Brandon's MR2 Update!

[arcasmachineracing]

I know a lot of people have been wondering about the build-up of my MR2 and it's engine so I decided to post this thread...

Here is the latest on Mister Two; still building the engine, ran into a couple of slight problems that have delayed the progress but overall it's coming along rapidly.

Here are some of pictures of the engine, and the new cam cover I decided to go with. It has a JUN Auto inspired powdercoated finish with a nice color matched twist.



All of the latest pictures can be viewed HERE:
http://www.djmodifyd.com/arcasmachineracing/MR2UPDATE

Some of the major problems I have ran into thus far include:
Reciving ARP Head Studs with one nut that had never been THREADED!

Also having Ferrera Titanium Retainers, Dual Valve Springs and Seats that had to be custom fit into the head. (The head had to be machined at Basko Machine Shop so that the valve seats would sit properly in the head.) If we had known this earlier we wouldn't have had to spend $212 on a 2-Ton Mechanical Arbor press and custom weld a jig to fit and hold the 3S head at the proper angle to press the springs into it. (We were bending standard valve spring compressors because we didn't know it was not seated properly in the head.) I'm assuming there is more than three or four castings of this head and I just happended to have another casting. That or possibly the springs seats were designed for the N/A 3S-GE head? Regardless, we now have a very easy way to compress valve springs into the 3S head and we were able to correct the problem before assembling the engine. You live and learn, right?

Hope you enjoy the pictures. Please feel free to post comments and leave feedback.

Big thanks to Austin Tracy from Performance Art Motorsports and everyone else (you know who you are) for all of your help along the way! (And in the future!)

Can't wait to get her running!

Late,
Brandon Mendez

[arcasmachineracing]

Here is my semi-updated modlist as well...

Brandon Mendez's 1991 MR2 Turbo (Chassis Code: SW20) (Engine Code: 3S-GTE)

Displacement: 2,046cc
Stock Displacement: 1,998cc
2.3% Larger than Stock

Engine:
Fully Blueprinted
Balanced Rotating Assembly
Radius Valve Job
VAT Block
Bead Blast Head and Magnaflux
Magnaflux and Inspected Block, Crank, Rods, Etc
Resurfaced Valve Seats
Valves Cleaned and Resurfaced
Cylinder Head Resurfaced
Polished Crankshaft Journals
Machine work by: Basko Machine Shop
Engine build (and tons of other help) by: Austin Tracy of Performance Art Motorsports
Toyota Shim-less Bucket Conversion
Block Bored & Honed .040 Over
JE Custom 8.5:1 C.R. Forged Pistons
ARP Head Studs
ARP Rod Bolts
ARP Main Studs
ARP Flywheel Bolts
Ferrea Dual Valve Springs
Ferrea Titanium Retainers
HKS 256/256 (Intake & Exhaust) Cams
Shot-Peened Rods
Total Seal Xtreme Top Gapless Piston Rings
Cometic Head Gasket
Hose Techniques Red Silicone Hoses
Polished Heat Shields
Polished Intercooler Pipes
"JUN Auto" - Inspired Gradient-Fade Cam Cover (Silver to Red)
Allen Head Cam Cover Screws
NGK 6097 BKR7E Plugs
Mobil 1 Synthetic Oil


Turbo, Intake, & Exhaust:
HKS 'Super Mega Flow' Intake
HKS Limited Edition Grey Filter Element
HKS Sport Dual Exit True-Resonator Exhaust
67-Trim Upgraded CT-26 Turbo with a Carbon Seal from Performance Techniques
Swain Tech Coated 2.5" Down Pipe (Thanks Austin)
Down Pipe Support Bracket
Swain Tech Coated Exhaust Manifold
EGT Ports Tapped into every runner of the manifold with a Greddy EGT sensor in #3 Runner
New OEM hoses from Toyota (Including all Rubber Pipe Couplers)
Polished Intake Manifold


