1987 N/A mr2

[balactm]

so I'm finally starting this project thread, although it's been about a year and a half since i've had the car...

first day pictures:

this engine is blown and hopefully in a couple weeks i'll have a new picture to add

the douche-cock before me caulked the t-tops shut, so as soon as the new motor goes in that will be the first thing to change.


^some of the numerous spots of body damage on this 21 year old beast

ok, so those are all the pictures the first day i had it, which included a blown head gasket. bought the car that way for $525. I then spent way too much money on fixing a motor with 178,000 miles on it (hind-sight is always 20-20). I replaced the whole cooling system with a new radiator (you should have seen the s** that came outa that thing) new lines, thermostat, etc. I also replaced the intake and exhaust gaskets, water pump, spark plugs, head gasket (duh), plug wires, tires, and more than likely a whole bunch of other stuff.

Then i got it running...YAY!!!
some pics i took on a 33 west cruise with a friend of mine:

can really see the body damage in this one...




It ran well for about 3 weeks and then i threw a rod through the iron block. I'll post up some pics of the damage soon as well as the progress I am currently making. Here are some of the things I still need to do:

swap the 16v tranny for the 20v currently on the motor
new clutch, and the flywheel from the 16v
run new coolant lines
re-route the accelerator wires through a different hole in the firewall
custom fab an exhaust system
custom fab a kick ass cold air
put in the passenger quarter glass (it is currently plexiglass)
change out the weather stripping
re-hang the doors so they don't sag
extensive body work
new paint
new shift boot (which i have, but i need to re-make the wire that holds it in place)
install new speakers and head unit (someone stole the radio out of it)
and i might completely overhaul the suspension if the price is right

like i said, i'll post up more pics and updates as i start working on it. because of school and my jobs over the summer and the unfortunate, not-at-home location of the car i haven't had much time to do anything

[Chris]

awesome, finally something to follow. I've always liked these cars.

[ScottyB]

quite a project ahead of you...i want to see that thing with the 5 valver in there

[balactm]

thanks guys. I'm so excited to finally drive it again...i've had it for like a year and a half and have driven it for 3 weeks...stupid blown motor.

[balactm]

update: just ordered some polyurethane engine mounts from two's r' us. so they'll be here in time for the engine installation. woot.

[balactm]

update:
I did some work last weekend. got the new motor in. most of the harness plugged up. axles in. trans linkage done. going back this weekend to finish. will post pictures in a couple days once i get the time.

i would have had it done last weekend but i had to rush home to get jessica to take me to the E.R. i bashed my thumb really badly early in the afternoon and it was throbbing and basically useless the rest of the day. it got so bad that i decided to leave. they ended up using this melting stick thing to put a hole in my nail and let it bleed out for about an hour and a half and they gave me percocet for the pain

this weekend's checklist:
finish harness plugging up
speedo sensor
gas line
throttle cable
vacuum lines
coolant lines
exhaust
bleed clutch
then DONE

[Chris]

nice progress but sorry to hear about the thumb... sounds painful

[JustinG]

PANSY!!!!

back in my day we would hold a lighter over a needle and stick the needle through the fingernail, while biting on a stick and swiggin whiskey

[.RJ]

back in my day we would hold a lighter over a needle and stick the needle through the fingernail, while biting on a stick and swiggin whiskey

no, you do it with a drill press....

[Evan]

i jammed my thumb the other day and drained the blood blister with a box cutter.
wuss.

[balactm]

touche. alright, you old guys are way more ballsy than me. i guess that's what happens when you get old...

update:

!@#%#$%@#$!@#$^#

I got everything i needed to get done, done. but it wouldn't fire. it turns over. it has spark. fuel is getting to the fuel rail (not sure about through the injectors though). it fired up for a few seconds with starting fluid while simultaneously rocketing a bottle cap i used to plug up the resonator hole into my arm, breaking the cap and sending me flying backwards (this car hates me i swear). I'll be double and triple checking the vacuum lines and checking to see if the injectors are firing this week and will post pictures as soon as i get back to school cuz i left my camera cable there.

[.RJ]

Check to make sure the injector wiring has proper ground

[Jeff]

Ground is a big deal. What about electronics, do you have the right computer on it and whatnot? (I'm assuming this is obvious but I figured I would just say)

[balactm]

Ground is a big deal. What about electronics, do you have the right computer on it and whatnot? (I'm assuming this is obvious but I figured I would just say)

yeah. the comp came with the motor/tranny etc.

RJ -
thanks, i'll double check that although i'm pretty sure they're grounded. i'm remembering a ground wire in that viscinity but not positive that it was for the injectors.

right now, i honestly think it's the injectors being clogged. if not that then i'm trying to get some pictures on the mr2 forum of some vacuum lines to double check those. would those possibly be causing the injectors not to fire?

[Evan]

there should be a way to bench test operation of your injectors by applying voltage to one of the pins in the harness. service manual should have the right procedure.

[balactm]

service manual should have the right procedure.

haha, that's funny. there is no service manual. It's a JDM motor and the wiring for this motor is way different than the stock one so the stock manual won't help me either.

[.RJ]

if not that then i'm trying to get some pictures on the mr2 forum of some vacuum lines to double check those. would those possibly be causing the injectors not to fire?

Manifold vacuum shouldnt cause the injectors not to fire, unless there's an ecu sensor that relies on it - even if the FPR vacuum line was pulled it should still run, just poorly.

[Evan]

service manual should have the right procedure.

haha, that's funny. there is no service manual. It's a JDM motor and the wiring for this motor is way different than the stock one so the stock manual won't help me either.

the motor might be JDM, but it should be a parts-bin injector. Just a matter of finding out what pins and what voltage.

[balactm]

i don't see a ground on or near the injectors. there is one off the coil and ignitor pack though. is that it?

[.RJ]

It probably wont be near the injectors, it will feed back into the wiring harness.