GDII's SW20 MR2

  • Thread starter GDII
  • 777 comments
  • 104,869 views
Taking off the top half of the manifold was easy. Just unbolt everything. The throttle was a bit harder as it has the coolant pipes attached but I wouldn't class it as hard in my books.

I'm not sure how this would affect my gas mileage. When I get the chance to drive it I tend to have a heavy foot as my daily driver is so slow. The car hasn't left the garage since Saturday anyway. I did the first first clean on Sunday and the second proper clean last night. Not worried about fuel mileage anyway. It does use a lot of fuel compared to the daily. Probably has something to do with the excessive amounts of oil going into the intake manifold from the valve cover, or my right foot.
 
I was just curious. My friend thought about attempting this to get better gas mileage and I figured IDE help him.

Could the thing called a "map" or something make the mileage bad. We realized these don't come with mass air flow sensors.
 
The IACV only really operates at idle. All it does is allow the engine to breath when the throttle plate is closed. Never hurts to clean it though.

Yes these engines have a MAP sensor (Manifold Absolute Pressure). It doesn't measure the amount of air going into the engine, just the air pressure in the manifold. I don't know how this would affect fuel economy so you'll have to ask someone who knows.

What car and engine does your friend have?
 
What's the fuel economy like on that? I don't usually calculate mine but I did for a while and I think I was getting 12km per litre at best. Now I'm doing about 10.5km per litre. I run on 95 octane but my engine is also on it's way out so probably uses more than it used to. Bring on the GEN 3 3SGTE.
 
If I'm doing the math right, your basically getting 25mpg. My friend averages about 17mpg which should be 7km per liter =|.

He should at least be getting 22mpg or 9 km per liter
 
Just did a bit of basic research, the MAP sensor is part of how the ECU figures out fueling so a bad MAP sensor can cause bad fuel economy. Also the Oxygen Sensor can affect it too. If this isn't working as it should it affects fuel economy when cruising.

Probably best to ask a pro as I really don't know enough about this to help.
 
Took the MR2 for a drive today. Idle operates well now. Not almost stalling when revved from cold. Very happy now. Just need to sort the oil problem. I'm thinking catch can to help with that problem.
 
No, not at this point. I think I gave the engine bore wash when I tried to clean the valve out with the engine running and some degreaser sprayed into the valve. Bad Idea. Now it smokes even worse. Must have scored the bores badly and ruined the piston rings even more.

When I think about it, a catch can won't do anything worth while with the condition the engine is in. It needs to come out asap and get it's well deserved GEN 3 turbo put in place.
 
Barely anything to do on the car lately. Not much I can do with a car budget of $0 for stuff I want to do.
However I did fix my power antenna as it wouldn't go up all the way. I got if from a mate who I helped swap the fuel pump in his SW20 GT. Turns out it was a bit corroded around the tops of the sleeves. I pulled the whole assembly apart (damn it's greasy in there) and sprayed heaps of CRC down the sleeves. Grabbed each end a repeatedly pulled on them to try and break it free. One sleeve came out using this process and it showed the corrosion that was holding it in place. Next I got a pair a pliers and squeezed the tops of the other sleeves gently to release the corroded parts. Then some more CRC and pulling on it. Finally all of them came out and now it works. Not 100% free moving but it goes up and down with a bit of help from my hand. I barely use it and have it hooked up to a manual switch so it stays down most of the time.

Proof it goes up :embarrassed: :lol: Also had to take the side pod off to get the unit out.


Spent tonight polishing the munted paint on the bumper and the front indicators. Looks far better than before but I need to repaint it, that will probably happen near the end of this year when the weather picks up and my budget is a bit bigger.
 
I started doing something really weird today. The drivers front guard and door have been clear coated after the car left the factory, where the rest of the car uses a single stage paint. The clear makes the panels look pink and it has started pealing.
I found that if I rubbed the top of my fingernail over the clear it comes away from the colour paint below.

Started on the front section of the guard.


Big area comes away in one piece.


Cut and polish brings the original coat back to normal. Now it has the same colour as the rest of the car. You can see the front of the guard still has some paint on it. It appears to have more colour in it than the sections further back.


This is a very tedious way of fixing the issue but it's working.
 
