mr2-digest Tuesday, 30 July 1996 Volume 01 : Number 333 Source of used engines Buzzing sound in MKII turbo re:Buzzing sound from carcoal canister? re: air cond flashing light shadows Re: MR2 and Ferrari 308 Re: Shift knob Re: mr2-digest V1 #332 0-60 times Re: '91T MR2: flaky white deposits on distributor cap interior? MR2/Ferrari Re: mr2-digest V1 #330 MkIIT-Exhaust MR2.COM Web Site News ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: uunet!diane.csg.mot.com!mikep (Mike Pittelkow) Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 17:26:44 -0500 Subject: Source of used engines TAP wants $2200 for a used 3SGTE engine, 6 mo gaurantee. Won't sell just parts off of one... Anyone got an intake manifold and head they're willing to part with cheap? Head doesn't need to be usable, but I do need cams and valves (again, need not be usable). I asked a while back, thought I'd ask again. - -mike +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | mikep@diane.csg.mot.com | | +--------------------------+ | |1993 MR2Turbo #223 FRINGE1| Suggestions to mr2@diane.csg.mot.com | +--------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ | Motorola Cordless, Libertyville, IL 60089 (w)847-523-8273 (h)847-520-3783 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ From: "Mark A. Shehan" Date: 29 Jul 96 18:58:20 EDT Subject: Buzzing sound in MKII turbo Geoff- Yes, I've heard the "buzzing" sound near the charcoal cannister in my '91 turbo for some time now. I haven't located the exact source, however, I don't think that it's indicative of a problem as I now have 164 K miles on my car and it still runs fine. Mark Shehan '91 MKII turbo t-top red 164 K miles Dearborn, Michigan ------------------------------ From: Adrienne Mora Date: Tue, 30 Jul 96 13:55:00 NZS Subject: re:Buzzing sound from carcoal canister? > >Anyone else ever hear the occasional "buzzing" sound coming from what I > >beleive is the carcoal canister in a MkII? It sounds almost like an > electrical > >short although I'm sure there's no electricity invoked. The sounds lasts only > >one or two seconds at a time and I've heard it from just after shutdown to > >at least 24 hours after shutdown? > > > >Geoff > >'91t, 180,000km > > > Hi, > I think the problem that your having is air escaping the canister from > the hoses that run to the can, just replace those cheesy hose clamps that > come stock with the screw type clamps and that should solve your problem. > - -daniel I thought they all did that? I've talked to lots of owners who have heard the same noise. We just assumed it was normal. Later Ade ------------------------------ From: Adrienne Mora Date: Tue, 30 Jul 96 14:01:00 NZS Subject: re: air cond flashing light > Terry, my guess is you have an electrical problem. My friends 91 Celica > just had the same problem. The dealer diagnosed it as being a bad speed > sensor on the compressor. In the manual they referred to it as a > "Revolution Detector Sensor". This device monitors the engine RPM and makes > sure the compressor is running at the same speed. If there is a problem > than the compressor shuts down and the light starts blinking. You can check > this part yourself with an ohm meter. Look in the service manual for the > specs. I ended up replaced the part for my friend since the dealer wanted > almost $300 because they have to evacuate the system before removing the > part. I've had this flashing light problem too. It was because the gas had all leaked out and the compressor was f***ed. Because the lubricant for the whole system is in the gas, as soon as the gas is gone then running it without the lubricant ... well, you can picture it. While idling, if I turned the AC on, it stalled the car. While driving, I could feel it dragging the engine and then it would turn off and the light would flash. Anyway, I had to have the compressor rebuilt. I've very careful now .. if it ain't pumping out cold air, then I don't use it. Also, you need to use it for at least 10 mins every week to keep all the seals lubricated and sealing properly. In short, don't use the AC and get it looked at by an air cond expert. Hopefully it'll just be the above mentioned electrical fault. Ade ------------------------------ From: uunet!aol.com!Hansen808 Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 21:33:19 -0400 Subject: shadows >durability of John Broderick's straight pipe, but call me picky, I really >love the dual outlet pipe look (although I could probably get used to a >single outlet). oh,.... is john's exhaust a single outlet? didn't know that. it makes more sense to us now,... =) we've been working on a dual outlet exhaust because we like the dual look as well. anyway, this is my final note on this thread,.... i'm going to go back and hide in the shadows once more. =) thanks for the info on the exhaust. we've been inspired,.... *smile* oh yeah, if anyone is interested in what we come up with, please send me a personal mail to hansen808@aol.com and i'll keep you guys updated. unless the whole digest wants to be updated. *laugh* it looks like we're going to be aiming for an 8lb dual outlet/tip exhaust. it doesn't look impossible so,.... *SMILE* thanks again! