Sills and radiator advice needed for newcomer

[Dunga1975]

Hi there, I am originally from Brazil, so excuse my (miss)speeling.

I am new here but have been reading and planning to have a classic car for a long long time and finally own an MR2 MK1, its a 1988 in mica blue and im loving the little thing so far although it needs to be saved.

My first job will be tackling the rust, i was told it is not too bad really but only after we start I will really know.

It seems someone really loved and looked after it, but it was NOT the guy who sold it to me, the arches have all been done in the past and it was resprayed as well but the t-bat leaks (what is "normal" i guess) and there is a hole in the boot and one in the chassis, I am getting a professional welder to do the job and I will help on weekends, the cost will be around £500 + parts.

Since its got a DAB radio and the original antenna is almost useless, I intend to get rid of that hole, weld and paint the rear panel, thats quoted in the price as well, is it a bad thing to do?

Apart from sills, I will have to change the radiator, I found it at 89+vat and its not too far away so I can collect (buypartsby).

I am driving the car daily, its MOTeed until October .....

I am struggling with the sills, I saw a very good post here about using the escort mk3/4 sills as replacement, found them on ebay (item 371166963179) delivered for £51.99 the pair, but im not 100% sure they are the right ones, could someone please have a look and confirm this?

I will buy the parts next week, my shop list so far is:

Replacement sills;
Radiator;
12 litres of toyota red coolant;
rubber seal for side skirt;
a ring seal for the rad?

Since im changing the rad, is it advisable to changer termostat hoses or something else?

I would like to spend no more than £300 in parts in this stage .

Thanks for your patience to read this journal.

Dunga

(and no, im not the brazilian football team coach)

[Dunga1975]

here some photos of her, i hope it will work, im not good doing this

i58.tinypic.com/mtzqh.jpg

i59.tinypic.com/33fffv5.jpg

i59.tinypic.com/6p7xj4.jpg

i57.tinypic.com/9jmywl.jpg

i61.tinypic.com/idr761.jpg

Maybe she is known from someone here that could give me some info about her past? I have the last 4 or 5 years service history only.

To view this you will need to copy and paste it in the address bar in your browser, sorry im not yet allowed to post images.

[LimeyMk1]

Nice looking MK1, only just got the chance to have a look at your piccies. The T-bar seals look like they've seen better days though.

T-bar seals can be bought from Toyota still of www.kbox.ca not sure which is cheaper at the moment. There's a good write up here

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... light=tbar

Def change the thermostat when you do the radiator and have the coolant drained, it'll save you a job later.

Not 100% on the sills, but I believe if it's the 3 door version it's the right one.

Other jobs depend on what's been done in the past and how recently, has the car got any service history?

And welcome to IMOC.

[Dunga1975]

Nice looking MK1, only just got the chance to have a look at your piccies. The T-bar seals look like they've seen better days though.

T-bar seals can be bought from Toyota still of kbox.ca not sure which is cheaper at the moment. There's a good write up here

imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=71686&highlight=tbar

Def change the thermostat when you do the radiator and have the coolant drained, it'll save you a job later.

Not 100% on the sills, but I believe if it's the 3 door version it's the right one.

Other jobs depend on what's been done in the past and how recently, has the car got any service history?

And welcome to IMOC.

Thank you very much LimeyMk1, I was losing hope anyone would say anything. As service history goes, I dont have much at all (brakes and lower steering joint in 2012), my next jobs will be cambelt, rear brakes disk, etc, the engine oil is looking fresh, ill do that probably in the summer at the latest....

I have that post about the leaking T-Bar in my favorites for sometime now and it is in my "to-do" list asap but since my firts post I blocked the aerial antenna hole with some black tape and the car seems is much more dry from inside now, im a little puzzled by that to be honest. The boot is completelly wet still but we will get it done next week and ill know how bad or not it really is...

About the sills, I was following this guide here that says "Ford Escort 3 or 4 type 2door sill"...

imoc.co.uk/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=121

Do you think get rid of the original aerial antenna is a awfull thing to do?



I will definatelly change the radiator, termostat and coolant.

and Thank you again.

[LimeyMk1]

Thank you very much LimeyMk1, I was losing hope anyone would say anything. As service history goes, I dont have much at all (brakes and lower steering joint in 2012), my next jobs will be cambelt, rear brakes disk, etc, the engine oil is looking fresh, ill do that probably in the summer at the latest....

I have that post about the leaking T-Bar in my favorites for sometime now and it is in my "to-do" list asap but since my firts post I blocked the aerial antenna hole with some black tape and the car seems is much more dry from inside now, im a little puzzled by that to be honest. The boot is completelly wet still but we will get it done next week and ill know how bad or not it really is...

About the sills, I was following this guide here that says "Ford Escort 3 or 4 type 2door sill"...

imoc.co.uk/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=121

Do you think get rid of the original aerial antenna is a awfull thing to do?



I will definatelly change the radiator, termostat and coolant.

and Thank you again.

Looks like you've got a good plan for the old girl, it's worth checking the distributor cap and rotor arm for excessive wear but if it's running well there's no rush.

Re the Antenna, to be honest I'd fill mine in if I didn't need it. It's something I've been contemplating for a while but it's not a priority. I think it would improve the look of the car myself but I'm not a purist.

Wet boot may be the seals on the rear lights have gone as well, it's a common thing to die, as with the T-bar rubbers Kbox or Toyota sell them.

Sills look right from Bill's article.

[Charged]

Custom made Mk1 sills are or at least used to be available through the Mk1 Mr2 Club. Have an ask on there perhaps?

[LimeyMk1]

Custom made Mk1 sills are or at least used to be available through the Mk1 Mr2 Club. Have an ask on there perhaps?

Was that from the same person as 'littlebird1303' on ebay. Forgotten about them.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-MR2-MK ... 35e43f05ce

[elbon50]

I have a full set of Littlebird panels on the offside of my car now

They're good

The only things he doesn't make are repairs for the bottom of the front wing

[Dunga1975]

Thanks but its a little too late now for the sills im afraid.

I will post some pics as we go along, it should take up to two weeks and i'll be there just weekends to help.

By the way, im just about to buy the coolant, what do you guys use

[Lauren]

I'd only use Longlife from Toyota, but you need about 12 litres of it.

Any glycol based coolant is apparently fine though.