New MR2 owner--questions

jgates411 · 05-10-2009, 06:32 PM

Ok as it says I'm new to MR2's. I just purchased an 86 as a beater car, needed a timing belt. Couldnt pass it up for the price. but i ran into a few problems.
Sorry for cell phone quality, but heres a few pics of the car, tearin into it

What is this?

PROBLEM-- The bolts for this water neck are busted off inside the head, so tomorrow i gotta see if i can get it drilled and tapped... bummer

So far I've fixed alot of screw ups on the car, from previous owners tinkering, installed the new timing belt(correct me if i'm wrong, but center scribe mark on the crank positioned straight up, cam dots facing each other), and I've started refinishing the interior. Lots of work to do yet but hopefully i can get it on the road soon....

ebouwman · 05-10-2009, 07:33 PM

take a few pictures of that unknown piece, can't see from that picture.

To get it to TDC it's the third mark on the crank, the other 2 are just for timing it, and the dot on the intake cam is supposed to be up, and you should see it from the oil filler cap being cut in half by that baffle type thing in there. But as long as nothing moves you should be ok, and just recheck your markings once you have the new belt on.

Why are you trying to take the water pump off? Or did it come with the bolts broken off? You are able to do the work just by taking the pulley off instead of the housing thing.

If i may ask, how much did you pay for it?

Jackstand Queen · 05-10-2009, 07:37 PM

I'm sure you are going to make a lot of Honda owners red-faced, and ashamed of themselves.

The what is this picture looks like an engine bay temperature sensor/switch. It mounts on the forward, driver's side corner of the head (up high). When temperatures exceed a certain number, it acts as a switch that turns on the fan in the vent on the right side of the car.

You might try posting a parts wanted post here, or at other forums and just get another neck. Although I admire willingness to tap in new and strange bolts.

jgates411 · 05-10-2009, 09:26 PM

thanx for the input on the timing, I just guessed, i dont get my haynes manual till tomorrow. Is that third mark, the one on the left, or right if your looking down at it? I paid 300 bux for the car, i was bored and wanted another one to work on lol. I should've elaborated more on the water pump thing but a few of the bolts were loose on it, so i tightened them, and then put the pulley back on, it was removed.

Jackstand queen--- I would get another neck, but thats not the problem, the bolts are broken off in the head, not on the neck... So unless anyone has a good way to fix that problem, tomorrow i'm just gonna trailor it up to the local machine shop to let them drill/tap the holes. The busted bolt is circled in this pic... and both of them are busted... dunno what the previous owner was thinkin when they did that one, lefty loosy righty tighty must not apply to some people hahaha.

I've got alot of experience with Hondas, cant count how many of those cars I've built over the years, moved on to Subaru's which is currently the automotive love of my life haha, now dabbling in the MR2's, Hoping this car turns out to be as fun as i've heard mid engine cars are!!!

ebouwman · 05-10-2009, 09:58 PM

you guessed

well i guess it's not going to hurt anything, lol

Sounds like a pain to tap those holes out, i'm glad i've never broken anything off in a bad spot, i broke some bolts off on the heat shield for the exhaust manifold, but that didn't even matter

jgates411 · 05-10-2009, 10:05 PM

yeah lol i guessed

I didnt start it or anything, just put the belt on like that.. i'll fix it tomorrow... so which mark is it on the crank pulley? the far left or far right mark that goes up?

Jackstand Queen · 05-10-2009, 10:17 PM

There's an index mark next to the toothed portion of the timing belt cog on the crank.

It lines up with a mark at about 30 degrees off the center and to the right (forward)

Wow, that is Super Messed Up deal with the broken bolts in head.

You have my sympathy. Man that is truly F'd up!

My father is like that. He is quite strong, and tightens every bolt with his full strength. He has stripped so many threads out, and broken so many bolts that he now knows not to touch a wrench.

ebouwman · 05-12-2009, 08:40 AM

it's the one on the left. So when you're spinning the crank, it's the third mark.

I found that the index mark on the crank pulley (the toothed on that actually turns the belt) were really hard to read on my car, it was do-able, but a big PITA

mhamrick · 05-13-2009, 04:45 AM

I would try a EZ out instead of drilling and tapping. That way you can use the stock bolts and if you sell it down the road you will not have the next owner cursing and kicking it.

A EZ out actually looks like a reverse threaded bolt and you drill into the broken bolt. It then pull its self into the bolt as you are loosening what is left of it. Very handy and it helps greatly when your dad is a Millwright.

