Can I Join The Gang...?

[jasper]

Hi, Paul here, live in Herts. Think it's a great site, I found you by accident. You lot are the real deal, completely lost the plot. Love it. Been reading the site all night, really pissed the missus off...! Some great ideas, limited only by imagination. When I spoke to other owners (MR2 Mk1 Club) about what I had in mind they they looked at me as though I'd just sh*gged their daughters....!

Had a Mk1 Coupe 93-98, and now the T-bar since 2002. She been stood on the drive for about a year and so needs some serious work as body's shot to pieces. Is she beyond help. Not too worried about the wings/rear arches as these would be cut away. Main areas of concern are top of windscreen and rear panel behind the back wheels/under bumper. Passed an MOT with a bit of welding to the sills, other than that a couple of bulbs needed replacing and the horn sorting.

I was thinking about the Karmeleon kit, are they worth the money? Does anyone have one down South I could look at? Not sure what size engine to go for yet though. Also, as I've never done anything like this before, which first, body or engine...? I'm on a bit of a budget so there would be a gap between the two mods. The other bits like brakes,suspension, etc would be done as I went along.

Like the idea of the doorless handles, I had that idea but didn't have a clue how to go about it. Paul, you're a star. Has anyone put gas props on the bonnet yet? Got one on the engine bay but not managed to source for the bonnet.

The missus's Dad is a graphic designer so I'll get him to take a look at the white dial issue. He'll probably be able to sort it. Have you seen the ally dash bezels on ebay? Pricey but they sem simple enough to knock out.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MR2-mk1-AW11-aluminium-bezel_W0QQitemZ7998837049QQcategoryZ36681QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Keep the ideas coming, soaking them all in, my mind's buzzing on what to do....!

See ya.

[nik]

3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6 - 3sgte or v6

yep its all tough decisions here mate..this is the first choice to make..
then spend 6 months rebirthing the mk1 and youre almost done..
lots of info regarding brakes and suspension on here so just take your time and read it all..its a lot to take in at first but swapping isnt all that hard nowadays with all the knowledge around..

oh and welcome to the club.. :wink:

[Paul Woods]

Hi, Paul here, live in Herts. Think it's a great site, I found you by accident. You lot are the real deal, completely lost the plot. Love it. Been reading the site all night, really pissed the missus off...! Some great ideas, limited only by imagination. When I spoke to other owners (MR2 Mk1 Club) about what I had in mind they they looked at me as though I'd just sh*gged their daughters....!


:lol: :lol: you're going to fit right in here mate....but if theres anything we can influence you with at all please dont fit a karmeleon kit! I have fitted two of these to customers cars and it will be the worst thing you ever do to your mr2.I dont care what karmeleon say about this kit,let me just say its heavy...VERY heavy,the front fibreglass wings are heavier than the steel ones they replace! In all the car drives like a slug with the kit fitted theres just so much weight but the biggest problem is the ground clearance....you cant jack a karmeleon up unless you do some sort of 3 stage scissor jack/trolley jack routine.....a nightmare!

Both kackmeleons ive built have grounded on pot holes and smashed the sills causing ????? worth of damage.

You can never get at your sills ever again for welding without destroying the kit,so if it ever failed Mot in years to come that would be the end of it.

You need a 3" wide wheel spacer on the rear to make the wheels fit the kit,this is a very abnormal load on the bearings and because the rear track width is a full 6" wider than the front it makes them handle like poo.

As you can tell im not a big fan of it! Looks wise its horrible but that side of things is each to their own,my reasons for hating it are the practical issues above.There are lots of lush kits out there for the mk1 have a look here http://www.mr2supercharger.com/Bodykits.html

My biggest beef with it is you have to drive it around like a glass slipper ,one light bump in that and the lots gone! Its an extra heavy,fugly turd that completely ruins a mk1 in my opinion!

Right! now ive vented my guts about that welcome to TB,as nik says its as simple as going 3s-gte or V6 or maybe something else?

Project wise id make your car solid first...then whip the engine out!

