<font face="Comic Sans MS"></font id="Comic Sans MS"><font size="5"></font id="size5"><font color="blue"></font id="blue">[:)]This project so far has been a real test - not only of my mechanical skills but also the strength of my marriage [:I]. So far, both are holding out, but 2 years down the line my wife's patience is wearing thin [:(]. I can't blame her really, especially when the only thing wrong with the car in the first place was that the gearbox mount had perished. This caused the back end of the gearbox to drop down, raising the engine in the engine bay; this meant the bonnet wouldn't shut properly [:(!][:(!]. I could have spent a few pounds and a couple of hours and I think the car would have been roadworthy. But no.........[:p]
Being the perfectionist, I decided to start with a blank canvas, and commenced basically a nut and bolt restoration [:p]. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, has been removed at some point or other, stripped down, cleaned, painted or plated where possible, and rebuilt and tested; it's now all going back on, very slowly and carefully [^].
The engine has been cleaned, degreased and Hammerited silver and had a new timing chain fitted and rocker cover chromed. It is now sitting waiting to be connected to the gearbox and then fitted, then I can start on the electrics. The crank turns as sweet as a nut, and you can hear the valves drawing air in and exhausting it as hoped for with that lovely "slurping" noise [:D].The carbs have been stripped down to the nuts & bolts, been given the same treatment and are now sat on the manifold, with the addition of chromed dashpots and air filter (a bit "pimped", but very nice [^], maybe not to everybodies taste, but thats what makes it MINE [}:)]!). The suspension and running gear have benefitted from new shocks, gaiters, track ends, good quality (but not new) ruber bushes and a new coat of Hammerite (the car probably weighs 30 kgs more due to the amount of Hammerite used!). The rear deck had turned to cheese, but that was the only major area of rust. I was incredibly lucky to happen upon such a decent shell, as we all know the dangers of corrosion. A new deck was welded in, although it's not a great fit and won't win any concourse competitions, it is 95% perfect and I'll take that [;)]. I have replaced all perished rubbers (light gaskets, door/boot/bonnet trim etc) and all the lights have been totally stripped, cleaned, refurbished and tested: that chrome spray is the business (again, the units aren't brand new but they certainly look great). I've had the sunroof professionally restored (don't ask me the cost, my wife will go bananas [:0]), and wax-oiled and tetra-sealed all the underside (inc fuel tank well). I am probably now at the point of diminishing returns, so have stopped chasing perfection to concentrate on the rebuild.
I was lucky enough to buy a £500 pig-in-a-poke convertible from ebay [:(!] that was "one of the best examples available, as described by a member of the TR7 Owners Club". I just didn't realise Stevie Wonder was a member of the TR7 Owners Club [8D][8D]. No-ones fault but my own, the car was an absolute shocker. I gutted it back to the shell and sold enough bits to make my money back, but probably saved myself a couple of hundred pounds by having spares that I didn't need to buy. Every cloud, etc.
I believe all the bits I have used are either original or at least good quality replacements from Rimmers or Robsport. The respray again isn't perfect, but unless you get to within 2 feet it looks the dogs ....... It is Toyota MR2 red, so the purists will be turning in their graves [xx(] but hey, I love it[:D]! The list of work is far too long to go into, but my main aim is to have a daily run-around that is capable of turning a few heads in the high street [:p]. I won't win any concourse events, but it'll be a looker. You can pick up on the level I've gone to by looking at the photos in my link, but I am now desperate to get it on the road for the summer. That said, I won't rush it because I'm not going to waste the effort and money I've spent on it, but fingers crossed.....[:D].
Maybe one day, once it's on the road, I might sit down and set my own webpage to go through the resto in more detail, but I have found that the best way to figure out how to take the thing to bits is to have a go - how do you think the guys who wrote those £20 books did it in the first place. Be methodical, take loads of photos, label everything (learn from my mistake - if you diconnect it, label it!!) but importantly, be brave. There's no substitute for teaching yourself (that's probably why it's taken me 2 years).
If I can help anybody with any info, I'll be pleased to help, and once it's on the road I'll be taking it to many of the shows, not to display but to look at other peoples ideas and maybe even copy a few. Wish me luck over the next few months (I only get a few hours a week - maybe 6 if I'm lucky) and maybe one day you can get to within a couple of feet and say "the paint job's not perfect, but it'll do!!
The pheonix rises from the ashes - just give it time.
http://s733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/macmattom/