05-10-2009, 06:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
jgates411 No Skills Join Date: May 2009 Location: Saint Marys, GA Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	New MR2 owner--questions Ok as it says I'm new to MR2's. I just purchased an 86 as a beater car, needed a timing belt. Couldnt pass it up for the price. but i ran into a few problems. Sorry for cell phone quality, but heres a few pics of the car, tearin into it What is this? PROBLEM-- The bolts for this water neck are busted off inside the head, so tomorrow i gotta see if i can get it drilled and tapped... bummer So far I've fixed alot of screw ups on the car, from previous owners tinkering, installed the new timing belt(correct me if i'm wrong, but center scribe mark on the crank positioned straight up, cam dots facing each other), and I've started refinishing the interior. Lots of work to do yet but hopefully i can get it on the road soon....

05-10-2009, 09:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
jgates411 No Skills Join Date: May 2009 Location: Saint Marys, GA Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	thanx for the input on the timing, I just guessed, i dont get my haynes manual till tomorrow. Is that third mark, the one on the left, or right if your looking down at it? I paid 300 bux for the car, i was bored and wanted another one to work on lol. I should've elaborated more on the water pump thing but a few of the bolts were loose on it, so i tightened them, and then put the pulley back on, it was removed. Jackstand queen--- I would get another neck, but thats not the problem, the bolts are broken off in the head, not on the neck... So unless anyone has a good way to fix that problem, tomorrow i'm just gonna trailor it up to the local machine shop to let them drill/tap the holes. The busted bolt is circled in this pic... and both of them are busted... dunno what the previous owner was thinkin when they did that one, lefty loosy righty tighty must not apply to some people hahaha. I've got alot of experience with Hondas, cant count how many of those cars I've built over the years, moved on to Subaru's which is currently the automotive love of my life haha, now dabbling in the MR2's, Hoping this car turns out to be as fun as i've heard mid engine cars are!!! Last edited by jgates411; 05-10-2009 at 09:36 PM.

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05-10-2009, 07:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,388 Thanks: 18 Thanked 48 Times in 48 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	take a few pictures of that unknown piece, can't see from that picture. To get it to TDC it's the third mark on the crank, the other 2 are just for timing it, and the dot on the intake cam is supposed to be up, and you should see it from the oil filler cap being cut in half by that baffle type thing in there. But as long as nothing moves you should be ok, and just recheck your markings once you have the new belt on. Why are you trying to take the water pump off? Or did it come with the bolts broken off? You are able to do the work just by taking the pulley off instead of the housing thing. If i may ask, how much did you pay for it?

05-10-2009, 07:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 677 Thanks: 52 Thanked 56 Times in 53 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I'm sure you are going to make a lot of Honda owners red-faced, and ashamed of themselves. The what is this picture looks like an engine bay temperature sensor/switch. It mounts on the forward, driver's side corner of the head (up high). When temperatures exceed a certain number, it acts as a switch that turns on the fan in the vent on the right side of the car. You might try posting a parts wanted post here, or at other forums and just get another neck. Although I admire willingness to tap in new and strange bolts.

05-10-2009, 09:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,388 Thanks: 18 Thanked 48 Times in 48 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	you guessed well i guess it's not going to hurt anything, lol Sounds like a pain to tap those holes out, i'm glad i've never broken anything off in a bad spot, i broke some bolts off on the heat shield for the exhaust manifold, but that didn't even matter

05-10-2009, 10:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
jgates411 No Skills Join Date: May 2009 Location: Saint Marys, GA Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	yeah lol i guessed I didnt start it or anything, just put the belt on like that.. i'll fix it tomorrow... so which mark is it on the crank pulley? the far left or far right mark that goes up?

05-10-2009, 10:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 677 Thanks: 52 Thanked 56 Times in 53 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	There's an index mark next to the toothed portion of the timing belt cog on the crank. It lines up with a mark at about 30 degrees off the center and to the right (forward) Wow, that is Super Messed Up deal with the broken bolts in head. You have my sympathy. Man that is truly F'd up! My father is like that. He is quite strong, and tightens every bolt with his full strength. He has stripped so many threads out, and broken so many bolts that he now knows not to touch a wrench.

05-12-2009, 08:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,388 Thanks: 18 Thanked 48 Times in 48 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	it's the one on the left. So when you're spinning the crank, it's the third mark. I found that the index mark on the crank pulley (the toothed on that actually turns the belt) were really hard to read on my car, it was do-able, but a big PITA

05-13-2009, 04:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
mhamrick Some Skills Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 51 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I would try a EZ out instead of drilling and tapping. That way you can use the stock bolts and if you sell it down the road you will not have the next owner cursing and kicking it. A EZ out actually looks like a reverse threaded bolt and you drill into the broken bolt. It then pull its self into the bolt as you are loosening what is left of it. Very handy and it helps greatly when your dad is a Millwright.