mr2-digest Friday, January 9 1998 Volume 02 : Number 082 Re: MR2 Re: Mk I air vent MR2 MKI Frontal Area Re: MR2 Racing Harnesses & Rollbar MR2 MK2 problems MR2 for Sale in PA Re: MR2 Re: mr2 Au prices MR2 Web page update! AC gathering Pictures! MR2 Mk1 NA Qs Re: MR2 COD comments Re: MR2 Japan 3sgte Re: MR2 Mustang Cobra Re: MR2 net sales and opening COD's Re: MR2 MkII Power Steering Problem Re: MR2 MkI Feeling a little droopy!! Re: MR2 BOUGHT MKI STILL WANT MKII TURBO Re: MR2 for Sale in PA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 08 Jan 1998 20:24:20 -0800 From: ahauswal Subject: Re: MR2 Re: Mk I air vent Simon T. wrote: > > Hi...I heard about your NACA duct Mod. Do you happened to have a picture of the > finishing look...I would like to attempt to do such a mod also....thank you. > > > ---------- > > From: ahauswal > > To: Miller, Bill [PRI] > > Cc: MR2 Digest ; locaencabeza@hotmail.com > > Subject: MR2 Re: Mk I air vent > > Date: January 7, 1998 6:25 PM > > > > Miller, Bill [PRI] wrote: > > > > > > You said you used a NACA duct in place of the oem brick. Was this a > > > straight fit or did you have to do some modification? I'm thinking > > > doing the same thing on my race car and would like any input you could > > > give. > > > > > > Thanks much, > > > > > > Bill > > > > Hi Bill, > > > > Thanks for the interest. I didn't have to make any modifications to the > > body panels of the MKI. However, I did have to make an easy addition. > > I had some 1/8" Lexan laying around that I used to do this. Plexiglas > > will work too; it just doesn't offer much shatter resistance, and UV > > rays embrittle it quicker than Lexan. Anyway, I used the OEM "brick" > > (how true!) as a template to fabricate a mounting plate for the NACA > > duct. I then cut an opening for the NACA duct in the flat Lexan plate. > > I attached the NACA duct to the Lexan plate with double-sided sticky > > tape ("AT&T tape"). I used cork as a gasket between the Lexan plate and > > the fender panel. I attached the Lexan plate and NACA duct combination > > using the OEM screws. > > > > I mounted the NACA duct to the lower half of the Lexan plate. This will > > make for the least amount of bend in the inlet ducting into the engine > > compartment, or whever else you may route it. This doesn't look > > symetrical, but form follows function in race cars; at least for me. > > > > Also I had to decide whether to mount the NACA duct flush or the panel > > flush. I couldn't have both, unless I templated another piece of Lexan > > to flush up the NACA duct. I didn't want to add the weight, so I didn't > > do that. As I remember, I shimmed the Lexan plate with two cork gaskets > > to push the NACA duct even with the body panels. This may or may not > > have been a waste of effort. I can only surmise what ariflow along the > > side panels is like. When in doubt, I use the common sense approach. > > > > When completed, I painted the UNDERSIDE of the Lexan panel and NACA duct > > combination to sort-of-match the MKI's white color. Painting the > > underside of a clear panel approximates the color, but gave scratch > > protection to the inexpensive spray paint I used. > > > > Good luck. Cheers, Arnie I'll try Simon. I've only sent text over the net. Give my a few days to work something up. You'll hear from me again. Arnie ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 Jan 1998 20:36:45 -0800 From: ahauswal Subject: MR2 MKI Frontal Area HI all, I need some help. Whats the frontal area of my 1986 MKI? I've got some drag race software coming from Mr. Gasket, and it's one of the input items for estimating 1/4 mile performance of a given vehicle. I can find the Drag Coefficient at 0.35, and the Aerodynamic Drag @ 50 mph is 8.5hp. If you don't have the F.A. figure, maybe you've got a formula I can plug these numbers into that will give my the Frontal Area. Thanks. Arnie. '86 MKI ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 02:33:41 EST From: Wade1972 Subject: Re: MR2 Racing Harnesses & Rollbar In a message dated 98-01-08 06:07:38 EST, you write: << Michael, Not to be picky...BUT, a RACING HARNESS means a 3" harness not a 2". Schrothe does make a 3" harness but they are a little more expensive. I personally have Simpson five-point 3" harnesses in my 85 MkII along with Sparco Road buckets. I paid $190 for each set of Simpson harnesses with the Cam-lock and about $330 for each Sparco plus you need to pay for the brackets. >> YEAH, YEAH I KNOW...85 MkII? IT WAS LATE AND I WAS OBVIOUSLY TOO TIRED TO BE EMAILING. SORRY FOR THE ERROR. AND BY THE WAY, TRY AUTOPOWER IN SAN DIEGO FOR A CAGE OR YOU CAN HAVE ONE BUILT FOR AROUND $700 THAT GOES THRU THE SPEAKER HOLES AND HAS 6 POINTS. JASON 85 N/A ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 00:09:02 -0800 From: "Jason Hills" Subject: MR2 MK2 problems Well, my 91T is starting to have a few random problems that I need to spend some time tracking down. I thought I'd ask the list before I tear into it all, as maybe someone else has seen something similar. 