Door handle mod is tricky to set up but its one of those mods that nobody notices until you tell them...or they try to get it.. :lol:

The other loons will be along shortly to say hi,a more knowledgable and friendly bunch you wont find on any other forum.

[podge]

hi paul welcome to the assylam mate and enjoy your stay the most important tool you require is a grinder!!!!!! now learn to hold and caress it and itl take care of you feel the force paul use it mmmmmm grinder!!!
i personaly dopnt like the karmeleon either but whatever floats yer boat if you do want a kit take a look at megatrons eurosport now that does look nice also if you do a 3s or v6 swap before you drive it do your brakes believe me these cars are real real quick all the best and again enjoy your stay podge

[lodgeman]

My biggest beef with it is you have to drive it around like a glass slipper ,one light bump in that and the lots gone! Its an extra heavy,fugly turd that completely ruins a mk1 in my opinion!


so you dont like the kit then paul :lol: or am i getting the wrong impression :P welcome jasper - some seroiusly deranged people on this site so if you.ve got a grinder you'll fit right in :lol: i'm just at the start of my project and have gone for the v6 more on the grounds of affordability and lack of knowledge of turbo's :? mind you camry's are like rocking horse shite around here!!!


hee hee hee i've just found colour :lol:

[superchargedsam]

hi fella, one of the companies from the states doing the engine lid prop will soon be doing front bonnet struts as well as I also want some so hopefully should be around soon ! Dont go karmlooksawfulIMHOleon kit as it aint MR2 after fella !

[jasper]

Thanks for the info guys. Put me on a downer now as I liked that kit. Is it really that bad? Don't know what to do now...? Just realised I put doorless handles....! I bet even you lot wouldn't be able achive that. Bit draughty too....!

[Paul Woods]

dont mean to put you on a downer mate,being a new member an all that,but they really are that bad....each to their own looks wise,lots of mk1 owners that come to my garage love the karmeleon,but only a few know what they are like to live with day to day....changing a wheel is almost impossible,small humps in the road suddenly become mountains that you have to avoid,and then theres the weight....i bet it turns a mk1 into mk2 weight....very heavy mate.

Theres tons of gorgeous kits though,that dont add very much weight at all and dont ruin the drive.

al did i go too far? :D

lol@doorless handles...nobody noticed mate,is that the same as a carless roof? ive got one of them too! :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/paddy1970/roofoffoutside.jpg

[superchargedsam]

im just not keen on most kits foir the MK1 as I rekon toyota did a superb job with it, that said I have seen nice eurosports ones or the styleauto bodykit that can be seen on this IMOC thread:

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17167

I rekon that autostyle kit is really good but thats just me !

[jasper]

Don't usually go much for kits either. Just liked the Karmeleon because it was so different. If it really affects the handling, etc that much then I suppose I'll have to think again. Afterall, you lot are the experts at this so thanks again for the advice. Would save me a packet too I suppose. Probably leave as is now, or maybe beef up the arches a bit to give the impression it's on Viagra. Well that was easy, just got to decide on the engine now....!

[lodgeman]

if you want arches look at pauls thread- wings bigger than a jumbo jet :lol: :lol:

[MegatronUK]

Have to say I'm not a big fan of the Kameleon either! :? Sorry! :lol:

The german made Styleauto kit is nice, but my favourite is the Eurosport kit.

These are the only photos that I personally know of with the Eurosport kit fitted; I'm sure there are more, but they seem hard to find pics of. The Americans go nuts for this kit, but the exchange rate kills them... its almost $2000 plus shipping to them!