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX B B C - L I G H T S C A N Y O N R U N N E R Laugh and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone; For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has trouble enough of its own. - - Ella Wheeler Wilcox, "Solitude" ------------------------------ From: Steve Dekorte Date: Mon, 29 Jul 96 19:24:33 -0700 Subject: Re: MR2 and Ferrari 308 > The Lotus Esprit is also very nice, but aren't the mechanicals > a bit dated and the car isn't that fast? Check out the specs on the new Lotus v8. http://www.lotuscars.com/news/e8car.html *Much* faster than an NSX. There's also the new Lotus Elise if you like convertables. > So ... any thoughts on which used model of Ferrari might be getting close > to being affordable, is a blast to drive, and is moderately easy to > maintain? Early 80s Ferraris are very affordable(20-30K), but I'm guessing maintainence is a nightmare on a v12. Comments? Steve ------------------------------ From: uunet!net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp!kazu (Kazuhisa Nishishita) Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 12:16:11 +0900 (JST) Subject: Re: Shift knob >Looking for a shift knob for a MkI. If anyone has the factory original >("banana"-shaped) with the black leather cover in good shape, please >let me know. I made it in past weekend. It was easy to wrap the knob with leather. It was taken only about an hour. materials: original knob (urethane) leather (I used riding suit which I use to wear) scissors, needle and thread adhesive methods: (I cut the knob flat at the position of thumb because I like the shape. The material is cut easily with cutter knife.) Cut the leather. Make design on it. I cut into two piece. Make needlework. I did it as baseball. It was easy to start from the top of the knob to the both bottom ends. Be sure to do it on the knob with some tention on the materials. (You cannot put a baseball into the outer leather which has already finished the needlework:-) Excess leather would be cut occasionally. Align the point of every needlework. The tention during needlework would be good enough, no need adheseve on all surface. Glue the leather onto the bottom of knob, with a bit of adhesive matherial. Is my English OK? Kazuhisa Nishishita Nagasaki, Japan 87 MK1 SC auto (I got recently another SC parts car) ------------------------------ From: "Marc C. Brooks" Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 22:58:28 -0500 Subject: Re: mr2-digest V1 #332 > > The following page has lots of MR2 related electronics stuff on it. > > > > http://www.keisei.tsukuba.ac.jp/~kashima/sch/sch_idx.html > > These file are in a *.sch format...I don't recognize that...is > it a graphic file or...? The top of the very same page has a link to download the software that understands that file type... Marc ------------------------------ From: Brad Franklin Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 20:50:13 -0700 Subject: 0-60 times I've owned my MR2 turbo for about a year, and I've never really timed any acceleration runs with this car, so I went out and bought a stopwatch and did some 0-60 runs, with some depressing results. First I tested the car with my MR.2 boost controller off. Dumping the clutch at about 3500-4000 rpm and simultaneously starting the stopwatch, it took 7.45 seconds to reach 60! This is with a K&N air filter! I didn't powershift or anything like that, but I shifted pretty quickly. No wonder that '95 Z28 blew me away! So I thought I'd do some tests with the boost controller turned about 3 1/2 turns, which holds boost at about 15 psi. This is where it gets really wierd. I launched the car again at about 4000 rpm, fast shifts, and I couldn't get below _7.88_ in the car. I made several runs and one time I got a 8.2 (Launched at about 2500 which bogged the car). So with the boost at 15 psi, I was actually SLOWER in 0-60. This is very unsettling as I've heard the stock MR2 should be able to do at least high six second 0-60 times. At 15 psi with a K&N air filter I would have thought I would have at least been in the low sixes maybe high fives. Something must be amiss here, and I have a funny feeling it might be my ignition. At least I hope so, instead of something major like loss of compression through a head gasket