Suj's FL Silver 'Meredith' aka 'Merdeux'

Started by suj, July 22, 2016, 11:10

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suj

Hi all,

So I thought I might as well make a reader's ride for my car.

I drove one of these many years ago when they were new (a PFL) and when I was quite young, but then a few years got to drive another one, and still loved the fun factor of it.

I've been into cars since I was a little kid, have owned quite a few cars, doing quite a bit on track including Nürburgring a few times (last time I went was in 2013, miss the place so much  s:( :( s:(  ).

I got all sensible and thought I need to grow up and sold up my track E36 for a house deposit and got a 740iL for a daily, but it was so boaty and after 2.5years I missed having something fun, the MR2 just fitted the bill (apart from practicality). I do about 80miles a day, nearly all motorway.

After going on a roadtrip with some mates and colleagues as a passenger it was the last straw and I set my heart on a MR2, FL made sense to lower chances of engine problems, so search began.
I seen some ropey ones with "FSH" etc, but was losing hope to get one before the next roadtrip that was planned, but one popped up that I had seen previously but was out of budget, it was priced lower this time round.

It was an 03, FSH, clutch and flywheel done not long ago, cooling system done not long before that, silver with red interior, took it for a spin and it drove really well and roof was in a good condition, so price agreed and bought.

But....on the way home the EML came on....great!
Luckily I got it scanned by a colleague and member on here, it was the passenger side Lambda sensor, so easy enough to change, so that was done before road trip.

I then went on the road trip where it performed effortlessly and surprised many people at it's pace (me too!).
But on the way home, steering started getting heavy like 2 flat tyres, did a google and it was the UJ, so this was bought and changed, problem solved.

At the same time I thought I might as well change all the lambda sensors so I know they are all Denso and good for a long time, until the post cat one was already rounded slightly like someone has had a go, so this was cut out and new threaded boss was put in, problem solved.

So i've had some annoyances since owning it, but when you drive down some country lanes, it makes it all better  s:D :D s:D

Here are some pics, as people love pics lol














So plans for the future (even though I said I wasn't going to do anything to this....i've said it on my last 5 cars!!!!)
* Fit Toyosport manifold (bought)
* Fit UltraRacing front strut brace (bought)
* Fit Kimitech underbrace (bought)
* Fit Goodridge stainless lines (ordered from GB)
* Yellow stuff pads
* Refresh dampers and maybe tein springs (but at the cost, adjustable coilovers seem better VFM)
* Bushes as needed


I always wanted to shove a 2ZZ into this and make it a track car, way further down the line, may still be on the books depending how I get on with house purchase etc  s:D :D s:D

PS, 'Merdeux' is from the french friends and colleagues, they keep referring to it as  s:P :P s:P

manos3003

#1
That's not very nice from our French colleagues... you trust the French to come up with a car and they come up with this hideous thing:  m http://www.citroen.gr/wp-content/upload ... ndance.jpg m    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  

Keep us informed of things!
I can't recall a day when I drove my MR2 and it didn't put a smile on my face
<strike>2000 Spectra Blue Mica - 2ZZ-GE gone, but not forgotten</strike>
2002 Spectra Blue Mica K20A2 coming up

lamcote

#2
I would be very interested to hear your opinion about any changes /improvements you get after fitting the strut brace?
Silver 2004 MR2 -  Unmodified but very shiny.

suj

#3
LOL thanks Manos, yeah it's all banter, I give them loads of crap, so expect it back  s;) ;) s;)

Quote from: "lamcote"I would be very interested to hear your opinion about any changes /improvements you get after fitting the strut brace?

I haven't had time to get the front brace on yet, but I will be doing so soon.

My car has been in at the garage as i've been away, it started making a rear knocking noise and slower speeds, it really sounded like a top mount from driving, garage when I dropped it off on the road test said the same.

But I picked it up, it was a combination of rear ARB link (replaced) and the lower arm bush (the hub end) he showed me the play, anyone know where I can get this bush from? Is it Toyota only?
Also there is play in the gearbox bush, again can be this be bought?

While I had the car with him, I said just throw the Kimitech underbrace and stainless manifold on.










The manifold as expected needed a lot of swearing at it apparently, to get heatshield off. But went on fine.
Another question though, I bought a genuine Toyota manifold > head gasket, I also got genuine rings that go on the cat > manifold, but he used the gasket that came with the manifold on top of this for this bit, should I remove it and just use the rings?


Also the underbrace one of the bolts needed boring out, as it didn't line up, so drill bit out, but other wise he said went on fine, I can definitely notice a difference with it, just feels stiffer / less torsion.


