MR2 Turbo

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If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Page 1 of 3 123 Last Jump to page: Results 1 to 20 of 47 Thread: MR2 Turbo Thread Tools Show Printable Version Display Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode 09-04-2019, 03:17 PM #1 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 MR2 Turbo, a build thread. So this will start as a history of me and MR2 cars
And then we'll move on to the 'build' in a few days.

So on September 21, 2001 I bought a 1993 Turbo MR2 from a local consignment dealer. It was a second owner car, first was a Marine stationed in Germany and it came with all the paperwork of his purchase and services while in Europe. Pretty cool.





Here it is pretty stock - here it is with the first set of non-stock wheels, Motegi MR12 (thought it was neat that the name was similar to the car name lol, but I loved the design)

Im in the middle, black shorts and black tee


Here it is just after that picture, on the dyno.

Put down 160/160, stock (again, minus the 17" wheels). Stock crank hp/tq is 200/200




Overtime I added other things - different radio (Pioneer), APEXi intake, APEXi blow-off valve, CRW downpipe and 3" exhaust, no cats.
Two more sets of wheels - Lexus IS300 wheels and Kosei K1
Bumped up psi from 7-8 to 15psi, fuel cut defender, turbo timer etc
Nothing wild, but it should have been closer to 200/200 at the wheels.

Had the car 9 years, sold it in 2010
When I sold it it looked much like this, but different wheels





I can look back and say that I liked the car for the time. For the time (time being my age as well as the 'tuner' scene of the era (mid 00s) it was a 'cool' car. Not my style now with the fiberglass front end (authentic BOMEX bumper, had to wait a month for it to be shipped from Japan), non-traditional paint scheme etc. But I loved that car.


I sold it because I wasnt driving it much due to my job and it was needing stuff, I just didnt have the money at the time to do it back right. I needed to pay for college, so that money went to pay for going back to school. For that reason, it was wise to sell.
That said, I miss it. I had SO many great times in that car. Took a bunch of road trips, dates, random drives with friends, pulls down the dragstrips (Farmington and Rockingham, mostly), or just a nice country backroad drive.





----------------------------------------

One day I was at Farmington and a guy approached, talked to me about my MR2, asked if I was interested in buying another. I was not. It was cheap - 200 bucks. An auto second gen, same color as mine but auto. Also, not turbo. And it had no transmission.

A year later me and a friend did buy that car, an for 20 bucks more the guy towed it to my friends house who had some spare garage space.
We parted that car out and paid our bills.
Me and my buddy worked for the same photography company and had gotten laid off, we needed cash so we sold those parts.

----------------------------------------
Back in October I started looking at cars again. I wanted to buy a second car, a 'fun' car. I wanted something you didnt see everyday. I wanted something RWD (or AWD would be ok), manual transmission, and something with character.

I kept thinking about E91 BMW 3-series wagons.
And MR2 turbos.



Hopped back onto MR2OC.com and lurked around a while. Made a post on a for sale thread here in NC and then got a random PM - a guy selling a turbo car.
We exchanged some emails and then it was down 80 miles or so to test drive.

The car has good bones, but some work to be done. Not a bad price for what it is and what needs to be done, so I said, "I'll take it...as soon as that title comes in"

We kept in touch the last few weeks and I got a text last night - title is in.
Now what really sucked about that text was that I left work a little early yesterday because I wasnt feeling well. So, of course, I get the 'go ahead' on the day when I feel like garbage, and then have 3 late nights in a row coming up.

This Saturday I'll go pick up my 2nd MR2 Turbo. Third MKII MR2, but second turbo model.

This time things will be different.
My tastes have changed.
I have a career which affords me SOME additional money that i can put into a project.
I have a lot of garage space and tools to devote to tinkering.
And, honestly, as Ive gotten older I appreciate tinkering on a car or motorcycle more. Appreciating garage time.



This wont be an exciting thread by any means. No crazy engine swaps planned, no basketball-sized turbos going on, nothing wild or exciting. But I am excited because it's MY 'build' thread.

