New mr2!!! need some good advice.

[Jer_ry]

Hi guys! I'm happy to have the chance to even be interested in this forum. Reason for this.....I get to go pick up my 91 mr2 turbo tomorrow! I won't be able to sleep tonight. I havent been the same since I test drove it last sunday it was simply amazing. There is just one problem with it. The guy says to has an oil leak he said it's cuz of a bad head gasket. I was under the impression that oil couldnt escape from the head gasket. I'm probably wrong though. Also he said that the wastegate was plugged to get higher psi is that a safe mod? I don't want to do anything that would screw up the engine it's a nice running engine right now. Also I'm a light mechanic but have never attempted or would like to attempt to replace the head gasket my self so how much would be an appropriate price for someone to charge me to do this? One last question I was searching around and found some $100 metal head gaskets, but they are different MM one is 1mm the other 2mm and i think i saw a 3mm which one is closest to stock? Trying to keep everthing simple and neat. Thanks guys for any info!

[Jer_ry]

bump...

[Gairloch]

When you have a chance to look you might want to make sure that the oil isn't coming from under the valve cover or perhaps out the distributor.

I would guess that having the wastegate plugged probably isn't a fantastic idea. Don't know much about turbos though.

[Jer_ry]

yeah i will do that. I havent got a chance to really look. Man after driving it for the last 2 days i've realized it's an extremely bumpy ride. He put lowering springs and i think they are too low. I think a strut is blown because from the passenger rear where the spring is it makes a rattling clanging noise when i hit bumps. I think the struts are bottoming out or something because this ride is RUFF. It's got factory rims and with proper tires so i know it shouldnt be like this. What are some good struts for this car that work well with lowering springs?

[Colin Mitchell]

THE STRUTS ARE MOST LIKELY FACTORY STRUTS, caps sry, lol, the lowering springs are usually put in and then rode out till the struts go, now you are gonna have to spend a pretty penny to put some new struts in there....

i am sure you can find some on ebay or a toyota parts site

[Jer_ry]

i have found numerous struts. I just don't know if they will work with lowering springs. I don't want to buy some then have them blow out like these did. So are you saying as long as they are for my car they will last with the springs?

[Gairloch]

Generally the lower the drop the harder it is on the damper. You might want to put some effort into figuring out what springs you've got and what kind of shape they're in to assess whether those will also need to be replaced.

When you start talking about thunks and clunks coming from suspension there is a lot of possible explanations. You might want to take it in to a shop and have an assessment done, preferably before you purchase the car.

[keck03]

Originally Posted by Gairloch

When you have a chance to look you might want to make sure that the oil isn't coming from under the valve cover or perhaps out the distributor.

+ 1

there is a good chance its the valve cover. the gasket (there are two parts) is prob around $20 from the dealership and easy to install. what happens are the valve cover screw get loose. i would replcae the gasket and also get a set of allen valve cover screws from twosrus. they work great though the included washers were kind of thin. alltogether maybe $35 and 2 hours or so (taking your time).

replacing a headgasket is costly.

[MR2Jedi]

Wastegate should NEVER be plugged. Thats a great way to blow your engine. It must be able to open when neccessary to prevent overboosting.
Check your oil to see if there is coolant in there. if so, then you prolly have a bad head gasket. Keck03 is prolly right and it's the valve cover. either the gasket has failed or the screws just need to be snugged down or both. thats an easy fix though.