leak or something. Anyway after that long-winded paragraph, I was writing to see if any of you guys out there have done 0-60 times, and what are they? Have you had this reduction in power happen to you, and if so, what was the culprit? Any ideas/opinions on what to check/do about this is GREATLY appreciated, as I am somewhat let down by my 0-60 times. Brad Franklin ------------------------------ From: uunet!island.net!gseeley (Geoff Seeley) Date: Mon, 29 Jul 96 21:15:05 Subject: Re: '91T MR2: flaky white deposits on distributor cap interior? uunet!rust.net!bagdon (S and K Bagdon) wrote: > I took a few minutes today to inspect the 6-month-old distributor cap on my > '91T MR2, and immediately noticed that there was some white flaky deposits > on the inside 'posts' of the cap. I was able to scrape of the build-up with > ... > Has anyone else experienced this before? Is this something I should do once Yup, same here. I just scraped it off. This was on a fairly new cap as well. I *wish* someone made an aftermarket cap for the MkII that has better metal for the posts! Geoff '91t, 180,100km ------------------------------ From: Jen Bentley et al Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 01:31:17 -0400 (EDT) Subject: MR2/Ferrari Early mid engine Ferrari's are dime a dozen. 308 GT4s (actually Dinos) can be had for under 30 thousand - and that's for a really really good example. These 2+2s were Bertone designed, not Pinin, and look really exotic compared to the 'usual' 308. 35,000 should buy you the perfect 308 of any vintage in excellent condition. Dino 246 Ferraris (w/ a transverse 2.4litre V6 mounted amidships) offer up another mid engine Ferrari built alternative. Some early Boxer V12s are nearly affordable. I've driven Dinos, but the front engine cars. They are exquisite, and a blast to work on as well. Esprits (at least newer ones) are peaky on power like an MR2, and will plaster you into the seat once they're on boost. They may be known for falling apart, but from friends with them they've never seemed worse than any other exotic. Also on the 'don't forget' list would be old V12 Lamborghinis, though the mid engine cars sure cost a bunch. Maserati Boras may be out of the price range as well, but the Merak (a Bora look alike) can be had cheap, though parts are tough to come by. Fiat X1/9s are a blast to drive, though possibly the most underpowered car on the earth, including the Deisel VW Rabbit! They handle like go carts, have a sexy targa top, and make a very sweet noise going through the rev range. Lancia Scorpions (espescially glass sail panel cars) are fantastic handlers, but never came in fuel injected models (all FI scorpions in the USA are aftermarket, and there are only about 3, including the one I'm working on for a friend). Their shift linkage pales to the MR2, but their neato top and wild styling (no one EVER knows what a Scorpion is) are a great way to zip around town Italian style. The best Scorpion in North America is probably priced below 4000$. X1/9s are cheap (I can get you one for 2000$ that needs nothing but horsepower). There are also some Porsches with mid engine (914 and 916s). And probably many others I can't think of at 135am. Jonthan - -- Hmm....... Please forgive the denizens of this address-one has been committed to the psych services department at UVA and the other is caught in a conundrum....We're quite sorry for the inconvenience and hope to return to normalcy relatively soon. Dod# pending FLU#1077 Random#42 Phone# too expensive! ------------------------------ From: Harry Pitaro Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 15:45:56 EST Subject: Re: mr2-digest V1 #330 ** Reply to note from owner-mr2-digest@validgh.com 07/27/96 07:14am PDT > > From: uunet!ukonline.co.uk!david.cole > Date: Sat, 27 Jul 1996 08:39:03 +0100 > Subject: MK1 Mileage > > From: JASON W STONE > Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 10:54:43 -0500 (CDT) > Subject: MK-I gas Milage > > >We've had this '86 MR-2 for just couple weeks. We've only had a chance to > >drive it around town. I know the milage should be lots worse in the city > >but it looks like we get just 16 m/gal. > > On my manual '89 mk1, the average fuel consumption is 31mpg, the best has > been 33mpg. With town-only driving it averages out at 28-29mpg. > I think I may have a problem. I'm currently only getting about 300km from approx. 