Follow along, if you wish, as I get the car and start fixing things and upgrading and updating.
Im ready, hope you enjoy this journey with me too Last edited by xxxboosted2xxx; 01-03-2020 at 11:18 AM. Reply With Quote 09-04-2019, 03:23 PM #2 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 It's Thursday now.
In my garage Ive already gotten some capacitors from a member to fix the tachometer
Ive already gotten 20 bright white LED bulbs to replace the stock bulbs in the gauge cluster (it'll be out, why not go ahead and upgrade?!)
And Ive ordered a wiring harness so I can put an aftermarket stereo in easily.

I also found an old/new (ordered in 2006! Never installed) set of RockBlocker guards for the foglights, though I may or may not use them as they are yellow tinted. I dont know yet if I'll still find that attractive on the car or not. But I have them in the garage, found them a few nights ago.

Im making deals with various forum members on some random interior bits that will be needed too Reply With Quote 09-07-2019, 10:31 AM #3 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 So today I go down to pick it up, here are some pics the current owner (for about 5 more hours) sent me













Last night I had a dream that I got it and it was FAR worse than it was, but I know that's not true. I think it's because Ive hyped it up in my mind over the past three weeks since seeing it.





Thursday I ordered a stereo for it, have wiring harness for stereo too
Picked up a adjustable temp soldering iron for various projects on it, including fixing the tach and soldering the wiring harness, also got a huge set of heat shrink tubing. Amazon rules. It'll be here today and I might even install it tonight.



NC DMV is difficult to deal with, at least in terms of trying to legally buy a car from a private seller on a weekend and having to get it home. They leave you with little options.
But, thankfully, I work in a building with LEO. So yesterday I called a deputy down and asked him some questions and he clarified some things that I'd heard before - Bill of Sale, along with the title and proof of insurance, will allow me a short bit (few days) of driving to get it home and the driving to get title swapped on Monday etc Reply With Quote 09-07-2019, 09:01 PM #4 JustinNC View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries Cage Fighter Join Date Jun 2017 Location Raleigh, NC Posts 606 Thanks  71 Thanks  17 Thanked in16 Posts Total Contributions For
JustinNC     $ 0.00 Congrats! Reply With Quote 09-08-2019, 06:01 AM #5 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 It's home.

The wiring harness I ordered is NOT correct, even though I called scothe (or whatever) directly and it's what they told me to buy. Bummed!
So still rocking this factory head unit with a cd stuck in it = cant play my own
LCD display is jacked up, so cant see what station Im on. So pick one and stay with it.
And it has a tape deck...a tape deck.

But I started cleaning it up last night. Taking off the dash pieces to replace the radio I spent time cleaning whatever I could with pieces out, cleaning off dirt and dust dating back to 1991 Reply With Quote 09-08-2019, 12:03 PM #6 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 So here is my 'to-do' list that Ive been putting together over the past three weeks since seeing/driving the car the first time.
Some things will cost nothing to fix, or very very little (few bucks), but will take time.
ie
- stainless steel brake lines, previous owner has them just didnt install
- fix mirrors: a common on early 90s Toyota cars was that the clip that holds the spring in the mirror pops off. It makes the mirrors fold in when under very hard acceleration, and then forward under very hard braking. Again, wont cost anything, but will take time
-mounting the boost controller - I just need to get a small clamp and it'll be done. 2 bucks max.
-struts and springs: new parts came with the car, will just take a weekend to put them on.
Many things are more time than money.

