Introduction: My MR2 Turbo

PittSpeed Automotive
1

Background: My first car was a 1986 Toyota MR2. I learned how to drive in this thing. It only had like 110hp, but it sure could scoot. I loved this car so much that I even used it to move myself to college in Missouri. This meant that I had to sacrifice a few luxuries for the company of my '2, but it was worth it.

My first summer internship was at a lead mine that was 70 miles away. Unable to find a room closer to the mine, I decided to make the commute daily in my trusty MR2. Over the next 3 months, I racked up 12k miles with little more than a peep from the car. I just kept good oil, tires and brakes on the car.

The next winter, my MR2 started leaking oil onto the exhaust manifold. This was at a measly 130k miles. Knowing very little about the mechanics of cars, I ended up parting ways with the car in exchange for a newer Ford Ranger. I still kick myself because I believe that it was simply a leaky valve cover gasket. :rant:

Flash to 2000: I had graduated from engineering school and took my first job in Texas. I worked for about 3 months until I had saved up enough money to buy my dream car, a sexier 91-95 MR2. Since I knew very little about turbos, I opted for the basic normally aspirated model from 1991 with 100k miles.

The roaring 130hp was fun for a while, but soon I needed more and more powah!. I took the car up to a speed shop in Dallas for them to install their 180hp kit. This included a hotter cam, a shave of the head, a new header/exhaust, and a basic cone filter. The car never ran right after the work. About 3 months after the work, I successfully seized the engine.

I had the car hauled to ATS Racing in Dallas. They were really busy so they couldn’t get onto it right away. After a couple weeks, I received a call that one of their customers had totalled his car and wanted to part it out. I ended up buying his engine with several thousands of $$'s in mods and had it installed in my '2.

Flash to today: I made the drive from TX to PA (~1400) averaging 28mpg. The car now sits in my garage waiting for the sun to come back out. I have installed a wideband O2 meter/logger and reworked much of the fuel system. I have a huge laundry list of parts that I have to install once the weather gets a little nicer.

Here’s a couple of pics:
http://www.nbcpgh.org/beck/mr2.jpg
http://www.nbcpgh.org/beck/MR2_fall_foliage.jpg
http://www.nbcpgh.org/beck/100-0004_IMGs.jpg
http://www.nbcpgh.org/beck/100-0005_IMGs.jpg

Cliff Notes: I live in Pgh. I own an MR2 Turbo. /end

2

pretty cool, nice ride man!

3

Pretty sweet duece! I see you have one with the sunroof. Aren’t those pretty rare? My brother has a '92 MR2 with the T-top and the N/A 2.2 liter engine.

If you update the tail lights, I think it would make it look a lot nicer.

Good story.

4

sweet deal… i always liked those cars. nice production turbo’d car from the early 90s

5

So you ever gonna do the damn thang and turbo the bitch?

6

nice

7

I did the 94+ tail lights this past fall. You are right; they look a lot nicer.

Here’s a list of mods:
Greddy TD-06SH with modified wastegate
Geddy turbo timer
Greddy Intercooler
Apex’I Intake
Suspension Techniques springs
93+ wheels
93+ short shifter
KVR x-drilled rotors
Apex’I S-AFC
Aeromotive adjustable FPR
94+ tail lights
Innovate! LM-1 Wideband O2 Meter/Logger
Blitz Nur Spec R exhaust
ClutchMasters Stage 4 Ceramic clutch

8

This is how to welcome yourself to the board, all you other n00bs

:cool: car, I like hearing all the background info.

9

Nice car! I agree w/ redneck this is the way an intro. should go. We all have a story behind our cars and why we’re obsessed w/ the particular one we have. It helps us relate a bit to hear the stories. :slight_smile: Oh, and one last thing: go AutoX that bad boy. Mr2s own at AutoX.

-TJ