Project Domes shonky autos - Grand Cherokee departs, Kangoo titivation and 911 dug out.

[dome]

I limped the Audi back home on Thursday as working on it during lunchbreaks wasn't happening. It's tucked up in my garage awaiting attention. I've swapped over the coolant sensor so far but haven't had a change to look at the bush.

 

The black MR2 sale prep is taking longer than it should but I got a bit more done today once the hangover from my works do last night had worn off.

 

First things first, remove the roof from the black car. As you can see it was a little* past its best.

 

 

An online guide was pretty helpful so the roof was soon off at mine.

 

Then down to the home of the red one via my lockup to pick up the hardtop.

 

Second time round and the roof was off in no time.

 

 

We also cleaned out the drains in both cars and cleaned the soft top

 

 

We're swapping the drivers seats over too, having these out helped with access.

 

I also swapped over the hardtop fittings to the red car. It'll be getting ran with no soft top so I need to cut down part of the old soft top frame as it's needed to mount the seatbelt and hardtop fittings. It'll be fine just now with the rear mounts though.

 

Light was running out but I've got the soft top in place on the black car and hopefully watertight, there's still a load of bolts to fit too and all the trim.

 

I'll get the job finished off in daylight. Sometime. Was hoping to have it sold before Christmas but I'm struggling with time and daylight

[dome]

Did the gauge start working when you put the new sender in the Audi?

I've not fired it up yet, it was a quick 5 minute job after MR2 shenanigans. Will find out when I get the bush fixed and take it a spin

[dome]

So, we cracked on on Sunday and got the roof fitted. The instructions I found showed how to take one off but were hazy in putting one back on. We got there in the end, I was still aching 2 days later from being contorted in the back of the thing. 

 

After a bit of a polish she's looking well

 

 

I've still got the lambda sensors to swap over but it's been advertised.

 

I'm mildly ashamed to say I've not got the sheared bolt out yet. It's for a chassis brace so not essential, unless the new owner plans on tracking it.

 

It's up for sale now so we'll see what happens this close to Christmas. Any shiters who are interested give me a shout...

[dome]

I had a crack at the A2 tonight, first chance I got since bringing it home last week. It's in the garage so first thing i did was jack it up and remove both front wheels to compare the 2 sides to see what the difference was

 

Here's the LHS which is fine

 

 

And the RHS where the problem was

 

 

The only difference seems to be the bracket on the subframe that the bolt goes through, running down the front of the wishbone. It looks misshapen on the RHS. On removing both bolts the LHS wishbone was a tighter fit into the subframe

 

Slightly confused, I did what seemed to be the sensible thing and whacked it with a hammer.

 

This worked-I bolted the RHS back together and the play was gone.

 

Go figure?

 

Victory was not quite mine yet though, on refitting the LHS I managed to cross thread the bloody bolt. It took fucking ages to sort and ended up with me jacking up a spanner against the bolt on the way in to get it to line up. I should've took a picture but I was massively fucked off.

 

I've stuck the battery on to charge and left it for the night.

 

I've no idea what's happened to that bush to give it play, there's no sign of an impact on the subframe. I'm open to ideas?

 

Still got head bolts/gasket to do. Think I'll drive it for a bit first though.

[gm]

I wonder if the garage might have bent the frame getting the old one off when they swapped the wishbones ? then the bush just took time to work loose ? lets hope its done the job and its one less thing to worry about.

[Saabnut]

I am willing to bet that MR2 was a lease car when new, probably to a Toyota employee. At the time my brother was the CFO of Toyota Motor Finance, and was entitled to 3 company lease cars so I had the third! The first year I had a red MR2 (same colour as your track car but on a Y plate) and the second year I had a Silver one, registration GY02 YSB. My brother left during the second year so the silver one went back early.

[dome]

I am willing to bet that MR2 was a lease car when new, probably to a Toyota employee. At the time my brother was the CFO of Toyota Motor Finance, and was entitled to 3 company lease cars so I had the third! The first year I had a red MR2 (same colour as your track car but on a Y plate) and the second year I had a Silver one, registration GY02 YSB. My brother left during the second year so the silver one went back early.

 

Interesting!

 

The red one is on Inchcape motor group plates and I found a business card from the salesman whilst swapping seats over.

 

Inchcape were (are?) the UK Toyota importers and Lord Inchcape owns the country estate I grew up on in Ayrshire. 

[dome]

I wonder if the garage might have bent the frame getting the old one off when they swapped the wishbones ? then the bush just took time to work loose ? lets hope its done the job and its one less thing to worry about.

 

Possibly. It's weird. I guess the only thing to do is put some miles on it and see what happens...

 

Oh, I also need to pop the DAB radio out and fit an aerial-I've got one of those attach to the windscreen jobs somewhere, I'll see how that works.  My magnetic one won't be much use!

[cort16]

I had the same problem with the DAB in my Avantime. I just gave up in the end.

 

Do you think the subframe and all the mounting points are aluminium or is there some steel in there?

[gm]

there was a dab antenna stuck on the windscreen but the elements were broken and I just cut it off at the cable. that stereo is a horror anyway, doing the simplest of tasks seemed to be needlessly complex, I ripped it out and fitted my alpine, so much better. 

[dome]

I had the same problem with the DAB in my Avantime. I just gave up in the end.

 

Do you think the subframe and all the mounting points are aluminium or is there some steel in there?

