Mk1 MR2 Thread (With Rust!)

[kaiowas]

Was starting to get my car ready for it's upcoming trip to the bodyshop yesterday, part of which involved removing the carpets to expose the full extent of the footwell rot:

Drivers Side Sill (You're really not meant to be able to see the inside of it!):

Drivers Side Footwell (I think the rot is due to a lack of proper rustproofing when new inner wings have been fitted in the past):

Passengers Side Footwell(Thankfully not as bad as the drivers side):

At least the arches are OK

 

[kaiowas]

ohh rust...

I'd be interested how much it costs you once it's done.

Also do you have any drain plugs in the sills?
If you have get some waxol, you thin it down with white spirit. Then get hand pump sprayer and a delivery rod. And fire some in your sills. It penetrates rust, will last for ever.

Great stuff.

Been quoted £1500 for basically a restoration of the lower 6" or so of the shell plus a full respray afterwards although the guy who is doing it hasn't actually seen the car yet so I'm holding a bit in reserve in case the price goes up. (I'd like to be spending the extra on wheels but I'm holding off for now)

There's access to the inside of the sills from above so I probably will waxoyl it all once I get it back (assuming the bodywork guy doesn't do it anyway)

 

[kaiowas]

Presume you're getting the arch kit from the company near Scarborough/Malton? It's on fleabay for £210 at the moment for all 6 bits. Where are you located btw, I know a VERY good place around Hartlepool that will be much cheaper than that, though the old guy will hold you hostage and ramble at you for 2 or 3 hours before giving you a price.

The work is being done by Paul Woods (general mk1 guru), does involve a fair old drive plus I've been waiting for it to go in since the end of May but I know he'll do a good job and will do what's right for the car rather than trying to make a quick buck. If it needs any arch panels I assume they'll be coming from that place though.

Whilst the whole thing may not be particularly cost effective compared tot he value of the car I don't care. I've never had a car that I've cared for enough to recklessly throw money at before and once it's done It should last for a good while yet. Besides the cost of buying this car plus doing the bodywork is still less than a lot of people on here lose in depreciation over a couple of years.