Questions: 1990 SW20 MKII

[calarina]

I'm in the process puchasing a 1990 MKII MR2 from Japan, and bringing it over to Canada via a local importer of Japanese vehicles; they're legal once they're 15 years old from the date of manufacture.

- What are some things I should look out for?
- Has anyone else imported a Japanese vehicle, and what sort of troubles (not related to insurance/registration/smog) did you encounter?
- Common troubles with these vehicles, and what my attention should be to first?
- Safe boost level for a stock Japanese 3S-GTE?

Any other tid bits of information would be appreciated. I've only owned one car so far, being a 1987 Acura Integra 5-speed (slightly modified), so I have little experience with turbo vehicles.

Thanks guys, hope to hear some useful information to help me get started in the right direction.

- Katrina

P.S. I'm also in the process of becoming a licensed apprentice, and just completed an engine swap on my Integra, and a lot of other mechanical work due to things breaking. I'll be working on it myself, so bring on the technical jargen...

[MRQtwinturbo]

try here.....has some great info.....are u gonna be able to register a RHD car in van??.....

http://users.erols.com/makowsky/faq.htm

[calarina]

Originally posted by MRQturbo
try here.....has some great info.....are u gonna be able to register a RHD car in van??.....

http://users.erols.com/makowsky/faq.htm

Van? I'm guessing you're assuming I live in Vancouver, but I don't. :P I live in Alberta.

I have 3 friends here that have RHD cars (RX-7 and 2 R32's), and they said they had no problems registering, it's just hard waiting until the month of the 15th year comes around.

I was also wondering a couple more questions I forgot to ask. How much is max lowering on an MR2 before rubbing, and what's the best wheel & tire size (I'm thinking 17" max?) that fills the wheel wells but doesn't look too big or small; and also that doesn't affect performance, ride handling, and agility too much.

Like on my car, the max lowering is 2" before wheel rub, and the max wheel size is 16" without the wheel looking too big or awkward for the car.

[MRQtwinturbo]

depending on what springs u go with...u can lower anywhere from 1" to 2" w/o rubbing and as long as u get the proper offset when getting rims...if u get coilovers...u can lower it even more....for 17s..... 17 x 7" fronts...i would go with a 215/35 or 40/17.....rears.....17 x 8" (or 9").....225 to 245s (any bigger...u will prolly have to roll the fenders) /35/17s.....for optimal performance IMO....find a set of 16s (staggered)....17s if u want a little bling.....


why do u want to import a RHD??.....wouldn't it just be cheaper to find a canadian car in alberta....

[calarina]

Bling wheels I can do without, so I'm sure 16's will be my better bet.

I'm looking more towards performance with this SW20, as I have my Integra for the winter time now. I just read that entire FAQ you gave me, and I think I've read part of a similar FAQ on MR2.com, so thank you. I tried to soak up as much as I could, so if I forget, I'll forgoe the annoying newb questions.

Just a personal opinion from you though, since you seem to be fairly knowledgable about MR2s. What are your opinions on the replica TRD Wide-body kit available from Raceon USA? I like the looks of the TRD kit because it's not too extreme, but for some reason the wide-body kit just calls to me...it just makes the MR2 have much more of a presence. Larger stance, more agressive, and even sexier.

Now, be nice...

edit: A RHD is about half the price of it's USDM counterpart, and more horsepower. I'm not so crazy about driving on the wrong side, but it's the $ and power that's drawing me in.

[MRQtwinturbo]

bigger is not always better......lol....

replica WBK.....some are good copies...some are horrible....u'll have to factor in at least 2-3gs in labour/paint to fit it properly...then factor in at least another 2-3gs for wide rims that are big enough to fit a WBK.....i love the WBK look....but it just costs so much to make it look good.....i've seen way too many WBK with small wheels that don't even sit flush.....looks half assed....

[calarina]

Hahaha, I know bigger is not always better. But I've had a car that doesn't look that hot for 2 years, and it's been my only car. So instead of having a problem with finding products for my car, now I'll have problems choosing which manufacturer. :P

But I love the look of the wide-body kit, and since I'll end up getting my MR2 a few months before I have to store it for the winter, I'll have time save up for the paint & body. I used to work in a bodyshop, so unfortunately I know the kinds of crap I have to go through to get it done; bodyshops hate installing aftermarket parts cuz they don't always fit well.

I'll have to request a credit limit increase on my credit card, but the sexy factor of it all will be worth it.

[MRQtwinturbo]

good luck with importing the car.....post up some pics of it when u get it.....or just sell your teg for one.....

[calarina]

Originally posted by MRQturbo
good luck with importing the car.....post up some pics of it when u get it.....or just sell your teg for one.....

Haha, sell my Teg? One, ummm...NO. Two, ummm...I can get about $2000 for it if it were in pristing condition. Three, ummm...NO.

I'll post up some pics, but it probably won't be for at least 6 months. Because I don't get the car until near the date of manufacture. So if it was manufactured in July, I'll get it around then, hopefully before.

Hopefully in the mean time I can learn from this site and what people like you have to offer in wisdom.

[TRD2000GT]

isn't it that you can import them once they're 17 years old from the date of manufacture?

[TRD2000GT]

Ooops.
Guess you were right:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/impxus_e.htm

[calarina]

I'm hoping to find a white one. There are some cars that don't look very good in white, and then there are those that look sexy in white; the SW20 is one of them.

And since it'll have approx. 245hp and 220tq (right?), it'll be worlds of improvement over my Integra, so I'll be quite happy with the handling and power capabilities for a while.

[MRQtwinturbo]

^^first gens won't have 245 hp.....only third gens with the ct-20b make more power than north american cars....

[calarina]

I never said first gen MR2, did I? MKII is 2nd gen I thought, and they started in 1990 in Japan, whereas in the USDM market they started in 1991.

Just like every car manufacturer; their cars are in production a year ahead of us.

[MRQtwinturbo]

my understanding is that gen3 are +94.....JDM 2nd gen has minor differences (ceramic turbine but still ct-26) that gives you about 25 more hp than north american cars.....