My MKI MR2

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Hello everyone. New to the forum. Bought this 86 MR2 a couple of years ago for my daughter. Didn't think much of it at the time, but after she tore up the tranny, and I took it back, I began to really like the car. The interior was pretty ratty, and I decided I would attempt to get the car back in shape.

I found a good deal on a parts car, almost an exact match (except the graphics of course). The interior in it was in excellent condition. The engine had just been replaced but the previous owner could not get it running. Good thing, because although it looked good in photos, it is rust ridden. The lower panels all the way around are rusted through (except the doors, their in great shape). Its so bad the mud flaps had been bondoed in place!

Anyway, so far I've removed the tranny from the project car, and stripped out the interior...to my dissapointment, there was rust through in the passenger side floor pan....luckily enough though, the passenger side floor pan on the parts car is in great shape! It's about the only part of the lower body that not rusted.

Anyway, this is my first attempt at a project of this magnitude. Yesterday I spent pulling out the Wireing harnesses out of the parts car. That was fun....but I was able to get the interior to engine harnesses out without damaging them.

Oh well, if anyone has any suggestions, or things I should look for I'd appreciate info anyone can provide.

Here are some pics so far.

Before:



Now:



Rust:



Thanks

Robert

[toyotaspeed90]

nawzzz... heh, i'm j/k

maybe you should think about getting a c52 in there? looks like there was still a c50 (the tranny on the ground)..... looks decent (other than the rust) though

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The tranny on the ground is shot! Had over 170k on it when my daughter finally killed it. The parts car has a decent tranny in it. Plan is to use it...at least for now. I just want to get it running again. Not really into heavy performance, just want to get it to the point where it's a nice daily driver. BTW, you know anywhere I can get the stock muffler without paying an arm and a leg.

Robert

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Well...spent this weekend pulling the rest of the wiring harnesses out of the parts car. Wow...what a job. But, with a lot of patience, I was able to remove them all without damaging them. The dash harness was the worst. Had to completely dissassemble the the remaining dash and steering column support structures to get them out. I Never realized how much wiring is in a car! Here are some pics of what the parts car looks like now:


Exterior:
Actually doesn't look bad...but it is suffering from an extreme case of rust. The rear mudflaps were actually bondoed in place it was so bad (can't see it in the pic)!



Interior:






Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated. Oh...can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between a JDM engine and a US engine?

THanks

Robert