Author Topic: Marvin; Red's 86 Toyota MR2 - Frozen, Clutched, and Exhausted  (Read 30455 times)

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Offline Pinkdonut666

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #25 on: March 22, 2015, 06:53:09 pm »
The second aw11, Donut needed to tow his home.

But after new plugs and fresh oil it made it 36km before the head gasket went completely ( because the supercharger uckfayed the belt, and the water pump and supercharger share a belt... So overheated the engine and no more head gasket...

Offline dudder

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #26 on: March 24, 2015, 08:48:34 pm »
Cool projects guys ... I bought a '87 as my first car .... it was actually good in the winter because of the weight distribution. I remember the front end got a little light at speed, I would recommend some kind of down force aero if you get serious ...

Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #27 on: March 25, 2015, 11:18:41 pm »
Cool projects guys ... I bought a '87 as my first car .... it was actually good in the winter because of the weight distribution. I remember the front end got a little light at speed, I would recommend some kind of down force aero if you get serious ...

While not pulling down aero, it's still aero.

https://youtu.be/IFDZCIYe3RY?list=UUHqgnBEbgkljvHQUg9MQfKA


I'm having an interesting time trying to find an engine. Ebay has lots of things, and Nagasaki JDM Motors has quite a few options, guess we'll see what happens.
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Offline LilDrunkenSmurf

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #28 on: March 26, 2015, 07:27:36 am »
1.5
If the sea was vodka, and I was a duck.
I would swim to the bottom, and drink my way up.
But the sea isn't vodka, and I'm not a duck.
So give me the vodka, and stfu.
If you're having forum problems, I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but your post ain't one.

Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #29 on: March 26, 2015, 08:17:06 am »
1.5

Or go full bonkers in the form of a 4.0L V8.
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Offline seat safety switch

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #30 on: March 26, 2015, 02:28:45 pm »
Or go full bonkers in the forum of a 4.0L V8.

I thought those V8s were a maintenance nightmare before.

Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #31 on: March 26, 2015, 10:41:17 pm »
I'm not sure, but it's not happening. On the topic of motors, I've found a couple options.

Motor 1
Race prep 3s-gte, recently rebuilt. 250 HP+
$1400

Motor 2
Sub 80,000 3s-ge, black top, stock. 200 HP or so
$1500

I want the NA, high revving, momentum car is what I'm interested in; not a more brutish, potentially turbo lagged problems from someone else's work.

That said, I'm sure a race tuned motor wouldn't have lag, but it's the maybe that I have a problem with.

I'll sleep on it, my choice is already 90% made, just looking for someone that may say "you igit, logic to follow."
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Offline Canuckrz

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #32 on: March 26, 2015, 11:01:06 pm »
I want the NA, high revving, momentum car is what I'm interested in; not a more brutish, potentially turbo lagged problems from someone else's work.
Sounds like the NA 1UZ is the way to go.

Offline LilDrunkenSmurf

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #33 on: March 27, 2015, 07:11:52 am »
NA is nice, but more HP/$ seems like a good deal. Depends how highly strung that motor is. If it's a safe build, I'd do it. If it's a "you breathe too close to the gas tank the octane will drop and the car will explode" engine, stay away.
If the sea was vodka, and I was a duck.
I would swim to the bottom, and drink my way up.
But the sea isn't vodka, and I'm not a duck.
So give me the vodka, and stfu.
If you're having forum problems, I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but your post ain't one.

Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #34 on: March 27, 2015, 07:02:46 pm »
I'm not sure if it's a safe build, and it's out in Vancouver somewheres, which is a little far to go and tire kick; plus no warranty. The other one has 30 days of warranty, which is appealing.

Yeah, I'm not going v8. Too much fab, too heavy, too much not what I want.



Velocity stacks, are going on, intake noise all day.
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Al-Tessa;
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Offline Canuckrz

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #35 on: March 27, 2015, 10:39:52 pm »
I see your itb's and raise you 4 intake runners.

Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #36 on: March 30, 2015, 05:46:59 pm »
We tore into the engine... There's not much good to report.

Of the 16 original cam lobs, 6.5 of the cams are polished down or pitted.
Of the 9.5 still looking decent looking cams, 5 actually worked and depressed valves.
Two spark plugs are newish, the other two weren't likely because of the grime in the holes; not to mention all the grime on the valve train itself.
The block is... Well, it has a sight hole now. And the oil leak, before the sight, was Toyota quality. Meaning EVERYWHERE.

Actually, one good thing to report. The timing case was spotless.
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Al-Tessa;
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Offline seat safety switch

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #37 on: March 31, 2015, 07:47:11 am »
Classic 80s Toyota engine, then. Go to the nearest payday loans place with your spare engine hoist and extract another Corolla mill.

Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #38 on: March 31, 2015, 03:21:59 pm »
Classic 80s Toyota engine, then. Go to the nearest payday loans place with your spare engine hoist and extract another Corolla mill.

I'll jack the tires while I'm at it.
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Al-Tessa;
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Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #39 on: April 04, 2015, 05:06:31 pm »
An interesting Friday happened, which started off with this:


Then this. I did a silly and forgot my keys at home.. Meaning we had to turn this thing without disengaging the steering lock. Between my friends and I, we were able to lift the front end enough to scooch it sideways.



After aligning it for the ramps, we nearly went over the trailer. That could have been really fun.


With some adjustments on the trailer, we got it lined up comfortably.


I was told we had to strap it down.


And then, at 11 pm, we unloaded Rusty... Which was not quiet. But it's home now.


Today... After the 2 inches of fresh snow had melted, I took off the roof glass for the first time and popped the headlights.



