The Prude's Engine Swap

[MR2Pearl]

Hi Guys (and Gals)

Please read this very carefully and try to keep an open mind and be compassionate about it all. I'm trying my very best to be sincere and grateful. I don't want to take anyone for a ride or use and abuse anyone. This is a genuine plea for help, because a) I'm not able to pay a mechanic and b) I know practically nothing about the actual workings of an engine (let alone the MR2). Nearly all my knowledge of cars is theory based. Thank you so very much for all your support and kindness.

Now on to the nitty gritty... No doubt a lot of you have been following my posts regarding the prude and her heart transplant. http://mr2.org.nz/phpbb3/viewtopic.php? ... 8&start=60 Well, I have a good friend coming down from Whangarei, who is mechanically minded but has little experience with MR2's, to lend me a hand and his tools the weekend of October 3-6.

First of all, of those of you that would like to come, socialise, lend their advise/knowledge/expertise and perhaps even get some things done on their own cars, would Saturday or Sunday suit you best? Please let me know, because if I'm going to have to rent equipment, I only want to rent for ONE day.

I'm not the most well-off financially (two kids and only me working part time) so your generosity with time would be very much appreciated. More so than I could actually EVER convey! I do have a few spare parts lying around for both AWs and SWs, so I might be able to help with a few bits and bobs but I don't have a lot. Also, I intend to make sure everyone is fed and watered for lunch and dinner (BBQ and Drinks), but this will not be a booze feast (again, that comes down to the budget {or lack there of}). If you have any beer/dietary preferences, let me know and I'll try to provide the most popular requests.

Also, I've put together a little shopping list (not all will be required, this is open to interpretation), if there is anything I have forgotten, please let me know:

Oil and filter
Rear MAIN/CRANK Seal
Spark plugs
Cambelt Kit - maybe
Water pump - maybe (the cambelt and all that was changed only a few thousand km before the death grip set in, so the one on the old engine might still be usable)
Thermostat - maybe (not sure why my boss said I'd need that, car didn't over heat or anything, perhaps there's a way to test it?)
Coolant - we NEED to save this if possible! Because I only just had the radiator flushed, serviced and repaired before death of engine, so it should be mint. (not keen to fork out another $10 per litre)
Fuel Filter - (if I can afford it, I'll do it while the tank is empty, because it's currently completely drained)

Please keep in mind, I have a very small bank account. This is just a transplant to get the car back on the road, not a complete engine overhaul. Things like the clutch in the car are perfectly fine (leads work perfectly well too considering their age) so I'm not really in a position to be pulling out all the stops just yet.

I intend to keep the old engine, because I actually want to tinker away on that and do a complete overhaul and perhaps (one day) put it back in.

Anyway, that's all for now folks. It'd be nice to here some good things, so that this day working out fabulous! So comment below. Can someone bring a camera?

Thanks!

[ClanFever]

Good luck with the swap Kylie, remember coolant, but you may be able to re use what's already in the prude (as long as it's new ish and has no oil in it), and I wouldn't worry about leads, just use the best ones from the two motors.

[MR2Pearl]

Good luck with the swap Kylie, remember coolant, but you may be able to re use what's already in the prude (as long as it's new ish and has no oil in it), and I wouldn't worry about leads, just use the best ones from the two motors.

My coolant is very new... thanks Olaf!

[Grrrrrrr!]

New Oil and filter
Proper water pump gasket, forget this cut your own rubbish. I think I even have a spare you can have.
Swap your water pump, cambelt and tensioners across from old motor to new motor if they have all been recently replaced. (Make sure you break crank pulley bolt loose before dropping motor, or have a big rattle gun handy)

Gas tank washer? Are you planning on draining the tank and dropping it?

Forget the rest of that crap, that can be done after the motor is in the car and running, plugs, leads etc aren't difficult to do once engine is in the car. Get the stuff thats a real B___h to do in the car done while the engine is out. Do N/A motors have HFH & HFHOE? if so do those while you can.

[Benckj]

Sorry to miss all the fun.

No HFH or HFHOE on NA. I agree with Grrr... just do those things which you can't do easily while engine installed. Required gaskets will come with WP and thermostat so no need to try and make. Fluids (coolant, engine oil, brake's) and filters important to do at start up. I'd also add fuel filter and belts to list as often you will never do.

