JLee's 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo build thread

[punjabiplaya]

devil's own meth kits are awesome

lol @ miata workbench

 

[jlee]

Well, after running great for a while, I noticed an exhaust leak yesterday. I tore it down today and discovered that not only were the two center/lower exhaust manifold nuts moderately loose on their studs..., when I re-torqued the right side, it stripped.

So, time to learn how to install a Time-Sert or Heli-Coil!

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Well, after running great for a while, I noticed an exhaust leak yesterday. I tore it down today and discovered that not only were the two center/lower exhaust manifold nuts moderately loose on their studs..., when I re-torqued the right side, it stripped.

So, time to learn how to install a Time-Sert or Heli-Coil!

snip

ooooh ouch!
Chalk it up as a learning experience.
How on earth did I miss your timelapse video till today! too cool.

 

[exdeath]

Yay for aluminum heads! Tape off your ports before running the tap die.

 

[jlee]

I just ordered a Time-Sert kit - unfortunately it wasn't available through Amazon Prime and overnight shipping was $55, so I'm going to wait for it to get here.

In the meantime, I can pull my clutch pedal and drill it for a bearing, and drop my steering rack for the new pinion.

 

[Howard]

When you need only the best:

http://www.spiralock.com/products-wire-inserts

 

[alkemyst]

The best fix is really retapping to the next size up even if metric. If your studs sit in a non-blind hole the insert may not torque properly...if it sits in a water jacket you will have a leak more than likely.

I'd figure out how to do these jobs right the first time, it seems you are having problems with everything you touched.

 

[jlee]

The best fix is really retapping to the next size up even if metric. If your studs sit in a non-blind hole the insert may not torque properly...if it sits in a water jacket you will have a leak more than likely.

Let me ask you - seriously. What's the most extensive work you've done to a car yourself?

I'd figure out how to do these jobs right the first time, it seems you are having problems with everything you touched.

Let's look! What have I touched...

Apexi intake, XS Power side mount intercooler, ATS Racing intercooler fan shroud and fan, TD05 20G turbocharger, ATS Racing downpipe, Tial 38mm external wastegate, Berk Technology 3″ dual exhaust, Greddy Profec B Spec II electronic boost controller, 540cc injectors, ATS Racing bored fuel rail, ATS Racing fuel pressure regulator, ATS Racing dual map ROM tune (91 octane and race gas), Innovate LC-1 wideband controller, Chico Race Works CV axle cages, Koni Yellow adjustable strut inserts, Chico Race Works aluminum shifter base bushings, Chico Race Works teflon-coated spherical shifter bearings, Wilhelm rain guard eliminator kit, plus some minor interior stuff.

Oh hey, all that shit works!

 

[soccerballtux]

No gloves?

why wear gloves? just washes off in the shower after a day.

 

[exdeath]

But your used turbo that you bought on the internet from some dude and collection of misc adapters and hack work using a mix of incompatible OEM and non OEM parts that you forced to work together in a non standard piecewise one of a kind custom setup that cost you practically nothing to scrape together.. you didn't have that running perfectly in one day on the first try, so you clearly fail.

Should have just paid your mechanic to install a K&N and call it a day.

 

[soccerballtux]

I'd figure out how to do these jobs right the first time, it seems you are having problems with everything you touched.

ha

 

[soccerballtux]

But your used turbo that you bought on the internet from some dude and collection of misc adapters and hack work using a mix of incompatible OEM and non OEM parts that you forced to work together in a non standard piecewise one of a kind custom setup that cost you practically nothing to scrape together..

doing it this way is the definitely the most pro.

 

[punjabiplaya]

But your used turbo that you bought on the internet from some dude and collection of misc adapters and hack work using a mix of incompatible OEM and non OEM parts that you forced to work together in a non standard piecewise one of a kind custom setup that cost you practically nothing to scrape together.. you didn't have that running perfectly in one day on the first try, so you clearly fail.

Should have just paid your mechanic to install a K&N and call it a day.

should have just bought electric supercharger from ebay and saved a shit ton of money

 

[skyking]

should have just bought electric supercharger from ebay and saved a shit ton of money

The superchargers aren't too pricey, but 15,000,000' of extension cords is crazy high. Copper is outrageous these days.

 

[alkemyst]

Let me ask you - seriously. What's the most extensive work you've done to a car yourself?


Let's look! What have I touched...

