Project JDM MR2

[ExtremeSi]

Picked up this beauty off a user on here. Hardtop JDM turbo with traction control. Ohlins 32-way adjustable suspension, Sparco seats, Momo steering wheel.


http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/IMG_2561_zps8f21edb7.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/IMG_2564_zpse3d1b0d6.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/IMG_2562_zpsb9dbac69.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/IMG_2611_zps0a532f34.jpg

It was snowing and it wouldn't even run when I bought it.
Dried out the engine bay and put in a new cap and rotor and she was good to go.

Felt weak though and the power delivery was anything but linear. The Apexi muffler was a little loud for my liking. Various oil leaks. Also liked to stall from time to time.

So let the project begin!

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/IMG_2566_zps7679d181.jpg

The power problem was smoothed out with a new set of spark plugs. Nice easy fix :D .

The stalling was fixed by removing the HKS blow-off valve and installing an OEM recirculating valve. One of the oil leaks was solved by replacing the valve cover gasket, but I still have oil leaking from somewhere that I have to figure out.

Bought a Fujitsubo Legalis R off an MR2 owner in Ontario and had it installed at Ravi's Minute Muffler shop on 32nd Ave NE :thumbsup: .
Nice quiet tone and still provides a 3" exhaust throughout.
I have the Apexi one for sale if anyone is interested.

Before:
http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/IMG_2846e_zps0baa9fd5.jpg

After:
http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/IMG_2956e_zpsd9631169.jpg

I removed all the stickers on the back and I also removed the carbon fiber coating on the rear taillight center piece and painted it to match. Looks much cleaner IMO. I don't have any pics of that at the moment.

The front fog light was smashed when I bought it and the front lip cracked. The fog light was suppose to be an easy fix, but the damn bolts were rusted solid and near impossible to get to. I finally managed to remove and replace it after a lot of twisting. The front lip has been temporarily fixed with zip ties and plastic weld. Paint for the front lip coming in the future...

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/IMG_2742_zps3517d079.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/photoe-1_zpsb47f4ceb.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/IMG_2687_zps2aa48a66.jpg

The front caliper was sticking really bad so I had to order a new one and install it. Coming from Hondas, I am discovering just how hard it is to find parts for these cars!

Got some new rims on it from another user on here. Going to probably plasti-dip them black/gunmetal.

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/ccca4d10-1898-4694-a768-112e5be5b6f7_zps8e0069bb.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/IMG_3006_zps026fcdd9.jpg

Lastly, one of the rear CV axles is making a horrible clicking noise while going around corners so I have the car parked for now just waiting for parts to come in. MR2Mike is going to help sort it out for me once it arrives.

Future mods I want to increase the boost to 15psi (I have a MBC already just haven't installed it), look into getting an aftermarket intercooler, paint or replace the CF hood, paint front lip and side door guards, tint rear 3 windows, and who knows what else.

Also the rear spoiler appears to be a darker red (Crimson Red maybe) than the rest of my car which is Super Red. So if anyone has a Super Red spoiler they want to sell/swap let me know!

I don't know what springs are currently on the car, but the ride is a little rough so I may look into changing them. I may keep it as-is though, it's starting to grow on me.

Excuse some of the crappy pictures. I've yet to bring out my nice camera and do a photo shot with it.

[a61z]

nice job of rescuing this vehicle so far
looks good :thumbsup:

[J.M.]

Glad you brought it back to life!

[-CHRISS]

I use to be one of the owners for this car! Still miss it. Turned to shit once I sold it, glad its finally in good hands. Keep up the good work man, looks awsome !

[ExtremeSi]

Originally posted by -CHRISS
I use to be one of the owners for this car! Still miss it. Turned to shit once I sold it, glad its finally in good hands. Keep up the good work man, looks awsome !

Ya it was obviously not very well taken care of recently. It's slowly coming back though. Hopefully I can get it back to tip top shape soon.

[J.M.]

Any updates on this?

[ExtremeSi]

Ya, I've been slowly bringing it together to my liking. I found an oem hood, had it painted red along with the rear spoiler to match. Got the rear windows tinted.

Had some horrible ignition issues over the winter causing the car to stall on the road twice so I ended up replacing pretty much all the ignition pieces and it runs nicely now. Shout out again to MR2Mike for all the help.

Makes for a fun winter car though, that's for sure.

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/photo_zps536e545b.jpg

Installed some new springs I got from Mike that raised it up a little, but give a much nicer ride, still have Ohlins shocks in there.

Replaced both rear axles, but the clicking noise didn't go away, so after some reading I discovered it was actually the TRD LSD that was binding, so I added some GM LSD friction modifier to the rear diff and viola, the clunking and grinding at low-speed turns is all but gone. I wish I had discovered that fix earlier.

Now the only downside is that there is a bad oil leak coming from around the oil pump area, so I'm going to tackle that now and replace the timing belt while I'm in there.

It looks pretty stock now, but I'll be getting the summer wheels back on soon. Here's some pics from a while ago with the winters still on.

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/20140218_085357e_zps8dec555b.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/20140218_085423e_zps01b5f50e.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/8689da9c-eebd-4dc0-8c6e-9e77786ac429_zps57141a87.jpg

[J.M.]

Looks great man!

It's come a long way since last April when I sold it to you.

[ExtremeSi]

Finally took care of my major oil leak coming from the oil pump. Changed the timing belt, water pump and all the seals while I was in there. Was one hell of a job.

Here you can see the new oil and crank seals. I also had to replace the o-ring behind the oil pump housing which was the main cause of the leak.
http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/20140606_150351_zpsa80bac5b.jpg

Most of the top of the engine has to be removed as well as the intercooler and all associated piping.
http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/20140606_150334_zpsc841641e.jpg


Painted the wheels :D

On the road again finally.
http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/0ee313fb-4d75-4a30-b513-ba588a6f074e_zps92d73ba5.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/20140622_174914_zps23626cac.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/20140622_174904_zps81c2f0e5.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/20140622_142409_zpsd8d11579.jpg

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss193/ExtremeSi/20140622_143925_zpsac8b0c05.jpg