Been having a few issues with the charging system. That's all sorted now after getting stuck only 2km from home after only leaving that night to get fuel for the next morning. I had to get the Wife to bring the Starlet to help jump start it then had to drive home quickly with only my parking lights on. As I pulled into the garage the revs were bouncing and then it died. :evil:
I did a few tests on the cars wiring and the diodes in the alternator but I wasn't able to test the voltage regulator as I don't have the equipment.
I took it to an auto electrician for testing and the results were pretty good.
The alternator had a dud voltage regulator which ended up being a cheap fix compared to a whole new unit. About 1/5th the cost. I guess after 80,000km and 6 years it's not bad for a Repco manufactured item. Now it's got new DENSO parts and runs sweet again.

Upgrades are starting to happen. I purchased a set of larger 22V brake calipers and a 15/16th master cylinder from a mate. I will strip these back to bare metal and repaint as they have a dodgy red paint job.
I have decided to postpone the power upgrade in place of handling and stopping plus learning to drive the car better. I will still need to replace the engine I have with something a bit less smokey but it will only be another GEN 2 3SGE or a GEN 3 if I can get one and run my current engine loom with the required tweaks.
 
Some photos of the brake calipers and master cylinder. The master is from a Previa which is why it has the odd looking reservoir. I think it is possible to swap it out for the reservoir from my smaller mater cylinder that is in the car now as the ports have the same centre to centre measurements. Not sure about the actual port seals yet.








Random engine photos.



Needs more low again and better wheels.... Although it is super shiny now.
 
Nice, the 15/16 is the same as 93+ Turbo models I believe. I swapped in a 17/16 from a 4Runner when my Brake Master went.
 
Sly Guy
Nice, the 15/16 is the same as 93+ Turbo models I believe. I swapped in a 17/16 from a 4Runner when my Brake Master went.
Click to expand...

Yeah I wanted a bigger master to go with the bigger brakes. As you say it's the same as the 93+ (USDM) but our 92+(JDM) got the bigger brakes. The larger on from the 4Runner would be better again but I don't think I need it for what I want to use the car for.

I test fitted the right front caliper with the BBS wheels. Sadly they don't fit over the brakes. Wheel spacers would allow them to fit but then I need a cert and that's a silly thing to do for such a minor mod. I will be buying back my stock 15" wheels which I had painted nicely. Unfortunately they hadn't been looked after, even though they were never fitted to a car so I will have to repaint them again. These will fit over the bigger brakes as they are designed for them.
Fun times ahead.

Spent all of yesterday sorting out my mates MR2 Turbo swap. It's finally drive-able now.
 
Yeah the large master is more of a pedal feel thing anyways without me putting larger brakes.

Are the brake boosters any different in your part of the world? I know ours here had much larger ones for turbo models.
 
It looks like it's the same. I also noticed the vacuum line from the engine to the booster is different. Still does the same thing though.
JDM http://toyotamarket.ru/jp/211120/005/2/4703/3/
USD http://toyotamarket.ru/us/211420/003/2/4703/3/

Mine is a 1990 JDM and my mates is a 1992 JDM. There are quite a few differences that I've noticed apart from the turbo engine we've swapped into it they were the same spec. But it's obviously got the newer parts because of the year change.
 
I have spent the last few nights cleaning up the calipers. They aren't perfect but it's a good base for a new coat of paint.
Paint stripper brushed on and left overnight then wire brushed off and some scrapping with a screw driver. Then a bit of sanding with 150 grit to remove some rust and dirt. Takes a few days but better than trying to sand off all the paint.
Then washed with hot soapy water and a dish brush.







These arrived earlier this week. Brake caliper seal kits. Thank you Mr Toyota. The kits for front and rear are the same price. Really good price too.

Front Kit

Rear Kit


Next up is to find some front brake pad clips. A few mid 90's Corollas and Celicas have these so should be easy to get from Pick-a-Part.
I don't have the rear the rear shims and clips but as these are the same as the smaller 16V brakes that are on the car. I will swap them over to the new calipers. The only thing I would be missing is the anti-squeal springs that are on the back of the pads. I'm sure I can mod some from another car to fit.
Then paint, install seal kits and source some pads, rotors and braided brake lines.
 