 

Re the DAB-I have good success with a magnetic external aerial, it is a bit ugly though as the cable goes in through the top of the door aperture. I'd consider drilling and mounting a permanent aerial in the A2 if it starts to behave itself-it's got winter beater written all over it.

 

The subframe is steel-part 21 in the picture.This is the bit I fettled with the hammer.

The bolt (No5) goes through this, through the wisbone bush and into 22 which is alloy-that's the bit I managed to cross thread.

 

[gadgetgricey]

DAB wise, get one of these.

 

https://www.halfords.com/technology/car-audio/stereo-fitting-accessories/autoleads-magnetic-dab-antenna?_br_psugg_q=dab+aerial

 

Got one fitted in each of the cars with DAB, and very rarely drops out.

Both inside the car fitted to the boot rear window.

[dome]

DAB wise, get one of these.

 

https://www.halfords.com/technology/car-audio/stereo-fitting-accessories/autoleads-magnetic-dab-antenna?_br_psugg_q=dab+aerial

 

Got one fitted in each of the cars with DAB, and very rarely drops out.

Both inside the car fitted to the boot rear window.

 

I have one of those on the S4 and you're right, they are very good. I also have a spare magnetic aerial I use in other cars but my issue was finding somewhere on the (aluminium) A2 to stick it!

[gadgetgricey]

Just wedged/attached mine to the window trim.

Slotted the aerial top behind the trim piece, and then stuck/wedged the base , at the base of the window.

Its at an angle, so doesn't look the best, but not moved in over 2 years.

[dome]

So, the MR2 has been sold and a collection will be happening soon 

 

I took the A2 out and did 20 miles in it to make sure it was OK. Speeds were low but it didn't use any coolant. More importantly the suspension seems sorted. A working coolant gauge gives me a bit of confidence in using it, I'll not be far from home (or the scrappy) with it anyway. 

 

It's now been insured in place of the Corolla. Plan is to use it for short journeys to get a feel for it before I do the head bolts, or possibly just go balls deep and do the gasket.

 

So, the Corollas engine is coming out before New Year.  You've read that here, that means it will* happen..

 

Plan is jack up outside the garage to drain coolant and remove driveshafts, then into the garage to get the engine ready to get it ready to remove, then wheel it back out to lift it out-the garage is too low to get the crane high enough. The shell will then go to the scrappy. If anyone needs any Corolla bits then let me know now...

 

I need to buy an engine stand to put the 2zz on so we can store/change parts we need to. Once the Corolla is gone I'll get the red MR2 up and get the engine and box out of it and stick the LSD from the MR2 box into the Corolla box. Gulp.

[dozeydustman]

The shell will then go to the scrappy. If anyone needs any Corolla bits then let me know now...

 

What year corolla?

[The Moog]

You make it sound so simple! 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

What year corolla?

It's an 03 (p32)

[dome]

What year corolla?

 

Yep, 2003 5 door. I'll try and get a pic later. Need anything?

[dozeydustman]

Yep, 2003 5 door. I'll try and get a pic later. Need anything?

 

 

Was hoping for the bug-eye shape. Ne'er mind. Was after door seals and few bits of interior trim

[J-T]

I could do with a parcel shelf for ours, whereabouts are you?

[dome]

I could do with a parcel shelf for ours, whereabouts are you?

Fife!

[gm]

I was looking for something else today and found the seat covers for the A2 that the previous owner gave me - they're really shit quality but you are welcome to them if you want ? 

[J-T]

Fife!

Ah. Not to worry

[Snipes]

So, the MR2 has been sold and a collection will be happening soon

 

I took the A2 out and did 20 miles in it to make sure it was OK. Speeds were low but it didn't use any coolant. More importantly the suspension seems sorted. A working coolant gauge gives me a bit of confidence in using it, I'll not be far from home (or the scrappy) with it anyway.

 

It's now been insured in place of the Corolla. Plan is to use it for short journeys to get a feel for it before I do the head bolts, or possibly just go balls deep and do the gasket.

 

So, the Corollas engine is coming out before New Year. You've read that here, that means it will* happen..

 

Plan is jack up outside the garage to drain coolant and remove driveshafts, then into the garage to get the engine ready to get it ready to remove, then wheel it back out to lift it out-the garage is too low to get the crane high enough. The shell will then go to the scrappy. If anyone needs any Corolla bits then let me know now...

 

I need to buy an engine stand to put the 2zz on so we can store/change parts we need to. Once the Corolla is gone I'll get the red MR2 up and get the engine and box out of it and stick the LSD from the MR2 box into the Corolla box. Gulp.

I have a personal private theory the 2ZZ shares some anchestory with the 7AFE, the pre-vvti 1.8. With that in mind I wonder if the vvtli will fit into a Carina. And if it did would it be as out of place as the Corolla?

[dome]

I was looking for something else today and found the seat covers for the A2 that the previous owner gave me - they're really shit quality but you are welcome to them if you want ?

Maybe, I've pulled the back seats out of it to turn it into a van-its on mountain bike hauling duties tomorrow!

[dome]

Ah. Not to worry

Where are you? You never know...

[J-T]

Near Warrington

[The Moog]

It can probably be brought closer say Accrington

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

When I pick up the Black MR2 this weekend - I'm trundling down to the Peak District (Alton/Uttoxeter way)...… I could lay it off somewhere on the way if that helps…?

Intention is to collect the car Saturday morning - trundle down to see mates and meet for late afternoon drink/meal/skinfull……… happy to drop off or meet up on the way if you or anyone else is about.

 

John