And then some, like Jack/jack stands, soldering iron, oil drain pan etc will be things that I need that will be used for years; good things to have in the garage

Other things, like paint, well, that'll be a lot more


[ ] Paint
[ ] Solder iron
[ ] Jack stands
[ ] Put together a tool kit under seat
[ ] Jack
[ ] Oil drain pan
[ ] Transmission fluid
[ ] Transmission plug washers
[ ] Mount X Brace
[ ] Mount boost controller
[ ] Radio (double DIN, touchscreen, ipod)
[ ] Fix tachometer
[ ] Trunk carpet
[ ] 93+ shifter
[ ] Shift knob
[ ] Shift boot
[ ] 93+ wheels
[ ] Install SS brake lines
[ ] Brake fluid
[ ] Ipod for car
[ ] Ipod cable
[ ] GPS for car
[ ] Engine lid rain deflector
[ ] Adjust Ebrake
[ ] Rock blocker on fogs
[ ] Fix intake
[ ] Shifter surround
[ ] Paint interior bits gloss black or all new pieces
[ ] Clean seats
[ ] Clean carpets
[ ] Change subwoofer
[ ] Clean dash and doors
[ ] Fix mirrors
[ ] LED gauge lights
[ ] LED HVAC lights
[ ] LED dome lights
[ ] H4 headlight conversion
[ ] 93+ lip
[ ] Downpipe
[ ] New struts and springs
[ ] 94+ taillights
[ ] Reupholster seats
[ ] Tint windows
[ ] Brake pads








Previous owner installed the X brace already
Ive already bought the soldering iron and the stereo
Ive bought the LEDs that will be needed for the gauges and HVAC etc, will just need to get in there and start on it
The cleaning has begun, but, dang, it's so hot out today - about 90*F. Im dripping sweat on all the stuff Im trying to clean lol

But that's where Im starting from.
It's a long list, and it'll get longer as time goes. I'll need to get little trim pieces or gaskets etc, but it wont be too bad at all. Reply With Quote 09-08-2019, 02:21 PM #7 thx1138 View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries Cage Fighter Join Date Sep 2007 Location Tulsa OK Posts 552 Thanks  238 Thanks  33 Thanked in31 Posts Total Contributions For
thx1138     $ 530.00 It never fails to amaze me as what owners do to their cars! Last edited by thx1138; 04-03-2020 at 10:31 AM. Reply With Quote 09-08-2019, 03:55 PM #8 europa View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries … Join Date May 2014 Posts 1,330 Thanks  0 Thanks  142 Thanked in139 Posts Total Contributions For
europa     $ 0.00 Originally Posted by xxxboosted2xxx So still rocking this factory head unit with a cd stuck in it = cant play my own
LCD display is jacked up, so cant see what station Im on. So pick one and stay with it.
And it has a tape deck...a tape deck. Starts a GoFundMe page for xxxb to buy a kazoo and song book. Reply With Quote 09-08-2019, 05:49 PM #9 europa View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries … Join Date May 2014 Posts 1,330 Thanks  0 Thanks  142 Thanked in139 Posts Total Contributions For
europa     $ 0.00 Looks like Scosche makes at least three harnesses for the MR2:

https://www.scosche.com/87-ta-pwr-4spk-harness
https://www.scosche.com/1987-up-toyo...utt-connectors
https://www.scosche.com/87-ta-pwr-spk-oe-radio Reply With Quote 09-08-2019, 08:13 PM #10 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 Originally Posted by europa Looks like Scosche makes at least three harnesses for the MR2:

https://www.scosche.com/87-ta-pwr-4spk-harness
https://www.scosche.com/1987-up-toyo...utt-connectors
https://www.scosche.com/87-ta-pwr-spk-oe-radio
Thanks let me look at those, I just bought what the guy at the company said would work



Originally Posted by thx1138 It never fails to amaze me as what sone owners do to their cars! How so?