What a beautiful, dusty, damaged, rusty sight.
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Al-Tessa;
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Offline seat safety switch

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #40 on: April 04, 2015, 09:26:18 pm »
Targa tops = YES.
Poppy headlights = EXCESSIVELY YES.
80s = YES YES YES
Rust = Stereotypically, YES.
PT Cruiser = NOOOOOOO.

I do see a grill though, so that's good.

Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #41 on: April 04, 2015, 10:08:47 pm »
Targa tops = YES.
Poppy headlights = EXCESSIVELY YES.
80s = YES YES YES
Rust = Stereotypically, YES.
PT Cruiser = NOOOOOOO.

I do see a grill though, so that's good.

It's my buddy's and I've been harassing him to buy something other than that knocking pile of Chrysler poo since day one. Unfortunately for him, college student wages are college student wages and it hasn't offed itself yet.

The rust in this thing is phenomenal. I slammed the door and it was like a had thrown a pound of dirt at it. No where near as bad as Project Binky - IN COLOUR - but it could sure give it a run for its money.
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Al-Tessa;
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Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #42 on: April 07, 2015, 10:56:05 pm »
Started working towards removing the engine today.. so far, I haven't seen any signs of venting the block... which is good. That said, it shows signs that it leaked a lot of oil and the dip stick is dry. Guess we're gonna see what happens the head comes off.

From what I've found, a 4A-GE rebuild kit is rather cheap...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/88-89-Toyota-Corolla-MR2-Nova-1-6L-DOHC-Master-Overhaul-Engine-Rebuild-Kit-4AGE-/281193845241

Here's to hoping the block is still good.
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Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #43 on: April 08, 2015, 10:27:10 pm »
Took a bit more out of the Rusty today.

Started out like this:


Took the throttle body off, which looked like this:


The valves






Taking the Manifold off


And off


Bonus Picture, friend seeing what it's like to sit in the driver seat with the t-top off
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Al-Tessa;
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Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #44 on: April 15, 2015, 09:15:14 pm »
Work on Rusty has been slow, but steady. I try to put in an hour each night, and it's coming along nicely.


After being baffled by the butterfly valves in between the intake and block, I asked my boss (previous mr2 owner and has been not at all helpful to my wallet), Explained that this vacuum operated valves are the T-VIS.

Basically, at rpms below 4000 (or something) the valves are shut, for better fuel efficiency, but when you give it the gears, they open up for more power.


The exhaust.. That's a cluster crap. A previous owner had cut out the cat, and welded in Canadian Tire shoddy pipe in its place. I'm not apposed to cutting the cat out, but welding the entire exhaust from block to tip (with the exception of the rusted piece beside the muffler) is something I'm not impressed with. But it was a steal, so meh. Cut the "cat" back out for ease of movement once the engine is out.

On that topic, I have three things left to disconnect from the block and trans, and it's ready to come out.
- seized speedo cable
- a section of cable that disappears under the exhaust manifold
- hydrolic clutch assembly

And finally, the bolts.

I'm hoping the engine comes out before the weekend, it would be nice to get it up on the stand and see what's bunged up.
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Al-Tessa;
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Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2 - Get this patient a heart transplant!
« Reply #45 on: April 19, 2015, 04:40:17 pm »
Well, it wasn't before the weekend, but happened on the weekend, that counts, right?



My day started with a bunch of 2x4, a crappy jack, and some coffee.

After what seemed like hours (probably because it was) the engine bay looked like this:


And it was out!


Side note, the flywheel on this bugger is tiny!


And then the carnage hunting began.


Let's start by removing the oil pan


Oooh, look at the flakes, something is buggered.


Oh, right, that's there.


That's better


And here's connecting rod #3 playing the part of Kool-aid Man


I'm sure this engine has led a very rough and enjoyed life, and it will be missed. By someone... Nah.
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Al-Tessa;
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Offline seat safety switch

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #46 on: April 20, 2015, 09:02:20 am »
Impressive window in that block.

Offline RedndWhite

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #47 on: April 20, 2015, 06:27:22 pm »
It made quite a bang, that's for sure.

My crazy friend has offered to take the block off my hand, says he wants to JB weld the hole shut with a cutout of a trying pan. I say all the power to him.

Now that I for sure know the block is vented, I have a game plan for Rusty.

1) 4AGE 20V Blacktop
2) engine rewire - probably standalone based on reports of being a itchbay to deal with the 16v wiring to 20v with the ecu and harnesses. They could d send away to someone for the same price, but I may not have a harness with the new motor.
3) Heater  core/HVAC removal; electric heater replacement. It's not gonna be used in the winter, moved, yes. So instant cab heat would be nice. I have T-tops and windows for the summer.
4) Throttle cable needs to be repositioned after I get the new engine, some mounts are different.
5) Clutch, it badly needs a clutch.
6) Exhaust, current one is stock and blah, needs minor changes for the starter anyways, soo 4-2-1 and straight pipe will do the trick. Or a cherry bomb for inspection purposes.
7) Coolant lines needs to be sorted, there's minor differences between the two generations.
8,) Steering wheel. The aftermarket one is too tiny for me; more importantly, it's horribly disfigured. 

That's all for operation and being able drive the car.

This list is creature comfort things
1) Seats. I have a set of Fiesta ST Recaros at work that I'll make fit in this thing, as the stock ones are badly worn out and absolutely no bolstering.
2) CB radio because Smokey and the Bandit parody. And yes, I have a plan for a Fire Chicken spoof.
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Al-Tessa;
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Offline seat safety switch

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #48 on: April 22, 2015, 06:50:42 am »
Where did you get Fiesta ST Recaros?

Offline jellynuts

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Re: Rusty - Red's 1989 Toyota MR2
« Reply #49 on: April 22, 2015, 08:05:41 am »
At his work. Comon SSS, you're better than that ;)

jk. I'm curious to know too.
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