Sadly it wasn't as easy to find the clips for the pads as all the cars at pick a part had single pot calipers. I need twin pot caliper versions. The search continues. I did manage to get anti squeal springs for the pads though.
 
What colour are you planning to paint them? Back to standard or do you have something else in store for us?
 
Today I started tidying up the 15" wheels I bought back from the person I sold them to minus the gravel tyres. They had a bit of paint damage from transporting and storage over the last few years since I repainted them about 5 years ago. Never really been put on a car since.
The plan is to mount my current Toyo T1Rs onto them when I install the larger brakes. As I mentioned before the BBS wheels on the front don't fit as the caliper is wider.

Wheels as they were before I started today. A few marks and paint chips.


Sanded back the top coat with 600 grit to give the new paint something to stick to and remove some scuff marks.


Recoated with Duplicolor wheel paint as I had done before but I did a better job this time. Metallic paint is hard to get right as it reflects light in different ways depending on what direction you spray it. Then I sprayed thick coats of good quality clear coat over it. I had not done this last time I painted them so this time they came out with a proper gloss shine. It's hard to see in the photos but it looks great.


I think this paint has little glass beads in it to reflect the light. Very sparkly :lol:


Sorry about the stupid narrow angle photos. I only have my 75-300mm lens. I could use my phone but it's not as good.
 
Five years ago? I still recall reading the post where you did it the first time like it was yesterday. :eek:
 
It would have been some time in 2009-2010 when I actually painted them. I posted up the pictures in July 2011. Which is still almost 4 years ago.
 
GDII
It would have been some time in 2009-2010 when I actually painted them. I posted up the pictures in July 2011. Which is still almost 4 years ago.
Click to expand...

Ah, that makes sense. Still a long time! :P
 
How long did it take you to sand all four wheels? Thinking about doing the same thing to mine. You just used 600 grit or different variants?

I'm curious, but are you used to getting into your seat when you get in this car? The seats are planted so low it feels like I'm about to fall down or something when I get in my friends haha.
 
JrDarknes
How long did it take you to sand all four wheels? Thinking about doing the same thing to mine. You just used 600 grit or different variants?
Click to expand...
The paint was pretty good still so didn't take too long. But when I say 'not too long' I have nothing but time in the weekend so maybe about 2 hours to get the set done. But I did paint one wheel during that time plus do some surface rust repairs on the Starlet. I had a few deep paint chips and existing kurbing damage which I just painted over last time. This time I put body filler into the kurb damage and the new paint chips to remove their appearance as much as possible. I am yet to paint the other three wheels as I am out of clear coat.

JrDarknes
I'm curious, but are you used to getting into your seat when you get in this car? The seats are planted so low it feels like I'm about to fall down or something when I get in my friends haha.
Click to expand...
Its normal to me. Yes it's low and yes you do tend to almost fall into the seat but it just gives you that special sports car feeling compared to a normal car. Is your Nissan not low like the MR2? I've driven an S14 Silvia but I don't remember what it was like. All I remember was that I had my head jammed up against the roof lining and couldn't see the speedo past 40kph past the steering wheel. I'm only 6' but I have a tall body so when I sit I'm far taller than most people.
 
I've yet to find a stock car as low as a MR2. I remember pulling up beside a corvette in my brothers MR2 and I was looking up at the driver.
 
The Lamborghini Huracan I went in is far lower. The cabin is no where near as high. Although wearing a helmet doesn't help.
 

Similar threads

GreenGhost74
Ghost's SW20 MR2
2 3
Replies
62
Views
10K
GreenGhost74
GreenGhost74
MagpieRacer
Magpies Rides: French Style arrives.
2
Replies
53
Views
10K
MagpieRacer
MagpieRacer
kjb
Favorite car in GT7 and why ( It is open to any car whether road or race)
Replies
23
Views
5K
Pesselles
Pesselles
Snaeper
Toyota Hints at Return of Celica/MR2
Replies
11
Views
2K
05XR8
05XR8
JimmyTurbo
New Kerb & Dirt Sounds
Replies
0
Views
558
JimmyTurbo
JimmyTurbo

Latest Posts

Back