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by europa Looks like Scosche makes at least three harnesses for the MR2:

https://www.scosche.com/87-ta-pwr-4spk-harness
https://www.scosche.com/1987-up-toyo...utt-connectors
https://www.scosche.com/87-ta-pwr-spk-oe-radio ok, first is what I bought - no go.

second looks like the same but with butt connectors on it

third is what is on there now (ie: factory male connector)

I do appreciate you taking your time to look information up, truly. Reply With Quote 09-13-2019, 10:18 PM #11 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 Ordered the 93+ shifter
a stock shift knob for the 93+
unbroken ashtray (mine is missing the flip-open lid
and a little JDM part - it's strut tower spacers to raise the rear bar for a little extra clearance for intercooler piping...probably wont ever need it, but for 25 bucks, toss it in on the order and have something a little different than most 2s

Also, earlier this week I ordered a wiring harness for a subaru. Looking at pictures and seeing the pin number, I think I MIGHT be able to make it work. Or maybe Im out 10 bucks. Reply With Quote 09-25-2019, 08:07 PM #12 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 mirrors have been fixed...sort of. The drivers side was cracked already and when popping the glass out it cracked a lot more. Bummer.
BUT they dont flop around anymore!



And today was parts day! THREE packages waiting on me today
93 shifter, 93 shift knob, ashtray, strut tower pieces, AlexW rainguard eliminator plates, and a harness I'll TRY to make work.



Reply With Quote 09-27-2019, 09:08 PM #13 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 Shift boot came in today, I'll adhere it to the trim piece tomorrow when I start wrenching again. Just a cheap ebay piece, black with black stitching. Until I know if I get a red-stitch steering wheel I dont want to spring for a nice Redline boot, this will do for a bit

HOPING to go to a junkyard about 30 minutes away to look for a newer Toyota steering wheel, they have a few possible donor cars (3 Matrix, a couple Corolla S)

I hate I cant post more pics, but the very little Ive done doesnt really deserve pics - just fixing wobbly mirrors and cleaning really



Also - ordered a little fold-up cup holder off of Amazon early this morning, will be here tomorrow. Thinking of trying to figure out a backing plate made of kydex (have SO MUCH of the stuff) to go behind the carpet or maybe even a very deep, narrow U channel so that Im not even close to drilling into the tunnel.
In my head, and I need to see what things are like when I pull the armrest tomorrow, I might be able to make something and rivet the piece to a section of kydex and then mount it somehow stable Reply With Quote 09-28-2019, 05:05 PM #14 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 Finished buttoning up the door panels today, so the mirror fix is completely done now.
Put a battery tender adapter on the battery, got the charger on it now (battery is weak if not driven often/daily)
Inflated the spare tire and put it back in.
Ripped out the wiring a previous owner put in for a small light inside
Took apart the shifter to replace with the 93 model, but stopped when I realized I had no grease here at the house, so I need to get that in the morning and then put it all back together.

Started adhering the new shiftboot to the plastic trim piece, one side left now (pie was taken at the beginning)

93+ lever on the left, stock 91/92 on the right









Reply With Quote 10-08-2019, 08:23 PM #15 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 Not too much to add - I JUST got back out to the garage to finish the shifter swap.
Then I started taking a peek at the HVAC unit and figure out how to get it sorted
Pulled stereo...then forgot I had a cassette in, so I'll have to plug it back up for a moment to eject that.

BUT
THE wiring harness I ordered from ENGLAND is one county over, but, because of how USPS works, it'll be two days probably. (Go from large distribution center to my local and then to me).

Got a bunch of small stuff from the Toyota dealership

Cleaning up stuff as I take it off and put it back on etc Reply With Quote 11-09-2019, 05:29 PM #16 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 started swapping out the wheels on the MR2 today. Tomorrow I'll likely finish, maybe, because Im also doing front pads and stainless lines. Probably need to pull the rears back off and do those lines the same time. So, yeah, maybe tomorrow.

Top are the original 91/92 14" wheels with a squared set of sumitomo tires, 205 width
Bottom is the 15" 93-97 wheels, here are the rears, 225 on the rear, BFG G-force tires

I'll post the fronts tomorrow, Falken Azenis
This staggered set up should help handling quite a bit and have more options in tires than the original 14"ers








going from an all-season tire to a directional sport tire


Reply With Quote 11-24-2019, 01:55 PM #17 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 Ok, some quick updates.
My GOAL is to drive this to my parents and my friends for Thanksgiving.

So last night I was a bit tired, but decided to get to the garage anyway and start on the front wheels.
So I removed the stock wheels and started taking the brakes apart.
Only did MOST of the passenger side last night.






