**UPDATED** 1991 Rev 1 (Beastly V6 1MZ-FE VVTI) **UPDATED**

[KarlBristol]

Heres some photos I took quickly of the front of the car with the number plate off;





So the TRD badge (which was put on to cover the x2 holes) will be removed, and the x2 holes filled.

The numberplate is being relocated lower into the gap in the bumper

The inside of the bumper will be strengthened and re-shaped to original and then resprayed

[riot68]

Good luck dude, people you can trust are worth their weight...

[DAN_REV1_TURBO]

They sound like absolute morons at that garage! Car will look fantastic when you have had all the work done though... Although if you are talking about spending thousands here, there are other options.. You could buy another 3SGE engined MR and nick all the trick bits off this one you have now.. Or a turbo car.. Just depends how much you love EOR I guess! From this whole thread you have worked so hard on it to make it a clean good example I`m guessing you wouldnt entertain the idea. Not all about power I know, I do get what you are doing with your project so I can understand.

[KarlBristol]

They sound like absolute morons at that garage! Car will look fantastic when you have had all the work done though... Although if you are talking about spending thousands here, there are other options.. You could buy another 3SGE engined MR and nick all the trick bits off this one you have now.. Or a turbo car.. Just depends how much you love EOR I guess! From this whole thread you have worked so hard on it to make it a clean good example I`m guessing you wouldnt entertain the idea. Not all about power I know, I do get what you are doing with your project so I can understand.

They are complete morons - I don't think they could have done more damage on what is a routine mot check! lol. Worrying thing is Im pretty sure that they are a national firm

EOR is now part of the family and I'm rather attached to her:D

I did contemplate getting another MR2, and switching the decent bits across from EOR but tbh I've spent so much time, effort and money on this car that I think it would be a backwards step going into a different car. I know EOR inside out and back to front and there is always a degree of buying blind on a different vehicle... I think EOR and I will stay together for better or worse

Besides I bought her in a bit of a state on purpose - to save another one of these cars becoming scrap. So having poured nearly 5k into the car already the last thing I could cope with is scrapping her.

And how many cars spontaneously ignite and live to tell the tale. Shes a fighter

If I got another MR2 I think it would be as a slow time 3rd car project, or a donor parts car, or in order to track it. Maybe after EOR is fully restored (and possibly V12'd ) I will shop around...

Good luck dude, people you can trust are worth their weight...

Thanks mate - definately in need of good luck atm! lol

No news about the re-test at the other garage so far so I presume it went well

Decent, trustworthy people seem to be harder and harder to come across

I guess there aren't going to be many decent updates for a while now! lol. Probably around a month.

I will be doing mini updates; custom wheel centres, etc... but nothing major without the car here

[riot68]

What goes a round chap, sure it will turn out just pucka...

[KarlBristol]

What goes a round chap, sure it will turn out just pucka...

Fingers crossed it will look sleeker and more refined...

I've asked for a quick photoshop to be done, so here is a quick, rough before and after to give you an idea. I am contemplating mounting a slightly smaller plate on the front and having it recessed back further...

BEFORE



NB - Its difficult to tell from this pic but there is quite a colour difference between the panels which will now be sorted

PHOTOSHOP OF AFTER



It gives the OEM+ look that I'm after ... sticking with original parts just improving what was there originally and doing what Toyota should have done originally! lol.

I can't wait now - very excited at the prospect of this being done and having a full front end respray The only parts of the car that won't have seen fresh paint then will be the rear bumper and the boot - which will probably be around December time. The car will then have officially had a full respray

Just need to hope that my car passed its other mot now! lol

[Magic Beans]

This I didn't expect to read. Especially after all the work you've done so far.

I think you've got the right mindset towards it, using it as another opportunity to take it to the next level. It does make my blood boil to hear about these incompetent idiots though.

[KarlBristol]

This I didn't expect to read. Especially after all the work you've done so far.

I think you've got the right mindset towards it, using it as another opportunity to take it to the next level. It does make my blood boil to hear about these incompetent idiots though.

Lol, I was also rather shocked! Thanks bud - hopefully it will be back be a vengeance!, lol



MINI UPDATE:

Well I popped into the mot centre today for an update and was told that they did a full mot and health check on it... It passed with flying colours without even a single advisory (as opposed to 9 advisories on the last mot which the previous owner did!!!)

The mot tester told me that it was one of the most solid cars he had inspected and when I asked him if there was anything that I need to watch out for/keep an eye on, or might need a replacement in the future he simply replied "No ... You must have done loads to it as its near mint underneath!)

Needless to say I was more than happy, and it just confirmed the fact that the other garage were just incompetent con artists who were after a pound of flesh (damn you "In n Out"!! Lol)

The car was already in the body shop when I got there, so he is starting to rip into it for me and I will hopefully be picking up the finished article this time next month!!

Oh, and I've now bought a new front plate so that it doesn't make the front look too clumpy, or obstruct too much air flow to the radiator. New plate size is 16" x 4.5" - apparently the smallest legal size you can get, and quite a jump from the standard 21" x 4.5"

Mini updates to come shortly whilst I await the return of EOR...

