still smells great. Cabin smelled really bad so anything helps.
Bad find: my rear driver’s wheel arch was a mix of bondo and rust. It’s completely fucked. On the flipside, the passenger side one is in much better condition than I thought.
As for work done: I removed the broken headlight and am well on my way to removing the driver’s side fender as well. Just need an angle grinder to take care of some very rusted screws…
Right, a slightly late update from yesterday. I got an angle grinder to remove some bolts that had completely rusted together.
Yes, that’s a nut and washer so rusted that they’ve become one. And I had to remove three of those. Removing the fender let me see that the rust around the suspension is worse than I thought, so that’ll be expensive.
Still haven’t figured out exactly what I’ll do. I’m hoping to stay close to stock, though wouldn’t rule out fender flares (but no widebody). I should put my limited Photoshop skills to use and show what I have in mind for it.
So I was checking the classifieds for MR2 parts and came across these:
OEM MR2 Supercharged wheels, and only for $100 for the set. So while they’re not Celica GT wheels, they’re certainly a rare sight on sale and especially at such a low price. I’ll be getting them in the morning
So I’m Photoshopping ideas for my ideal end result. Still deciding on a top colour and haven’t figured out the placement of the LED daytime driving lights yet.
Nah, not feeling it at all. Most I’d be willing to do is get wider arches.
I did get the Supercharged rims today, and they’re nice. The guy’s got his own classic Toyota collection and he said he’s got a couple spare sets of those Celica GT rims that he might sell eventually… I’ll definitely snag them up if he does.
I think Niall’s idea has something in it though… if the fenders are shot you can remake them (they don’t have to be wider or even a different shape) out of fibreglass or something.
It’s just that one wheel arch that’s kind of… non-existant. The passenger side one will need some work, but nothing drastic. The lower areas of the fenders will also be needing to be replaced. The thing with all of this is that there are kits for the wheel arches and lower areas that are made a metal and just need to be welded on, so I’ll likely be looking into that. Then there’s also parts of the door sills that need replacement (but they’ll all be hidden under the original skirts) and the area below the rear bumper.
I also finished the Photoshop (for now, at least). Two-tone dark purple and metallic grey, Celica GT wheels (ideally, I have the MR2 Supercharged ones as a backup), and LED daytime running lights in the grille area so I don’t have to butcher the bumper for placement.
The original MR2 did have some decals, so it’s certainly something to look into that would help the 80s look. It would seem there are plenty of aftermarket ones available…
The guy’s got his own classic Toyota collection and he said he’s got a couple spare sets of those Celica GT rims that he might sell eventually… I’ll definitely snag them up if he does.