This afternoon I went back out there for about an hour and finished taking apart the passenger side - removing the brake line, which will be replaced with a stainless braided line, and then, what I didnt plan on, removing the rotor.

When I started feeling the rotor I could feel a bit of waviness as I went from the inside to the outside. Yeah, I didnt want to have to buy rotors, but, hell, why not do it right and do it while it's all apart. I dont know if these are the original rotors or not. Only 93k miles on the car, so quite likely they are the 30 year old rotors. Why not. I'll check for rotors locally in a few.







I ordered some EBC GreenStuff brake pads two weeks ago, so I'll be putting those on this week.

Here are the passenger pads vs the new, replacements.
Pretty much both of the passenger pads equal the thickness, or close to it, of ONE of the new pads.




















and how it all sits right now.













While waiting on my lady friend to arrive and get a glue gun, I decided to spend a few minutes with a new polishing wheel I picked up yesterday at harbor freight.

Here is a before of the muffler tip








And after a few minutes with some polish. Cleaned up a lot, but still needs more time on it, but you can actually see my reflection in it now.









I have to leave soon, then I have a hockey game. So Im hoping to hit the garage again tomorrow night.
Im a bit busy on Tuesday, but only a workday on Wednesday, so I can stay up a bit later than normal Tuesday night. And then, lastly, I'll have Wednesday night.

Besides the brakes:
-will have to get a new battery this week, the one in it is real bad. I can charge it for a while and, at this point, it'll do everything...EXCEPT fire the car. It's toast.
-I want to drain and replace the transmission fluid. I picked up some Redline MT90 for it, see if it helps out the grind from 4th to 3rd. Reply With Quote 11-30-2019, 08:27 AM #18 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 Transmission fluid drained and replaced with MT90.
My grind from 4th to 3rd is still there, but not as bad as it once was. And if I rev match it's almost not there at all/usually no grinding at all
But, still, it's there.

Stainless lines all around

EBC Greenstuff pads up front
New rotors up front
DOT4 fluid

But then I realized my rears are squealing some, so I'll order some rear pads this week or next and do those.

got a new battery on Wednesday and installed my new shiftboot from Toyota on Wednesday.
I had ordered the one from ebay, and it didnt fit right, too much material that it bunched up really bad and made shifting a struggle.
Found a stock shiftboot with mount for 40ish on ebay from a dealership. Im far happier with that. Reply With Quote 01-11-2020, 06:43 PM #19 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 Last week I got up with an old acquaintance, one who is into the MKII platform and had a car he was parting out.
Picked up a butchered trunk carpet...better than what I have now, which is nothing.
Got a hydraulic engine prop rod
Got some random interior bits that I need and didnt need

Monday going to a bodyshop to discuss getting a paint job.
Debating on whether or not to do a color change. Reply With Quote 03-28-2020, 10:23 PM #20 xxxboosted2xxx View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Blog Entries AKA: HMP Join Date Aug 2019 Posts 418 Thanks  19 Thanks  11 Thanked in9 Posts Total Contributions For
xxxboosted2xxx     $ 15.00 As Ive been driving this car more I realize how much I love a cupholder. Ever try to drive a straight drive on a curvy road with a cup of coffee? If freaking sucks.
When I was 20 I didnt care about freaking cup holders, I cared about the speed, the styling... Now Im 37. I care about a cupholder.

So I had an idea a while back, tonight I got to it.
I had ordered from ebay or amazon a cheap little flip up cupholder. It comes with adhesive strips and two screws. Well Im not keen on drilling holes in my carpet or any part of the body for a dang cupholder.

So I took some kydex and made a bracket for the cupholder.

With all/most projects - everything starts with cardboard, a sharpie, and something to cut the cardboard. Tonight some good shears.

Then to trace onto kydex. Cutting with my scroll saw. Used heatgun to form the kydex to fix everything, lots of trial and error.
Busted out the dremel to clean certain parts of it up.







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