Apexi intake, XS Power side mount intercooler, ATS Racing intercooler fan shroud and fan, TD05 20G turbocharger, ATS Racing downpipe, Tial 38mm external wastegate, Berk Technology 3″ dual exhaust, Greddy Profec B Spec II electronic boost controller, 540cc injectors, ATS Racing bored fuel rail, ATS Racing fuel pressure regulator, ATS Racing dual map ROM tune (91 octane and race gas), Innovate LC-1 wideband controller, Chico Race Works CV axle cages, Koni Yellow adjustable strut inserts, Chico Race Works aluminum shifter base bushings, Chico Race Works teflon-coated spherical shifter bearings, Wilhelm rain guard eliminator kit, plus some minor interior stuff.

Oh hey, all that shit works!

You serious, I completed a full restoration at 16 of my 1966 Mustang which was part of me being given the car by my dad...then I continued that on.

R&R head/heads, cam/cams, adjustable timing gears, completely convert to 4 piston/2 piston disc brakes with working e brakes (along with rebuilding the calipers), another couple drum to disc brake conversions, tons of brake jobs, clutch, wheel bearings, carb rebuilds, R&R engines, R&R oil pan/cam & valve covers, timing belts/chains, alternators, starters, various modules, completely dismantle a car and rebuild it, tons of struts/shocks/coil overs, exhausts, rear ends, widebands, piggy backs, injectors, adjust frameless windows, reupholster seats, complete alarm systems, stereo systems, driveshafts, cv joints, tie rods, complete suspensions, various hydralic systems, R&R complete a/c systems, a few intake manifolds, heater cores, radiators, fuel filters, fuel pumps, etc. Most of these jobs were not even for my own cars which I knew well. There is probably tons of stuff I do have above.

I have never had as many problems across the board with maybe 50 cars I have worked on in my life (non-professionally esp while in high school and college and everyone knowing I had a pretty complete mechanics toolset) that you have had on a single car even when I was still a teenager.

I have had to replace a few exhaust studs in my day. One required a re-drill/tap.

It just seems you are having nothing but trouble and constantly re-doing the same jobs over and over again.

 

[jlee]

So a lot of normal maintenance and OEM part replacement. Congratulations - you can follow a service manual.

Where's the build thread for your 240? Go make one and piece together a turbo kit from a hodgepodge pile of parts and have nothing go wrong. Then maybe I won't think you're FOS.

 

[alkemyst]

So a lot of normal maintenance and OEM part replacement. Congratulations - you can follow a service manual.

Where's the build thread for your 240? Go make one and piece together a turbo kit from a hodgepodge pile of parts and have nothing go wrong. Then maybe I won't think you're FOS.

lol...I have changed brake systems that didn't exist before on a vehicle...I guess the 408 stroker Bronco was just OEM too.

Alarm and a/v installs, yeah all in a book.

piggy back ECUs and supporting electronics with widebands and the like, yeah all in the FSM.

Sorry my shit works, even when it's pieced together out of a salvage yard.

Oh and more lolz, a WHOLE bunch of work I didn't have a manual for and google wasn't what it is today.

Don't take it so personally and there is no reason to freaking attack me. Read up and learn to do this stuff first, just because one can buy parts and own tools doesn't make them good at it.

Then again not everyone gets interviewed by MIT for mechanical engineering either at 17.

 

[jlee]

Aluminum threads don't necessarily last forever. There's not much I could've done for this other than pre-emptively time-serting the head.

Coming into a thread and telling someone "I'd figure out how to do these jobs right the first time, it seems you are having problems with everything you touched." is antagonistic and untrue. The car runs beautifully, handles great, pulls hard, and is a joy to drive. If I break something, I'll fix it. If something breaks, I'll fix it. If I make a mistake, I'll fix it. It's all part of the learning process, and for you to be unable to recognize that indicates to me that you really don't have the experience you claim to have. No one is perfect - and unlike some people, I don't claim to be.

Maybe one day we'll meet a track and you'll be able to show me up for real. Until then, you're just another troll.

 

[punjabiplaya]

lol...I have changed brake systems that didn't exist before on a vehicle...I guess the 408 stroker Bronco was just OEM too.

Alarm and a/v installs, yeah all in a book.

piggy back ECUs and supporting electronics with widebands and the like, yeah all in the FSM.

Sorry my shit works, even when it's pieced together out of a salvage yard.

Oh and more lolz, a WHOLE bunch of work I didn't have a manual for and google wasn't what it is today.

Don't take it so personally and there is no reason to freaking attack me. Read up and learn to do this stuff first, just because one can buy parts and own tools doesn't make them good at it.