Images of a car taken by AdamH at JAE 2005:
http://www.adamhutchison.co.uk/graphics/JAE/dsc00046copy.jpg
http://www.adamhutchison.co.uk/graphics/JAE/dsc00047copy.jpg
http://www.adamhutchison.co.uk/graphics/JAE/dsc00048copy.jpg
http://www.adamhutchison.co.uk/graphics/JAE/dsc00049copy.jpg

The official Eurosport publicity picture:
http://www.eurosport-uk.co.uk/Toyota%20MR2/mr2kit.jpg

From the entry in the MR2 Supercharger.com bodykit section (Just noticed it's the same guy from JAE!):
http://www.mr2supercharger.com/Eurosportkits_files/bkitEurosport.jpg

Rowdans car, he hangs out here:
http://upload.3sgtemr2.com/userfiles/rowdan/rowdan/fuv1.jpg

My eurosport kitted mk1.5:
http://www.target-earth.net/static/mr2/8x6/IMG_1442.jpg
http://www.target-earth.net/static/mr2/8x6/IMG_1445.jpg
http://www.target-earth.net/static/mr2/8x6/IMG_1447.jpg
http://www.target-earth.net/static/mr2/8x6/IMG_1448.jpg

There! I think thats the biggest collection of Eurosport kitted MR2's in existance! :lol: There's not that many about.
It's a LOT of work to fit though... don't be under any illusions!

[jasper]

You've convinced me, the Karmeleon's off my list. That one's not bad, just enough to soften the edges.

Has anyone tried something like this...?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=7997099218&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

[djdna2000]

don't really like those lambo door conversions. Now if you had a t-bar and did a gullwing conversion, that WOULD be cool 8)

[MegatronUK]

Dan... you know you want to go a bit further and stick lasers on the edge of the doors... then you've got the car from MASK! :lol:

[Frogge]

What ho, all,
My friends call me Frogge, the rest I don't converse with :)

[jasper]

Hiya Frogge, are you just browsing or did my chat convince you that the 1.5 is the way to go...? Be careful, you start reading the threads and before you know it you're buying the bits to do the swap...!

[Frogge]

What ho, all,
My friends call me Frogge, the rest I don't converse with:-)
Jasper recommended this site for advice. I am a complete novice as regards what can be done with a Mk1.
I have a '87 coupe, which I intend to keep as original as I can, and a '89 Tbar.
The Tbar is just about to be taken off the road for body restoration, and while I'm at it, I might as well make it look bloody splendid.

I would appreciate any recommendations.

I am not, at the moment, interested in engine mods, but intake & exhaust is ok.

At the end of it, my beloved RollerSkate must be capable of travelling at least 500 miles a week without my having to resort to orthopaedic care, and should be happy to take holidays in eastern europe without suffering too much from the road quality.

Many thanks for your indulgence,
Frogge

[Frogge]

What ho, Jasper,
As you can see from the split post - I am having a bad day
Thanks for your comment on the tyres - I must check

Frogge

[Camel1918]

Hello all,

I've just found your site and I'm very excited about all the posts I now have to read. I am the proud owner of an 85 MR2. I bought it new, just 2 months after they started importing them to the US. Oh, by the way I'm an American as I see most of you are from the Old Country.

I found your posts interesting in this thread about bodies, as I too am looking for one. As you all probably know my poor MR2 is rusting out in all the regular spots and I've been looking at bodies. I haven't found too many I like. Infact, I've only found one. It was made by Postert of Essen in Germany and I was sad to find out it is no longer made. I have seen the pics of the yellow MR2 tricked out with it and I love it.

http://www.blackstar.tm-online.org/tr/inhalt.htm

It keeps a lot of the original body style which I think was next to perfect to begin with and adds a little stouter front air dam and a nicer transition along the running boards and back. If any of you know of something that is close to this style I would be interested in finding it. I like the more vertical curving front air dam as opposed to the V shaped.

The post on the 1.5 conversion is interesting but way beyond me. Of course I would love to have a turbo charged in my little ship. I have a ton of other work to do as well as she has been sitting in my garage for several years now.

Well I'm glad I found you all and I hope that this is a start of a beautiful relationship. LOL
I'm off to pour over the post now.

[nik]

congrats on finding us..
plenty of room for body kit discussion in the 'Mk1 and others' forum, a post in here may get missed by most.
it may be way beyond you currently but this place is a BIG confidence booster..youll be dropping in a turbo lump in no time..
welcome to the club and happy reading..!