Getting an Gen1 MR2 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

tevolo · 12-20-2007, 03:23 PM

First off I wanna say, I've been looking at all your MR2's and they look really good.

My friend works at a mechanic shop and they have an old manual mr2 (gen I) in the backyard. Well they changed owners recently and they wanna take it to the junk yard. It's in great condition, just needs a wash. I'm not sure if it runs but I really don't care. I can probably pick it up for $500 or so if I'm lucky.

I was wondering how hard it would be to put a 3sgte engine into that genI MR2. I found a little bit of info from searching. Not much though. Most people said to just get the turbo MR2 and be done with it. I don't wanna do that though, cos I bought a 88 Supra in October, and I'm kinda working more on that. I just want a side project that I can slowly build up over a couple of years and that MR2 seems perfect. I hear that I'll have to tweak the ECU and I'll need the wiring harness. That's about all I found though. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

hachi-rocu · 12-20-2007, 05:00 PM

This has been done before with both gen2 and gen3 3sgte motors. Her is one:

http://modifierle.googlepages.com/home

Piddy · 12-20-2007, 05:02 PM

When people say "just buy a turbo instead of doing the swap".... they are generally referring to MKII's. Swapping a 3SGTE into an MKI is a complete different deal because it was never offered from the factory like that. Makes a pretty amazing car.... but do your research so you don't get in over your head.

PS..... if it's not running.... $500 seems kinda high. I paid $300 for an '85 with 70k miles on it in excellent condition.... only needed a fuel pump.

tevolo · 12-20-2007, 05:13 PM

Ok sorry I need to clarify. I got the gens mixed up. It's a gen 1. I just went and talked to the guy and he said it needs a title. He said he's gonna get one from the sheriff and he said I can have it. No charge or anything.

It's at a mechanics shop and he said that the previous owner had a bunch of cars outside. I guess it got flooded too. He doesn't want the thing so he said when he gets the title I can have it for free.

I know it sounds like a really stupid idea to still want the car but I'm really excited. I think this will be an awesome project car.

I know rust will be an issue. Can anyone give me more things I should look at while restoring it? I don't plan on keeping the engine by the way.

GabMR2 · 12-21-2007, 09:34 AM

Thats awsome. FREE

I got one a couple of months ago mint, with 94,000 original k's. The "old" guy barely drove it. He bought it in 86. It spent most of its time sitting, and when i got it, i tortured the thing racing. Some weak parts that will most likely damage quickly are the alternator (fell off - rust), fuel filter (fell off), clutch wears out quick, and an old belt blew of at 200km/h. Again, this all happened while racing.

I'm also planning on swapping in a 3S-GTE, but i gotta reasearch it more. Good luck with the car

NOTE: If you live in an area where it snows or rains alot, sometimes dirty water will fall right onto the alternator due to the design of the engine hood. Thats what happened to my alternator, it rusted and broke off, so i got a new one and had to drill it back on. I'm still trying to figure out how to prevent it without cutting off the little piece underneath

tevolo · 12-21-2007, 12:24 PM

yep it's free

So far I've found out it's an 87 t-top with a 5 speed. I plan on putting the 3sgte in mine as well after I get the interior and exterior all sorted out. Keep in touch cos any info on that swap would be really good.

Thanks for the info on the alternator too. I'll keep it in mind.

toyotaspeed90 · 01-06-2008, 11:21 AM

actually, if the car is a WA car then you probably won't have to deal with rust.... the only mr2's I've had that were rusty are cars from very snowy places where they use salt......

a 3sgte would be cool... but it's semi-expensive in relation to the rest of the car

yellow86MR2 · 01-06-2008, 11:28 PM

I've got a 3sgte in my mk1 and it's alot of fun. I've put over 25,000 km's on the swap so far.

Just make sure the chassis is solid. I'd be scared of a flood car. The rockers and floor can rust fast from floods. Also inspect the metal on the front area where the sway bar bolts to the underbody. If that area is rusted, don't put money into the car.

Martin

Cruisinco · 02-13-2008, 06:28 AM

I agree with yellow86MR2 if its been flooded I would look at it very closely. But yea going with the turbo in an MKI you get the power of a MKII with the light weight of an MKI. The best of both worlds. If you do end up doing it I would love to see it, I'm moving up to the PNW this summer so it would be nice to meet more MR2 people. I have a sc 88 and an 87 hardtop, I have owned one of each gen and I like the MKIs the best.