Then again not everyone gets interviewed by MIT for mechanical engineering either at 17.

you're my hero

 

[alkemyst]

you're my hero

thanks, it took a long road to be the man I am.

How do you like that MS3? I am looking to buy a 2010 or 2011 for my wife.

 

[punjabiplaya]

I interviewed with Duke at 18 for biomedical engineering. /egoflex

Great. needs new tires. Buy a RMM, intake, and AP for the car, it's worthless without that stuff. Working on tune atm.

Doing BT (3076) install on a friend's MS3 tomorrow. Nice work jlee, our stuff is bolt ons so we won't have anywhere near the amount of work you've done. I don't know if you've done the downpipe on JCH's car, but I'm ready to slick the hell out of my knuckles.

 

[jlee]

I interviewed with Duke at 18 for biomedical engineering. /egoflex

Great. needs new tires. Buy a RMM, intake, and AP for the car, it's worthless without that stuff. Working on tune atm.

Doing BT (3076) install on a friend's MS3 tomorrow. Nice work jlee, our stuff is bolt ons so we won't have anywhere near the amount of work you've done. I don't know if you've done the downpipe on JCH's car, but I'm ready to slick the hell out of my knuckles.

I haven't done any work on the MS3...the Miata keeps us busy enough

Bolt-on definitely makes life easier...the intercooler and turbo install in my Forester was nice and smooth. Almost like everything is supposed to fit! :awe:

 

[alkemyst]

Aluminum threads don't necessarily last forever. There's not much I could've done for this other than pre-emptively time-serting the head.

Coming into a thread and telling someone "I'd figure out how to do these jobs right the first time, it seems you are having problems with everything you touched." is antagonistic and untrue. The car runs beautifully, handles great, pulls hard, and is a joy to drive. If I break something, I'll fix it. If something breaks, I'll fix it. If I make a mistake, I'll fix it. It's all part of the learning process, and for you to be unable to recognize that indicates to me that you really don't have the experience you claim to have. No one is perfect - and unlike some people, I don't claim to be.

Maybe one day we'll meet a track and you'll be able to show me up for real. Until then, you're just another troll.

This is going to be my last statement on this since it's obvious everyone is OK with this kind of project and it's results.

First to your last statement, which I have addressed. Like how most racers can win races, most pro racers really don't do any of their own work and many non-pro likewise. How fast your car is at the track <> how well your car runs nor how good you are at mechanics.

Aluminum threads do not commonly 'wear out' unless it's an assembly that's seen 100's to 1000's of R&R's, experienced over torque (and occasionally under-torque can cause this as well) or lack of anti-seize compounds being used.

I can agree there is a learning process, but when you have one build having serious freaking issues it's showing it's just a guessing game and hoping for the best without thought being put in.

A bunch of the issues you have had should have been apparent if you looked over your work. Just running it and listening/looking. Just looking at something assembled and wondering why it doesn't look quite right.

I am not trying to flame, but you are now throwing shit at me when I have far more successful experience in this and was simply offering a critique.

My biggest fear in this kind of shadetree work is the day someone similar decided to make brakes their project and figured since they got it bolted on and only had to grind some shit down in a couple places, weld it a bit in others and then use a bit of bailing wire and duct tape in only one spot...then even came back to realize they had to re-do quite a bit of it yet still decided to go forward. Right up to the point they get behind me at 80mph when traffic stops and they realize they got no 'breaks'.

Oh snap! anti-squeal doesn't go on top of the pads!

 

[alkemyst]

I interviewed with Duke at 18 for biomedical engineering. /egoflex

Great. needs new tires. Buy a RMM, intake, and AP for the car, it's worthless without that stuff. Working on tune atm.

Doing BT (3076) install on a friend's MS3 tomorrow. Nice work jlee, our stuff is bolt ons so we won't have anywhere near the amount of work you've done. I don't know if you've done the downpipe on JCH's car, but I'm ready to slick the hell out of my knuckles.

pretty cool, did they fly down to interview you too?

 

[Howard]

My biggest fear in this kind of shadetree work is the day someone similar decided to make brakes their project and figured since they got it bolted on and only had to grind some shit down in a couple places, weld it a bit in others and then use a bit of bailing wire and duct tape in only one spot...then even came back to realize they had to re-do quite a bit of it yet still decided to go forward. Right up to the point they get behind me at 80mph when traffic stops and they realize they got no 'breaks'.

Oh snap! anti-squeal doesn't go on top of the pads!

I see you are still sore I haven't died yet.