So now I need to sort that bush and the gearbox mount and car will be back to full health  s:D :D s:D

lamcote

#4
Your suspension bush options are;
1. Buy a complete suspension arm/hub from Toyota with the standard bushes in them (the bushes themselves aren't available). These are inevitably expensive
2. Buy a second hand arm/hub as required
3. Buy poly bushes
4. Buy after market arms like Hard Race
Silver 2004 MR2 -  Unmodified but very shiny.

John is200sport

#5
Firstly great write up and looked a quality roadtrip. You have the same mods planned as me. Glad the underbracing works, think I might need to invest the £70, seems worth it.

Was the main reason for the manifold, performance or pre cat worries. How loud does it sound over stock? Is the performance much different?

As for the manifold gaskets I wouldn't worry as surely the only bad thing that can happen is it leak? If it's not leaking now I wouldn't bother doing anything. I know if people use gasket paste it can dry and crumble into the cat and its not recommended for this location. As they are proper gaskets supplied this shouldn't happen.

suj

#6
Quote from: "lamcote"Your suspension bush options are;
1. Buy a complete suspension arm/hub from Toyota with the standard bushes in them (the bushes themselves aren't available). These are inevitably expensive
2. Buy a second hand arm/hub as required
3. Buy poly bushes
4. Buy after market arms like Hard Race

Brilliant, thanks for the reply dude, yeah I thought that would be the case, I don't really want to go polybush, and I can only imagine the hub cost, so I will try and source a good hub with good bushes.

Quote from: "John is200sport"Firstly great write up and looked a quality roadtrip. You have the same mods planned as me. Glad the underbracing works, think I might need to invest the £70, seems worth it.

Was the main reason for the manifold, performance or pre cat worries. How loud does it sound over stock? Is the performance much different?

As for the manifold gaskets I wouldn't worry as surely the only bad thing that can happen is it leak? If it's not leaking now I wouldn't bother doing anything. I know if people use gasket paste it can dry and crumble into the cat and its not recommended for this location. As they are proper gaskets supplied this shouldn't happen.

Thanks John, yeah it was worth it, I still haven't had a chance to get the front strut brace on, it's been many hectic weeks lately.

So there were two reasons, when changing the post cat lambda, it was properly stuck in, so I had to remove the cat, and then an exhaust place cut out the old one, and welded in a new boss for it.
But when removing, we noticed one of the studs had snapped in the OEM manifold, so I wanted to get rid of precats anyway, so this just sped up the purchase.

There is a slight increase in noise, but in a good way, as it was dead quiet before, so it's more of a deeper rumble than a massive chavvy type decibel increase. I thought I wouldn't gain much of a performance increase, but it feels more torquey mid-range, it could well be a placebo really, but a friend did his and said the same.

I would suggest what was told to me, buy an OEM head > manifold gasket and the gasket rings for the cat > manifold.

Yeah that was what I was thinking too, just leave it as it is, as it isn't causing any problems.
Thanks for the reply  s:) :) s:)

suj

#7
Not much to update apart from someone hitting my car in an Asda car park  s:( :( s:(

They hit the passenger front corner, the wing is definitely damaged, but I think the bumper and the archliner can be saved!

So I am now on the lookout for a silver FL wing....so annoying!  s:( :( s:(

John is200sport

#8
Hope you get sorted with the wing. It's a pain getting the right colour silver 9/10 times people are selling PFL silver especially when it comes to things like hardtops. I think there is a guy on ebay who is a member on here based at Huddersfield who is breaking a fl silver called Andy n20 or something like that.

I have a strange affection for your car as it's so similar to mine and same sort of mods. All the best and hope it's a speedy repair and gets back to looking it's best soon.

jvanzyl

#9
Maybe this is an opportunity... To buy the stage 21's!! [GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES] That way it comes under maintenance... But it's also an upgrade!

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

suj

#10
Quote from: "John is200sport"Hope you get sorted with the wing. It's a pain getting the right colour silver 9/10 times people are selling PFL silver especially when it comes to things like hardtops. I think there is a guy on ebay who is a member on here based at Huddersfield who is breaking a fl silver called Andy n20 or something like that.

I have a strange affection for your car as it's so similar to mine and same sort of mods. All the best and hope it's a speedy repair and gets back to looking it's best soon.

Thanks for the heads up John, luckily D1ck Sloan has a FL one (he's so helpful!) so should sort out the problem.

Thanks mate, I think we have similar tastes / directions for our cars. I just seen your thread (you've updated from your welcome post) very nice mods mate  s:D :D s:D

My work has been so slow due to working everywhere lately and then no free weekends! I need to pull my finger out and do bits and bobs on it.

