[Mk2] [NA] Hello! Major sill works insight.

[RazzyRascal]

Hello All,

Thanks to all of you for your hard work in keeping the quiet people like me very well informed about these cars.

I've owned a '90 Rev1 Mr2 GT (sunroof) for the last year and in that time i've fallen in love with a car i've dreamed of owning since I was a young lad. I have fond memories of sitting in my parents defender and being blitzed by these cars in the '90's and being very impressed only to return home and 'drive' one myself on my playstation

A 'fortunate' turn of events last year left me without a car and without the need for anything particularly practical so I decided to start looking. After a few months of research and trawling ebay I came across one fairly locally that I liked the look of.

I purchased my car for the princely sum of £600 with 128k on the clock, a years MOT, full Toyota service history and what I can only describe as unmolested and very good mechanical/body condition inside and out (I even have the original first aid kit!)

However, I did notice at the time that my sills were a little...flakey.

I decided at the time that with a years MOT and the cheap purchase price I would take the gamble, even if I could only drive the car for a year I considered it worth it.

Anyway, my MOT was finally closing in on me and surprise, surprise the car failed on its inner/outer sills and rear arches (os/ns). Everything else seemed to sail through.

I was ready to sell the car for scrap when the local mechanic urged me to reconsider as he was impressed with the overall condition of the car and save the bodywork issues underneath thought it was worth saving.

He provided me with a local coachworks number who came highly recommended and after a brief meeting and a tour of his workshop (containing a triumph spitfire, MGB V8 and a meaty Renault 5 Turbo) he agreed to a diagnostic look and estimate on the works. Having worked on MR2's in the past he seemed very knowledgable on the work that needed doing backing up what i've read of experiences on here.

All work comes guaranteed and basically following a short trip to the west country this weekend I just need to give him the go-ahead to begin work.

I'm not going to mention figures just yet. I keep a constant eye on the market for these cars and let just say theres no way I could purchase anything as good as my car for that price. In fact, I doubt i'd even get one of those modded dogs with a years MOT.

Anyway, you guys are the experts, what are your opinions? Am I being Chivalrous? Should I just face reality and cut my losses? I've noticed a lot of people undertake this work themselves citing expense as an issue. I'm not a wealthy man, quite the opposite really, but I can see value and investment in this work being professionally done for the right price.

Should everything go to plan I dont intend on stopping there. Having done such a major re-furb to the underside and once my bank balance is looking a bit healthier I intend to push on and get the car to its best condition possible whilst keeping everything I can original. Who knows, its ambitious but maybe one day i'll take it to club meets and even show it!

But for now its the welding.

As work progresses and once I figure out how to post photos i'll be sure to keep everybody well informed of my progress.

Thanks again!

Matt

(Apologies if posted in the wrong place)

[MR2 Rich]

Hi Matt

It really depends on what he is going to charge as sill replacements on these are costly to get done right. If the price is reasonable and you can afford it and most importantly if you really like the car and plan on keeping it for a long time go for it.

I was in the same boat as you 6 months ago, my car had a few issues and it was either restore it and get the paint done or get a turbo. I chose the latter as I wanted more power, the insurance was reasonable and the cost of restoring it to the standard I wanted would of and indeed did buy me a turbo.

Good luck

Rich

[RazzyRascal]

Thanks for the insight Rich.

I suppose we all own and want to preserve these cars for our own reasons. I for one just love the 90's look of the car, especially (and maybe controversially) the Rev1's. The rear blocky lights and grilled rear centre panel aomongst other touches just have a retro charm the later revisions lack for me. Also, the lack of ABS, PAS and the snappy rear end all contribute to an unrefined, old school driving experience people of my generation just arent used to. I'm definitely a better and more respectful driver since ownership.

The turbos do look like exciting motors but finding one that hasnt been molested by previous owners is difficult. The ones that haven't are fetching very good money at the moment. I certainly havnt been quoted half as much as a decent turbo would fetch.

However, I am still in the early stages of these works and i'm fully prepared for the worst once the panels are properly removed. My quote is only an estimate as I was reluctant for any panels to be removed for inspection as i'm off for the weekend in the car and didn't want it imploding.

I know the work is fairly extensive. Half of one sill and almost the whole length of another are rsuted, not to mention the arches and anywhere else it may have spread. The guy at the MOT centre helpfully yanked enough sill sections off claiming it 'fell apart driving it in', but seemingly not in the 6k miles of my ownership!

Out of interest, did you break, scrap or sell the car on? what revision was it?

Matt

[MR2 Rich]

It was a Rev2 UK Tbar and I sold it on, don't know what's happened to it but don't think it's on the road ATM

[Marty95]

Hi,

I have a Rev3 that I found rotting away in an abandoned carpark. I hunted down the owner and bought it. When I got it home I saw both sills were gone and rust had rotted the rear arches and the boot was filled with water. I ripped out the boot carpet and lining etc and the extent of the rust. The rest of the car is fine but the rear is rotten. I looked for replacement sills but none was to be found. I got in contact with a guy who makes them and got him to send me a set. Unfortunately they were not a perfect fit but enought to give me an idea. So i got myself a grinder and grinded off all the rotten parts off the car and then got hold of an Arc Welder and sheet metal (Metal back cover off fridges, washing machines etc are perfect) and began patching up and replacing the metal.

What im saying is that yes it my cost Hundreds to get a garage to fix the problem. Why not trying fixing the problem yourself and restore the car back to its former glory.

Just a thought
Cheers

[RazzyRascal]

Hi Marty,

That's a brave purchase, I hope it wasn't too expensive. I would love to do the work myself however I live in a town centre basement flat and my only parking is on street with permits. It's gutting as my parents live on a farm but I can't get my motor down the bumpy farm track without bottoming out. To be honest I've always enthusiastically tackled car issues myself and I'm looking forward to working on less time consuming and car disabling jobs. I'm fortunate enough to work in the construction industry so if I need to raise money for big jobs such as the sills I can work long weekends to fund a professional, guaranteed build and respray. It's definitely one of those jobs you shouldn't take lightly as its the one big cancer on these cars and I've seen some awful bodges (including mine).

I'd love to see how you get on though mate.

Unfortunately I've been delayed by needing to work to raise the required funds but I intend to drop the car off in the coming weeks. Photos will follow once I'm allowed by the mods to upload.

M

[Marty95]

Hi,

The car cost me £200. So far its not costing me too much but I am a wee bit worried about the MOT but hey Ive done my best. Ive still to paint the car and Im thinking to Plasti Dip the car that stealth matt grey look.

Will post the before and after pics when the car is done and on the road.

If you do scrap the car why not break the car and get as much money as you can.....Then buy another one with the sills fixed already.


Cheers

[RazzyRascal]

At £200 it's well worth the shot, especially as your doing a lot of the work yourself. Does it have a current mot? What's the rest of the car like?

It shouldn't come to scrapping mine. Sills aside its actually a very well looked after car in good condition. As far as the rust is concerned there's nothing showing from within the boot after stripping back the trim or behind the seats where it can appear in extreme cases. Thankfully the mrs loves the car so she's happy for me to throw a little cash at it (although I doubt I'll be completely honest with her!)

[Marty95]

The rest of the car is good, you would have noticed the rust unless you look under at the sills and the arches.

The welding is nearly finished and im going to underseal the whole lot plus Hammerite the rest to try and prevent the rust reappearing.

I have thought about scraping and getting one thats ready to go but I feel Ive got this far and the missus wants me to hurry up and finish it so I will shut up about it.

Cheers