1. parking brake light flashing on during driving. Not too often, but it's getting more and more frequent. Interestingly it appears to happen very frequently when I take this one turn into the parking garage at work. It's an odd turn since I do hard left followed by a hard right (90 degree corners) and the left is taken on an abrupt transition from ramp to flat and the right from flat to ramp (both ramps are heading down underground). Anyway, typically right as I'm on the flat between the turns the light will come on. It also comes on from time to time in other situations. I'm guessing a lose connection or worn wire somewhere that occasionally shorts is causing this. Kind of hard to track down until/unless I can get it to stay in the bad position though. I should note that I have a HKS turbo timer and it _IS_ tapped into the parking brake line. 2. stock alarm tripping. Twice now in the last month or so I've unlocked the drivers door, opened the door and the alarm has gone off. I've taken to checking the light before I open the door after unlocking it to see if I can discover if the light is going off or not - whenever it trips next like this. It's a little disconcerting and annoying... anyone else had a similar problem? 3. My key (I only have one, yeah, I know, I should have a spare...) seems to unlock the drivers door and trunk better when it's turned one way as opposed to the other (not that I can tell the difference except by trial and error). The passenger door seems to work pretty much equally as well with it either way. For that matter, I usually don't have much trouble unlocking the passenger door, but the driver door (especially) can cause me to have to fumble around to get the key just right so that it will allow me to unlock the door. Combine this with the misfiring alarm and someone is going to think I'm breaking into and stealing a MR2 one of these days! :). It seems likely that either my key is worn or the locks are worn. The fact that the drivers door seems to work a little better than the other two locks makes me think the lock, but I can't imagine how the trunk could really be that badly worn, and the fact that rotating the key 180 degrees helps makes me think the key is the problem. Maybe both are to some degree?? I suppose it's probably cheapest to just have new locks put all around the car with new keys? (assuming that making a copy of my key will make an equally defective key if the key is at fault). Otherwise I can remove the pass. lock to find the code that I don't know to get a new key made.... but I suspect that won't be as cheap as a copy key, and is likely to only prove that the locks need to be replaced, at which point I should just replace all of them rather than have new ones keyed to the existing key I would think. Well, any suggestions that save me some time or money are more than welcome :). ...Jason Hills 91T dark green 80.8k miles 85 NA white, EV conversion in progress ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 04:14:45 -0500 From: "Kennedy, Paul M, NCIO" Subject: MR2 for Sale in PA To those who are interested, I saw this dealer's ad for the following: '93 MR2 (NA, I assume, as it did not state Turbo) 5sp.,sunroof $7495 National Auto Sales Main St., Clifford, PA (N. of Scranton) 717-222-9755 or -3930 I did not call and am unaware of the condition. Hope it's a good one and finds a happy home with a list member. Paul Kennedy 91T 86 NA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 09 Jan 98 19:50:49 PST From: "David Youl" Subject: Re: MR2 Re: mr2 Au prices Not here in Australia! A privately imported 94 turbo in Aust. would be about A$40,000 depending on condition. The difference is in NZ they (correct me if I'm wrong Kiwis) have quite an open trade agreement with Japan which allows unlimited used Jap cars to be sold there which pushes the used prices down. Here in Australia we have no such arrangement. There are low volume importers who are limited to the amount of cars they can compliance to Australian standards every year. Once they have met their quota, thats it. Dave - ---------- > > wow. unless i'm missing something...$12,500 for a 94 turbo? > seems to me like you get hit on new prices, but make like bandits on used > vehicles. > Correct me if i'm wrong, but i think book value for a loaded 94 turbo is in > the $16-19k range. seems like a good deal to me. > > ke!th > ------------ > (would settle for an 86na, 400k miles at this point... > 91 na in the body shop for months. 2 weeks and counting to go....) > > In a message dated 1/8/98 7:50:39 PM Eastern Standard Time, owner- > mr2-digest@mr2.com writes: > > << eg. 94 Turbo (245HP) NZ$24,995 in the newspaper > >> > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 04:53:28 -0500 (EST) From: Christopher Conrad Subject: MR2 Web page update! AC gathering Pictures! Hey everybody. Chris Conrad here. I just wanted to let everyone know, that thanks to Joe Pearlstein that I have posted the pictures from Sunday's AC gathering on my web page. I would really appreciate if you would stop by and visit my page. I would like to add so much more, but no one has shown much support! If you visit the page, please sign the guestbook. I recently changeed account and lost the old guestbook, so if you have signed beofre, please sign again! Thanks! The site: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/6819/njimoc.html - --------------------------------------------------------- Chris Conrad 1985 Blue MKI http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/7153/mr22.html NJ IMOC Page: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/6819/njimoc.html ICQ: 5285001 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 10:30:36 GMT From: Sam Kingsbury Subject: MR2 Mk1 NA Qs Hello everybody, I'm a new MR2 owner (48 hours) so please excuse any stupidity on my part... (my previous vehicle was a diesel van). I live in the UK and have a UK '88 Mk1 NA TBar (1 prev owner, FSH, 5000 UKP) I also have a couple of questions.... having checked eveything possible before buying the car, on my first trip I noticed a possible problem (isn't that always the way?) From cold, the temp guage soars to off-the-top of the red within the first 30 yards of driving, it stays there for up to half a hour then suddenly drops to middle-of-the-guage and begins behaving normally - Is this normal? Something to do with the cold start system? or will I have to spend my first weekend of ownership getting dirty? (n.b. weather here in UK at the mo. is cold, windy, and very wet) Secondly, the car has an odd bonnet badge - a bit like a German eagle, on a red backgorund (clashes badly with the blue paintwork!) The eagle symbol appears again on the rear bumper. I don't see it on other toyotas or any of the toyota bumpf I got with the car. Is it the logo of an after-market body-kit company? (my car doesn't seem to have any extra body-trim). Thirdly, I notice the underside of the car has `an array of wedges' on it - did Lotus give the car ground-effect a-la the esprit? I have several other Qs, but I'll not bore you with them all at once...... Cheers, Sam Kingsbury '88 Mk1 NA Tbar MetMicaBlue ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 06:31:42 -0400 From: bagdon@rust.net (S and K Bagdon) Subject: Re: MR2 COD comments >You know that COD just means that you can get a rubber >check...so what difference does it make if you send COD or >cross ship? There's little additional security involved with >COD, contrary to popular opinion.... So check the UPS 'cash/cashier's-check' only box. Steve B. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 06:31:49 -0400 From: bagdon@rust.net (S and K Bagdon) Subject: Re: MR2 Japan 3sgte >Remember how I asked about a japanese spec 3S-GTE engine? Well look what I >came across on mr2.com tonight: > >3SGTE Japanese version for sale - Ad placed 08:42:11 PM on Monday, January >05, 1998 EST > > Description: MR2 3SGTE engine for sale.Japanese version, >245hp. Included a large > turbo,large intercooler,transmission, computer,cataylist >converter.Directly exchange with the > US version!!The engine got 2000kilometer on it and it is a >1992 engine. > Asking Price: $2500 obo + shipping(around $300) > Contact: Clovis Wong - Vancouver,CA > Email: clovis@netcom.ca > Phone Number: N/A > >So, anyone think it is legit? It says 1992 engine but 245 hp. This should >be 214 yes/no? Why not buy an American Spec motor for $800, and turn up the boost a few psi. You'll get more hp, and spend a whole less money. Steve B. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 06:31:53 -0400 From: bagdon@rust.net (S and K Bagdon) Subject: Re: MR2 Mustang Cobra >Hello all. I'm back from my 3 week X-Mas break. I have billions of mr2 >messages that I'm trying to catch up with. Today on my way to the store I >passed a used car dealership with an almost new Mustang Cobra (3,600 miles) I >absolutely hate these cars and their overconfident Pony Car drivers as well. >I was bored so I took it out for a test drive. The clutch required an >inordinate amount of pressure as did the break pedal. I couldn't tell if I >was shifting into third or fifth. The power was unimpressive. I think a >mr2T running with stock boost and a poor ignition system would still eat this >car up. All in all the car performed much worse than I thought it would. I >can't beleive Ford gets 30k for it. I'm supposed to test drive a 97 Z28 >tommorow so I'll let you know how that goes. > Brian The only Cobra I liked was the one with the 'shifting colors' paint scheme. Odd that it would be the paint job that would make me like any Cobra. About the owners - true. Theer's a guy at Ford World Headquarters that drives a Cobra or a late-mode SHO (depending on the weather), and he's given me crap about 'buying Jap'. After he realized that I really didn't care about his opinion, and that my section suppoted the computers in his department, he realized it wouldn't get him anywhere. :) Steve B. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 06:32:07 -0400 From: bagdon@rust.net (S and K Bagdon) Subject: Re: MR2 net sales and opening COD's >I've shipped and received lots of packages by COD, Officially, you can't >open a package until you pay for it, but if you know your delivery >person, or you show them the cash and explain your concerns, they are >usually understanding. They have heard about or seen most of the scams >and rip offs, this may be because using UPS to rip someone off doesn't >necessarily constitute "mail fraud" This is just a reach, but I'd presume that USPS mail fraud is a felony, and that crosses state lines. USPS fraud would probably be a civil matter - which means that the receiver might have to file in the state of shipping, which could be on the other side of the country. Steve B. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 06:32:15 -0400 From: bagdon@rust.net (S and K Bagdon) Subject: Re: MR2 MkII Power Steering Problem >Help!!!! Michelle's 93T (44k miles) had a strange occurrance tonight. >She got in it to come home from work and the power steering didn't >work. The idiot light was on and there was no assist. It has never >done this before. After she got it home I checked the fluid level and >it was fine. (Idiot light still on, no assist) The power steering >started working when I tried it, ONLY if I revved the engine, >immediately after starting the car, before turning the wheel . If I >tried to turn the wheel without revving, the idiot light came on and >there was no assist again until I shut the car off, restarted, and >blipped the gas again. After several start/stops, the car seems to be >almost normal. The power steering is working and the idiot light stays >off. What's up? It does seem as if the power steering is bogging the >engine down at idle a bit. The interior lights dim and the revs drop >when you turn the wheel. Power steering pump going bad? Any thoughts >are welcome! Maybe you need your battery or alternator looked at. The power steering is electric, and produces a heck of a currnet draw (almost as bad as the ABS). If you're car can't produce enough current, there might be a 'low current sensor' in the PS circuit that disables the PS (so you don't stall the car from a current-draw. Steve B. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 06:32:20 -0400 From: bagdon@rust.net (S and K Bagdon) Subject: Re: MR2 MkI Feeling a little droopy!! >In a message dated 98-01-08 21:35:04 EST, you write: > ><< Has anyone else had a problem with "saggy"door hinges??? > My driver's side door is sitting about 1/4 inch lower than it should be > which is in turn causing closing problems as well as window seal > problems... > Does anyone make a good quality hinge replacement kit or will I have to > order factory replacement hinges to fix this problem?? >> > > I have the same problem with my 88 SC. If you find a solution please send >it to me. Used or new hinges sounds like a good idea. Anyone priced them out? Steve B. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 06:32:26 -0400 From: bagdon@rust.net (S and K Bagdon) Subject: Re: MR2 BOUGHT MKI STILL WANT MKII TURBO >Well, I NEEDED a car to bounce around in so I found a real cheap MKI. It's >a red 88(yes I do not want red...but it was cheap!) with 96K miles...VERY >clean interior and trunks. It has t-tops, but no cruise. Engine sounds >real good, but the clutch is slipping A LOT(any recommendations?). Replace the clutch? >I bought it PRE-DENTED so I will not have to take care of that. There is a >ding in the driver side rear quarter and the p-side front fender. Hey, that's funny. >It's been over 2.5 years since I have owned my 86 and I can say that it is >REALLY FUN to be back in an MKI, BUT > >I STILL WANT A 93+ TURBO!!!! Always greedy for more power, aren't you? :) Steve B. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 06:32:38 -0400 From: bagdon@rust.net (S and K Bagdon) Subject: Re: MR2 for Sale in PA >To those who are interested, I saw this dealer's ad for the following: > >'93 MR2 (NA, I assume, as it did not state Turbo) >5sp.,sunroof >$7495 Yea, if it's a '93T with sunroof, I'll call Delta today to redeem those frequent-flyer miles... :) Steve B. ------------------------------ End of mr2-digest V2 #82