1986 Toyota MR2 - an uncontrollable evacuation of the bowels

Have a look in the back of Practical Classics magazine for exhausts , there is quite a few old companies that have old stock or will make one up to standard spec.

That exhaust looks identical to mine! I'll take a closer look at mine and see if there are any markings on it. First job is to stop the mounting bracket touching the body and see if that quiets things down a little.
In terms of replacing it. Well, being stupid, I don't really want to just bolt one on. I want to buy a TIG and some pipe and make one. Idiot! Anyway, don't hold your breath, it'll be a while before I do that.

I had a surf about lift off oversteer. It was the MK2 that got criticised for that. Mine is an early MK1, Toyota beefed up the roll bars on the later ones so it may not be quite as well behaved. It does seem to move its weight back and forth under the throttle which feels quite entertaining. Modern cars really are very well behaved you know.



I couldn't help a little giggle!

Didn't know that.
I did bump into a really tall tramp in town a couple of years ago before I recognised it was Bob Geldof.

That, Mr Wilkes, is a very good point.
The car that has nice shiny paint might be as rotten as a peach underneath. And the one that looks untidy might be mechanically solid. Never judge a book... And all that stuff.

It's also one of the reasons I'm writing this thread. So that when my friends say "How's your old car?" I can show them. And bore them to tears normally.

For the record, the other reason is more important to me personally. There are two web sites that have helped and inspired me. Retro Rides and the MR2 MK1 Club. This build is on both the sites as my thanks to those communities. I can't understand why anybody would be inspired by my work but if they are, or just enjoy reading the story, then that's all the reason I need for writing it.

Your thread has certainly inspired me to not get an MR2.
But my own has inspired me to not get another Minor, as well.

It makes for good reading, though.
So I guess the question now is; what's next? Going to mod it? Drive it for a while then sell it on? Get it as tidy as you can and keep it?

Paint it gold, glass some flares and vents on to the side so it looks like some kind of Toyota/Contach hybrid kitcar?

Thanks Jules. Yeah, I know a few projects that have stalled. I took the decision not to take it all apart so at least I can use it and remind myself why I'm doing it.



Your wish is my command. Have some of the Near Side!



A jolly good question. It's such a good question I've been asked it a couple of times.

Well the sensible answer is this… Now I can legally drive it on the road I should take it to the nearest scrap heap and have it crushed. Thankfully I was born with very little common sense so I'm keeping it.

The real answer is that Project Portia now becomes a rolling restoration. As things need doing they get done but to as good a standard as I can possibly achieve. This thread will run and run forever… Or until I get bored.
I do find myself with a problem now. Before the MOT my list of jobs was short and the goal was obvious. Now the list is infinite and the goal is, er, well I don't know what I'm trying to achieve. Messy but mechanically good? Tidy but mechanically curse word? I've not a clue to be honest. Why didn't I buy a good one?

So I'm just going to drive it for a few months and do no work at all.

Lying git! I can't help myself. I was born to fiddle with things.

One of the problems of doing all that welding and, more to the point, grinding is that the bits stick to the paint and then rust when it rains. if you didn't start with a brown car you certainly wind up with one. So I thought I'd try and tidy the paintwork. Yup, a proper attempt at polishing it.

This plan soon got diverted.




See the black trim between the very shiny roof and the spoiler with "Toyota" written on it? Well it's bolted on from inside the car. Or at least it was in 1985. In reality it was making a bid for freedom.
The trim on the inside is metal and one of the nuts was sitting on top of it, I'm guessing it was rattling around.




So that's a couple of rattles sorted out. I also adjusted the engine cover so it doesn't buzz quite as badly. Quieter already! Maybe…

And now for something completely pointless.

On the near side door and wing is a nasty scratch. Can I make it disappear? Well just the bit on the wing to start with, I'll do the door later. Remember this is the wing I'm going to cut off and relocate to a handy skip so perfect paint isn't really a necessity.




The plan is to use a small brush to lay some paint into the bottom of the scratch, followed by some clear (also with the brush). That should leave me with a slightly raised surface. Like this.




Which actually doesn't look bad to be honest.
Now the bit I really didn't want to do. 1200 grit on a small block to take the proud bits down to the paint level.




Now it looks terrible! Part of my problem here is that the block is too wide and it's taking paint off the bits I would rather leave it on.
So I changed tack slightly and wrapped a bit of 1200 grit across the end of a pencil so I could work the high spots only.

Lastly, having made a total balls of it, try and make it look passable again.
Sponge mop, battery drill ('cos I don't own a polisher) and Farecla G10 compound. I think I'd be better with G3 but I ain't got none. So G10 it is.




Well, I can still see it. It's still too high. But compared to scratch still in the door it's much better. From a slightly different angle…




…it disappears. Probably because it's so low down on the car. You'd walk past and not notice it now.

Am I happy? No. Not nearly. But it'll do for a first attempt. I think I need to be much more careful about getting the paint in the hole and not on the top, and probably I need to be braver with the sanding to get it back down to level.
If anybody would care to tell me how this should be done please let me know! And don't say "spray the panel", I know that already.

Have a slightly arty shot to finish.




I call it "Sittin' on't floor in't alley looking' at car". It's got a name. It's art now, like it or not!

James

What I've done in the past is little blobs with with a cocktail stick along the scratch then sanded it down, I don't think I've ever used laquer on top though then gently sanded it down to level along the scratch only, keeping it wet is the key. I don't think I've ever started off as abrasive as 1200 though, more around 1500 upwards.

Possibly not the correct way but it gets results

I've not heard of Larry Kosilla but I'll look him up.

Cocktail stick. Yer see I'd never have thought of that. What a good idea. Obvious really, but only when you know.
And the 1200 grit. That, I'm afraid, is what I had in the drawer so it's what I used.

Part of the reason for practising on Project Portia is because my road car is starting to look like it's covered in white spots where the stones have got it. I suppose I could 'pay a man' but what would that teach me?

Thanks for the tips.

James

Amazing difference the flatting off with the 1200 makes to the reflection by removing the orange peel on that small bit of panel.