[KarlBristol]

Tiny update this morning - had my new smaller number plate delivered today ... apparently its still legal



Its going to be dropped down the bodyshop tomorrow by the better half so that the number plate bracket can be custom made for it

I will hopefully be sorting out the centre caps later today as the relevant bits for those have also now been delivered

[KarlBristol]

Micro update ... I'm missing my car! lol

Sorted out the centre caps for the wheels today

I'm looking at having small spacers on the rear just to give the wheels a better stance and appearance. Due to this I also wanted a different design centre cap on the rears so that they appeared more bulky up to the fronts

I wanted to use thick Rota centre caps for the rear and flat ones for the front

I started with a set of bulky Rota centre caps, which went from this:



To this:



They got fully cleaned up, rubbed back, resprayed, etc...

I then got these custom made and delivered:



Which resorted into the caps turning into these:



Should look far better than the massive gaps in the wheel that are currently there

Just trolling through eBay now looking at parts for when my car returns lol

[DAN_REV1_TURBO]

They look good mate, where did you have the toyota badges made?

[Mike 'MR2' McHugh]

Liking your work Karl . Shame about that MOT centre. Sounds like they were trying to pull a fast one and also trying to cover up their errors . They would be worth complaining about but i guess you can't be bothered now.

[KarlBristol]

They look good mate, where did you have the toyota badges made?

Thanks mate, I got them made up for me by through this link;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150758083483

Liking your work Karl . Shame about that MOT centre. Sounds like they were trying to pull a fast one and also trying to cover up their errors . They would be worth complaining about but i guess you can't be bothered now.

Thank you mate - they certainly were trying to pull a fast one. I'm guessing its a combination of trying to cover up their fault, and also make money on the repair bill!

I complained to the manager there who resorted to swearing at me and instructing me to not so kindly leave. Theres going to be no hope in complaining to any independant body as there is no proof that it wasn't damaged before I took it in

Still hopefully the car will come back with a vengance
Can't wait to get it back and finish off the suspension switch! lol

[KarlBristol]

Well the numberplate was dropped in today by my better half

The bodyshop hasn't taken the bumper off yet or started any major works yet rubbing back the front of the car...

He also hasn't started the sills yet - damn bank holiday weekend, lol.

The bodyshop has however rubbed back the bonnet, and primed it ready for a proper respray







Hopefully it will be ready by early next month in time for the Bristol meet

[KarlBristol]

Cracking update now

Thanks to a brilliant heads up by another user on here I am now the proud owner of a set of original JDM wind deflectors that I won for an amazing price on eBay

Currently in the mail and awaiting delivery

Needless to say that photos will be posted when its delivered

[craig]

Sorry to hear about your woes with the MOT garage mate, that really is shocking! I'd be wanting them to pay damages! That's unbelievable

On another note, I'd strongly advise against blocking air flow to the radiator with your numberplate.

[KarlBristol]

Sorry to hear about your woes with the MOT garage mate, that really is shocking! I'd be wanting them to pay damages! That's unbelievable

On another note, I'd strongly advise against blocking air flow to the radiator with your numberplate.

I doubt its worth the pain, effort and time compaining further with the garage as I just won't get anywhere. I came to that realisation as soon as they started shouting and swearing at me in the middle of their test station!

I'm not concerned about blocking the air flow to the radiator. Don't forget I have the 3sfe bumper and so don't have fog lights in there. Also I'm not sticking a standard number plate in there but rather the smaller one pictured. Also its being mounted to the top of the area, and not to the centre grill bar like most people do, thus minimising the amount of air flow blocked.

TBH I think that the difference to the air flow will be minimal at worst. It might effect it if slightly if we were in a warm country, but I'm sure English weather will keep it cool at all times, lol.

Its going to get a new readiator in a couple of months anyway, and most of the collant components have already been replaced so its working pretty well atm.

Don't worry - I've put a lot of thought into it
Absolute worst case scanrio I just have a rethink and place it elsewhere. Gotta be worth a go though in order to keep the front looking sleek

[jack-p]

Those centre caps turned out really good, can't wait to see them on the wheels.
Like I said before, it will look way better having a toyota logo over the rota logo too and is a nice way to disguise the wheels.

[KarlBristol]

Those centre caps turned out really good, can't wait to see them on the wheels.
Like I said before, it will look way better having a toyota logo over the rota logo too and is a nice way to disguise the wheels.

Thanks bud - looks more OEM

Just can't wait to get the car back now and start playing with it again, lol

Still need to order my new rear calipers to finish my brake overhaul

[KarlBristol]

Only a small update before I head out to work

The car still isn't back with me ... so I've started to stockpile parts ready for its return

I obviously already have a few bits and bobs including the centre caps

I started last week by having this rare part delivered



I have spent ages trying to source a set of wind deflectors and now I finally have some

They were still attached to the rain gutters and needed a bit of a clean up but were an absolute steal!

I started by seperating them from the gutters, and I've been cleaning off the glue and silacone sealant from them in order to get them looking like new

Gutters gone:



Awaiting clean up:







Part way through cleaning:



One of them is now like new, the other is still in need of some minor cleaning in order to get it there...





Timing belt and all the gubbins:



Hel brake clips to go with my braided hoses:



One of my door leds has blown so I've got another:



Suspension top bezel cups:



x2 6mm spacers for the rear to give it a better stance and fill the arches nicer:



Master brake cylinder support:



And I have lots of bits and bobs on order

I still have loads of stuff in the boot awaiting fitting, including the dreaded polybush set, lol...

Watch this space