[MR2Pearl]

Gas tank washer? Are you planning on draining the tank and dropping it?

I drained the gas tank after the engine blew because I had just put gas in it and then had to pay a tow truck to get it home with the money that was supposed to use to fill the family wagon (this is just another day in the life of a low income earner). When I took the plug out, the washer disintegrated.

Required gaskets will come with WP and thermostat so no need to try and make.

I intend on using the water pump off my old engine (as it's not very old) hence the gasket paper being on the list (I know perfectly well that new ones come with gaskets). But if Grrrrr! has one, he can bring it with him? Also I doubt very much the thermostat actually NEEDS changing as the car did not overheat at all, so this'll be a "we'll see when we get to it" thing.

I'd also add fuel filter

- WHY????? - I don't have the bank balance to do unnecessary work right now... I just want to do an engine swap. So what is your thinking in regard to the fuel filter Jim? I may have to add to my list of maintenance "to-do" list after-the-fact.

[ClanFever]

Fuel filters in a super easy spot i wouldn't worry about it you can do it any time

[Benckj]

Makes sense on gaskets. Figured good time to do fuel filter as tank empty and lines drained and most likely never been done. Can get aftermarket generic type for about $25. One of our close club members works at BNT and sure he would cut you a good deal. Otherwise Broomfish is under sponsor for fluids & filters.

[JasonFriday13]

No HFH or HFHOE on NA.

Not true, I've had both gen 2 and gen 3 na engines and they both had the HFH and HFHOE on them.

I agree with Grrr, only do the stuff that is hard to do in the car, namely cambelt, waterpump, idlers and tensioner. If you're swapping the waterpump, take the whole thing off, not just the front of it (no gasket paper needed).

If my car sells soon I'll be coming up with my tools, plus trolley and jack, hopefully we can drop the engine out in less than three hours (I haven't beat 3 hours on my own yet).

[Benckj]

Really? My memory must be slipping as I don't recall those hoses on the NA. If your right my other car is probably well overdue.

[fourwalls]

Not sure what i am doing that week end.
I have a jack and a pair of axel stands if you need them.

[EssDub]

those two small hoses are for the oil cooler IIRC. NAs had them too. If they're still soft/pliable, they shoudl be OK. Its when they go hard that they can be a potential issue.

[MR2Pearl]

If my car sells soon I'll be coming up with my tools, plus trolley and jack, hopefully we can drop the engine out in less than three hours (I haven't beat 3 hours on my own yet).

It'd be great to have you here Jason! It'd be great if we could switch them out in that time. I invited my neighbour too... or we could take the tools to his place, because he needs his NA SW switched out too.

Not sure what i am doing that week end.
I have a jack and a pair of axel stands if you need them.

Be awesome to have you here too Paul! And if we could borrow your jack and axle stand, that'd be an awesome help mate. Thanks

[Logan]

Will be there with a set of tools if nothing important pops up between now and then. Surprised nobody has mentioned the clutch yet? Whats the condition of the clutch and throw bearing like?
Also: Petrol tank plug washer (could probably get away with using goo), I'm not sure what you mean by gasket goo but I'm fairly sure the fuel will eat away at a silicon based sealant. Best to buy a new copper washer at ripco or similar for the sake of a few $ or see if someone can provide one.
I don't see any problem finishing in a day if a few people prep the engine going in while the other one is coming out.

[MR2Pearl]

Will be there with a set of tools if nothing important pops up between now and then. Surprised nobody has mentioned the clutch yet? Whats the condition of the clutch and throw bearing like?

Thank you Logan

My clutch was fabulous... didn't notice a single thing wrong with it the whole time I've had the car. This was and is my MR2, I've had it about a year now and know what maintenance I have done to it. Plus, it was a dream to drive before the engine pooped itself. I drove it as often as I could just to drive it!

This should be a simple swap out and put in job with minor maintenance just to get her going again. It's a very sad thing walking past her everyday knowing that I cannot drive her or even start her up. As everything else is pretty sound on the car, I don't see why I need to worry too much about the clutch or anything else right now.

If you want to give me your credit card, I'm quite happy to do a complete overhaul! "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha"