Toyota MR2 Message Board - View Single Post - Another Black Top Swap Begins: Project Tuesday.

FelipeT · 04-19-2009, 03:06 AM

Greetings all!

First, many thanks to you fine folds for this site. I've been reading a lot on here and have learned a great deal. Since I'm new here, a little introduction...

After many years, I've finally gotten myself an MR2 (I've wanted one since high school, when a friend of mine had a white 85 hardtop, and subsequently a black, non-turbo 91 T-top.) Mine is a white 87 T-top which I got cheaply because it didn't run. The price was such that even if it wasn't something simple to fix, it would still be worth it. Well, guess what--it was simple. I needed a new engine...

And I have one! I picked up a 20V Black Top with (supposedly) uncut harness, transmission, and computer. I'm already starting to regret it. Either this engine came out of a car that was wrecked hardcore, or shipping was unkind to it. Either way, it's pretty banged up. I don't know if there is one accessory pulley that is still round, there's a hole in my cam cover, and, worst of all, the plenum is damaged. Oh, and that "uncut" harness... Well, it's actually two harnesses--and both are cut.

So far, what I've learned:

The distributor cap from a 94-97 Previa (Wells PN: JP962) looked like a promising substitute for the 20V cap. It was used with the same rotor, but was clocked differently. Alas, the mounting tabs were slightly off. JP964 and JP968, which were also used with the same rotor as the Black Top (JA995) in other Toyota models looked even less likely to work, as they had only two mounting ears.

I'm missing one of the connectors to the ECU. This would be really annoying, but as it turns out, the connectors from a '93-97 Mazda MX-6/626/Ford Probe are identical. Yes, all three ECU connectors match, and I happen to have plenty of those sitting around. So, if you ever damage your 20V computer connectors, just go to a junkyard and snip them off of a Probe. They won't be hard to find there!

So, some questions I've had to far, that I haven't really found an answer to in my searches...

Is the factory Black Top header mild steel or stainless? If it is mild steel, I'm thinking of cutting off the flange, and welding two elbows and a Y-pipe assembly to it. If it is stainless, then it might be a little more tricky. Any other suggestions for dealing with the exhaust?

Are there any US market cars that anyone has run into that have suitable plug wires that can work on the 20V, or am I stuck getting the originals? Oh, did I mention that my ignition wires are damaged and the distributor cap is broken, too?

Will the camshaft seals or valve cover gasket from a later A-series work on the 20V, or am I going to have to add that to my order of JDM parts when I get my timing belt and distributor cap?

Toyotapartscheap.com has the water pump for $105.58. Is this about what I can expect to pay? If it is, I think that I'm going to hold off on that until the next time the car is due for a timing belt change.

So, I'm left wondering if it really was worth it after all...

Anyway, I think that is all for now. Thanks all!

04-19-2009, 03:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
FelipeT No Skills Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 16 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Another Black Top Swap Begins: Project Tuesday. Greetings all! First, many thanks to you fine folds for this site. I've been reading a lot on here and have learned a great deal. Since I'm new here, a little introduction... After many years, I've finally gotten myself an MR2 (I've wanted one since high school, when a friend of mine had a white 85 hardtop, and subsequently a black, non-turbo 91 T-top.) Mine is a white 87 T-top which I got cheaply because it didn't run. The price was such that even if it wasn't something simple to fix, it would still be worth it. Well, guess what--it was simple. I needed a new engine... And I have one! I picked up a 20V Black Top with (supposedly) uncut harness, transmission, and computer. I'm already starting to regret it. Either this engine came out of a car that was wrecked hardcore, or shipping was unkind to it. Either way, it's pretty banged up. I don't know if there is one accessory pulley that is still round, there's a hole in my cam cover, and, worst of all, the plenum is damaged. Oh, and that "uncut" harness... Well, it's actually two harnesses--and both are cut. So far, what I've learned: The distributor cap from a 94-97 Previa (Wells PN: JP962) looked like a promising substitute for the 20V cap. It was used with the same rotor, but was clocked differently. Alas, the mounting tabs were slightly off. JP964 and JP968, which were also used with the same rotor as the Black Top (JA995) in other Toyota models looked even less likely to work, as they had only two mounting ears. I'm missing one of the connectors to the ECU. This would be really annoying, but as it turns out, the connectors from a '93-97 Mazda MX-6/626/Ford Probe are identical. Yes, all three ECU connectors match, and I happen to have plenty of those sitting around. So, if you ever damage your 20V computer connectors, just go to a junkyard and snip them off of a Probe. They won't be hard to find there! So, some questions I've had to far, that I haven't really found an answer to in my searches... Is the factory Black Top header mild steel or stainless? If it is mild steel, I'm thinking of cutting off the flange, and welding two elbows and a Y-pipe assembly to it. If it is stainless, then it might be a little more tricky. Any other suggestions for dealing with the exhaust? Are there any US market cars that anyone has run into that have suitable plug wires that can work on the 20V, or am I stuck getting the originals? Oh, did I mention that my ignition wires are damaged and the distributor cap is broken, too? Will the camshaft seals or valve cover gasket from a later A-series work on the 20V, or am I going to have to add that to my order of JDM parts when I get my timing belt and distributor cap? Toyotapartscheap.com has the water pump for $105.58. Is this about what I can expect to pay? If it is, I think that I'm going to hold off on that until the next time the car is due for a timing belt change. So, I'm left wondering if it really was worth it after all... Anyway, I think that is all for now. Thanks all!