tw2's mr2 - the journey to a clean 2

[tw2]

After putting the steering back in twice I did a home alignment with jack stands and string. Toe in is about 5mm each side which is too much but both of them are the same which was the aim and the alignment shop can finish the job tomorrow. I only took the car around the block but it is absolutely awesome! No more creaking, groaning and zombies moaning over every bump. The dull cluck is also gone (presume swaybar in a loose bushing) and everything is smooth and taught

[GDII]

Gotta love old cars. Good effort!

[tw2]

All aligned and warranted. I was convinced I would fail on something but since everything is in such good condition I couldn't think what. Even tyres are 8mm front, 7mm back. The alignment guys couldn't believe I got it so even with only string and a ruler.

I decided to go to the air con place today for a quote. Previous owner said it probably needs a re-gas, sure, anyway I was expecting around $2000, some combination of evaporator, compressor, condensor replacement and R134 conversion. Only evaporator was the issue luckily, $1400 for everything. Will have to look at that before summer.

Some minor debris....

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[Swampy]

Good work on your suspension. What sort of press did you use to change your bushes? Impressive work on the rust proofing too, and using stainless hardware.

[tw2]

Thanks. For the bushes I just dropped the arms off at my local mechanic. On previous mr2's I removed them myself with hand tools but it was a terrible job. I suggest just taking it to someone, otherwise as Yoda would say, only pain and suffering you will find.

Stainless is great but only in specific situations. It can technically speed up corrosion of the frame under certain circumstances.

[Zimmo]

Car is coming along really nicely!!

[tw2]

Thanks. Did a couple of tidy up things today. Replaced the spring in the shifter. Also installed the missing grommets for the plastic hand hold in the door. I looked at the accessory belts but couldn't bring myself to actually put them in the car. And left my door slightly open yesterday so it is on the battery charger currently.

Shifter apart again004.jpg (259.02 KiB) Viewed 1996 times

[tw2]

I should probably put this in the thread too...

[Spykerwolf]

How do you find the shifter after replacing the springs?
Considering doing the same

[tw2]

Its very good. Not a huge improvement on its own but everything I have done has made a massive difference overall. Shifter now has a very nice feel to it. I would certainly recommend anyone with a early sw20 to copy this setup.

[tw2]

The nice fedex man visited this morning. I decided I wasn't willing to risk a rusted out water neck when I do my cooling overhaul. It also has a spare port for water cooling something

[GDII]

TARBO!!!

[tw2]

TARBO!!!

Yep probably sometime next year once all maintenance is up to scratch. I have ruled out V6 at this stage. I want to try a high compression turbo build with the 3sge. Aiming for a responsive 200ft-lbs from 3000-7000rpm, power not really important- most likely somewhere around 250whp. If it blows up then a normal compression forged stroker with 3sge head. I really want to see how the long runner stock intake manifold with ACIS goes under boost.

[GDII]

It's been done before but I don't know what internals were used. I also know of a twin engine EP82 using 2 turbo'd GEN2 3SGE engines.

Good to be different but you are better off going to a GEN4 3SGTE with 9.5:1 compression ratio already setup for boost. These GEN2 engines are only 10:1 so not much more. Cams make a difference when you have a turbo engine with NA cams.

[tw2]

I know of two others who have done the 3sge turbo. Both looked like a fantastic street setup, very responsive. Both ran completely stock engine. Apart from higher compression pistons, oil squirters and a couple of other things the 3S engines are apparently the same. Over 20psi on E85 caused the head to lift but the block still held together. I am planning 10-12psi which should be equivalent cylinder pressures to something like 15psi at 9.0:1 compression. The cams, ports and intake design are superior to the gen 2 3sgte.

If I wanted to keep everything stock then I would probably go for a 2GR or gen 4 3sgte but I want to try a newer turbo design and EMS.