36 litres. This converts to about to about 20mpg around town. The best mileage I've had out bush is about 370km from 36 litres (about 25mpg). If anyone can suggest what I need to look for to try and improve this mileage, please let me know. Regards, Harry Pitaro Nov. '87 MK1 MR2 K&N Air Filter _____________________ pitaro@ozemail.com.au Melbourne, Australia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------ From: Kerry Wood Date: 30 Jul 96 00:14:38 EDT Subject: MkIIT-Exhaust Brad Franklin writes: >>I hear about HKS exhaust alot in these discussions...anybody tried painting >>exhaust with something like high temperature rustoleum or something with >>any success? I like the price and durability of John Broderick's straight >>pipe, but... Don't know anything about the new GReddy unit, but HKS...that's another story. Put HKS Turbo exhaust on my car just under a year ago. Painted the entire unit w/ hi-temp paint before installation. Rust started showing up after 4 mos. Took the unit off, power wire brushed entire thing and repainted. Five mos later, rusted again only worse than first time - heavy rust on all pipe welds, stainless(?) tips rusted at cooling plate welds, can seam welds rusted, rust on the cans themselves. After 8 wks of badgering selling dealer w/ no result, called HKS, USA in California direct. Sent the thing back to them where it was examined by a little boy named Mark who pronounced the problem "surface rust." No warranty replacement. I blew up after Mark advised that HKS was as good or better than stock. *Absolutely* not so in terms of materials - my stock unit was on the car for just over 2 yrs and no rust - period. Talked to the salesman I originally talked to after the go-round w/ Mark. He said there was nothing he could do other than repaint unit and send it back. I said okay but advised that I was very unhappy. Abt 4 hrs later, I got a call from HKS' general manager who advised that he understood that I was very unhappy. Essentially, I said "no sh--, sherlock." After courteously listening to me, he offered to extend the exhuast's warranty to 3 yrs rather than the original 1 yr. Sent a nice letter giving the warranty and enclosed an HKS tee shirt. As promised, the HKS exhaust came back, nicely painted; however...it is still in the box and probably will remain there - gathering dust. John Broderick's pipe is on the car. There is no comparison - performance, sound, quality - all there. I think the single pipe looks very good - neat, clean and simple - as we landscape architects say, "form follows function" . The powder coated filler plate for the rh valence opening helps considerably - makes it look like the car was intended to have a single pipe. As to ingnition problems, am running up to 13.5 psi and notice a slight to moderate stutter just as I really get on the throttle. A set of Beru plugs helped but did not cure the problem. I think the real problem is the stock distributor cap (for which there is no substitute that I know of). The tower contacts and rotor tip apparently burn fairly quickly resulting in less than ideal performance. Carbon tracking also appears to be a problem. Both rotor and cap were replaced not long ago and the problem was almost gone for abt 2 wks but came back. Have talked to John B. abt this...looks like a set of Nology hot wires are in order. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Kerry Wood '93T Black (modified now and getting more so) "havin' a hole in the head doesn't always indicate an open mind" - - anonymous _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ------------------------------ From: uunet!island.net!gseeley (Geoff Seeley) Date: Mon, 29 Jul 96 21:55:52 Subject: MR2.COM Web Site News Good news! A kind soul by the name of Loren Salsgiver has graciously offered to host the MR2 Web Site through his Internet provider company Salsgiver Engineering. (http://www.salsgiver.com/) Today, July 29th, I had to take down the old server (web and ftp) from my old place of employment. I have transferred the entire servers over to Loren's machine and I am just finishing up minor details to do with forms and scripts while waiting for the Internic to process my domain change request. Once the request has been processed and the root nameservers get updated, you'll once again find that http://mr2.com will respond to requests. Hopefully this will happen within a few days, but it all depends on the Internic work load. Loren is asking that we make donations to his company to help pay for the bandwidth that the site will be using. You can send your donations to: Salsgiver Engineering P. O. Box 165 Sarver, PA 16055 USA Please mention with your donation that this is in support of the MR2 Web site. You may also send you thanks to Loren and his systems people (Lisa and Katie) for all their kind work at info@www.salsgiver.com (But PLEASE don't pester them!!) Many thanks to all the people who have offered to help out in this time of need, it is much appreciated! Stay tuned for further updates! Geoff '91t, 180,100km ------------------------------ End of mr2-digest V1 #333