Quote from: "jvanzyl"Maybe this is an opportunity... To buy the stage 21's!! [GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES] That way it comes under maintenance... But it's also an upgrade!

Haha, I normally do that sort of man-maths, but lately I just want a standard-ish car, so will just buy this wing and slap it on and get car back to health.

suj

#11
Regrettably my car will be up for sale this week, I have a replacement.

Due to a change in my job role I will need to do more travelling and I need more creature comforts  s:( :( s:(

The plan was to keep this then replace it in the future and have this as a weekend / track car, but I cannot justify both currently  s:( :( s:(

I will be taking the Kimitech Underbrace and the Ultra Racing front upper brace for sale separately also.

It's a shame, I still would like one as a second car in the future, so watch this space as I will most likely be back  s:D :D s:D

Thanks to everyone who has helped me during ownership, this forum has been great and very helpful  s:) :) s:)

Ardent

#12
I'm tempted to put dibs on he Kimitech brace here before you even advertise it.

How did you find it?

suj

#13
Quote from: "Ardent"I'm tempted to put dibs on he Kimitech brace here before you even advertise it.

How did you find it?

I am not sure if it is allowed? Mods? I don't want to cause any problems, as rules are rules.
If it is ok then no problem.

So I put the brace on first, and could feel less flex when turning in, but then coupled with the Ultra Racing top brace it was night and day difference in my opinion!

It's going into the garage today to have the rear hub replaced (a bush has worn, so I managed to get a hub off Mr Sloan), also gearbox mount had excessive play (another Mr Sloan part), oil, oil filter, sump plug, washer and air filter, the whole new pre-tensioner I got from Toyota (totally forgot about it!).

Hopefully get it spot on for the new buyer (whoever that may be)  s:) :) s:)

suj

#14
So it is now up for sale  s:( :( s:(

I had such a nice drive home yesterday from it's service, rear hub swapped over, gearbox mount changed. I also removed the Kimitech underbrace will be removing the Ultra Racing front brace today / tomorrow also.

John is200sport

#15
We were like silver streak brothers man!!!, who's going to inspire my build now!

I'm not angry just disappointed, lol. Only joking.

Good luck with the sales and with the new job roles. I've ended up getting a second car as 1st November to protect my mr2 from the fools in my work car park and winter salt.

It's amazing how few boxes the mr2 ticks but the boxes it does tick are phenomenal.

Lovely looking motor and someone will get something very special.

suj

#16
Haha I know John! Sorry dude I am disappointed myself, as I do really enjoy the car  s:( :( s:(

Thank you mate for your kind words, it's a shame as I wanted to sort out all the niggles I have mentioned in the for sale advert, but as I wasn't really going to sell, I wanted to do it slowly.

Good work on the second car, as great as these are, if you do more mileage it needs to be a second car really.

Well put, it does what it was intended for so well, especially value for money!

Thanks mate, my problem when selling a car is I go OTT on being brutally honest with it's flaws, as I don't like people willing to travel from distance to be annoyed by a lack of honesty in my description, so this always delays my sales.

suj

#17
Have I priced this car wrong for the wrong time of year?
As i've had a few people interested, but no one has come to look at the car :-/

1979scotte

#18
Its a bad time for year for soft tops.
Unless someone wants one for xmas.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Free Ukraine 🇺🇦

The Other Stu

#19
Quote from: "1979scotte"Its a bad time for year for soft tops.
Unless someone want one for xmas.
This. When you're seeing FL cars with 82k on them struggling to go for a grand, you know that it's probably not the best time of year to be selling.
No Longer Here

shnazzle

#20
It's also a brilliant time to sniff out a deal. Look at Bossworld; 2004 sable with TTE kit (spoiler, style bar, exhaust and even rear spats). High mileage and a few little typical issues, but still an absolute bargain. Even with all the fixes, still an bargain.

Almost seems silly to buy an MR2 in summer
...neutiquam erro.

suj

#21
I thought as much, i'm glad I am not just being an idiot!

I guess I am going to have to lower the price and take it on the chin  s:( :( s:(

Also will be posting up ads for the Kimitech / UR Front Brace in the next few days, at least I recoup some cash that way.

suj

#22
Car sold  s:( :( s:(

I will post up adverts for the upper brace, breast plate and Goodridge stainless lines soon.

Mods please lock this thread  s:) :) s:)

Treboeth

#23
Quote from: "suj"Car sold  s:( :( s:(

I will post up adverts for the upper brace, breast plate and Goodridge stainless lines soon.

Mods please lock this thread  s:) :) s:)

Temporarily locking until your return   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

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