I just took my mr2 spyder for a half hour test drive and brake bedding drive after five years of dormancy with a bad motor, then swapping in a good one and different transmission and new clutch and etc... Not one glitch. I’m seriously on cloud nine here.
It needs new tires but I knew that. It needs new shocks but I knew that. I had the top down and it’s 30 degrees out with snow still on the ground but I just didn’t care.
I’ll try to make a build thread at some point. I’ve been so wrapped up getting it together I couldn’t find the motivation while it was still immobile.
On all four and moving under its own power for the first time since 2012 or so:
Awesome. These cars are such a blast to drive. I feel like I don't see many of them around anymore...glad to see you keeping yours alive (and enjoying it!!!)
Sneakin out with "Daddy's" car. Love it! Congrrats on the resurerection.
Totally. Got the kids to sleep then buttoned up the last few things and started driving. I said out loud,”I just want to drive all night.” Too bad about kids and work in the morning. It’ll be rough enough as it is.
Nice! Congrats on getting it going again.
The weather is headed in the right direction next week which will hopefully give you more opportunities for a drive. Congrats!
Woohoo! Glad to hear it is together and running.
Congrats! 5 years on one project? Whew.
Perfect top down weather is just around the corner.
Sonic
UltraDork
3/22/18 7:20 a.m.
Well to be fair I think in the past 5 years David has had 2 kids and bought a big needy house, so getting this finished at all is a big accomplishment
Nice! Always said if I didn't have a 914....
Sonic said:
Well to be fair I think in the past 5 years David has had 2 kids and bought a big needy house, so getting this finished at all is a big accomplishment
Yeah; 5 years for what should have been a quick engine swap is silly. But it became one of those “I’ll get to it when I get to it” deals. I was in the middle of rebuilding the top end of a GS430 motor when I got it and then started remodeling my old house’s bathrooms and then bought a giant (6000+ sf) basketcase house and rehabbed that and had my first kid and ... life happened. But I finally decided now’s the time and set aside several evenings a week to spend an hour or two on it. And here we are. I’m going to drive it to work although I realize it has 5 year old gas in it so that might not be smart. I should have drained it earlier.
Robbie
PowerDork
3/22/18 9:43 a.m.
I'm going on ten years into an engine rebuilding project on my mgb gt. Well, the rebuild technically got done and then I started a swap project.
But excellent excellent work. I was just talking to singleslammer about your awesome car parting thread last weekend.
Good job and good timing with warm weather on the horizon.
Now- enjoy!
Good job! Enjoy the drive! Mind if I borrow your enthusiasm for my own motivation?
T.J.
MegaDork
3/22/18 10:25 a.m.
Good deal. I need to get off my but and get my Mini back on the road. It has been sitting since May of 2015 when I lost my brake fluid and then parked it. I bought all the parts I need right away and they have been sitting in boxes on the passenger seat for coming on 3 years now....
I should clarify that I had never driven this car before last night. Bought November 2012 with a bad rod knock and only pushed or slowly nursed in or out of garages and onto trailer since. Drove it to work today! Got hollered at once and several compliments. You sure don’t see many of them. Especially with the top down at 30-35 degrees. ;)
i did find it has a big ping around 3000-4000rpms under load. That might be the 5 year old gas. I forgot I hadn’t drained it. Whoops! I’ll drain it this weekend and put fresh stuff in. Hope it didn’t do anything to the injectors to run it on that junk. I went ahead and put some seafoam in just in case.
Robbie said:
I'm going on ten years into an engine rebuilding project on my mgb gt. Well, the rebuild technically got done and then I started a swap project.
But excellent excellent work. I was just talking to singleslammer about your awesome car parting thread last weekend.
Well I hope to encourage you with this. That eventual first drive is quite an experience. Thanks for the ref to my parting out thread! I’m glad you guys enjoy it! This is where the engine and transmission ended up. Along with the later style tail lights and bumper.