Fuel System:
RC Engineering 450cc blue-printed and balanced injectors


Drive Train:
ACT Heavy Duty Pressure Plate
ACT Street Modified Clutch Disc
Toda Racing Ultra Lightweight One-Piece Forged Flywheel
Custom Ball Bearing Shifter 'Bushings' (ABEC-9)
GM Syncromesh Synthetic Gear Oil


Electronics:
APEXi AVC-R Electronic Boost Controller
HKS Fuel Cut Defencer (FCD)
Greddy/Trust EGT Gauge (52mm or 2-1/16" White Face)
Greddy/Trust Boost Gauge (52mm or 2-1/16" White Face)
Kenwood Headunit - Three 4V Pre-Outs - with single din pocket below from a Toyota Camry
Rockford Fosgate 1500w Amp in custom made 'amp rack'
Audiobahn 12" Subwoofer in custom made enclosure
6 1/2" 'Cut-Out' Door Speakers
4 1/2" Rear Speakers
Clifford Alarm with dual Proximity and Shock Sensors and pain generator
Optima Red-Top Battery
Gold battery terminals to 4 gauge wires


Interior:
Autometer A-Pillar Dual Gauge Pod (52mm or 2-1/16")
Custom Short Shifter
White with Red Stitched Leather Shift Boot (Thanks Marc's Mom)
White TRD Duracon Shift Knob M12 X 1.25
Shifter Lowering Kit
Push-Button Start
Silver Pedals with Black Inserts
Custom 'MR2 TURBO" Floor Mats (Previous owner installed)
"TRD" steering wheel with white J-Spec horn button (Had to be Dremel'ed to fit into the wheel)


Exterior:
Aeroware 7-Piece Body Kit (Front Lip, Side Skirts, Rear Valence, Wing, & Extended Side Scoops)
Front Wheels & Rubber: 16X7 MOMO Ferrari Engineering II Wheels 205/55/16ZR Dunlop SP Sport FM901 Tires
Rear Wheels & Rubber: 16X7.5 MOMO Ferrari Engineering II Wheels 225/55/16ZR Dunlop SP Sport FM901 Tires
"Fog Light Mod" - (Fogs can be used without having headlights up/on)
6054 Sealed Beam Headlight conversion to H4 capsule bulbs in glass housing (110w/95w)
Paint matched rear emblem, removed "Toyota" and "Turbo" emblems
Tinted windows: 2-1/2% VLT (Visible Light Transfer) on side and quarter windows and semi-reflective Copper 35% VLT on rear window
Gas (Nitrogen) Charged Strut Engine Lid Prop-Rod
J-Spec Power-Folding Mirrors
Honda S2000 Rubber Antenna


Suspension:
Tokico Illumina 5-Way Adjustable Gas Strut Cartridges
Eibach Pro Kit Springs
Polished Rear X-Bar


Planned Future Modifications:
Garrett GT3071-R Dual Ball Bearing Turbo
Custom TiAL 35mm External Wastegate and Dump Tube Set-Up
Aeromotive Adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator with Earl's fittings and Stainless Steel Lines
Much Larger Injectors
Stand Alone Engine Management System
TRD Front Strut Bar
TRD Rear Strut-X Bar
Custom Air to Water Intercooler Set-up
Full Roll Cage
Race / Bucket Seats with Harnesses
HKS Catch Can
KAZZ 2-Way Limited Slip Differential
Taller Final Drive From a Celica AllTrac
HKS Type-One Black (US-Spec) Turbo Timer
J-Spec 1998+ Front Clear Corners
TRD - 'A Man in Dandism' MR2 Mats
Braided Stainless Steel Lines
Porterfield R4-S Brake Pads
Slotted & Drilled Discs
Red Painted Calipers
Coil-Overs
HKS SSQ-V Blow-Off Valve
Carbon Fiber Engine Lid Shroud with Dual 11" Spal Fans (Pushing)
Polyurethane Bushings
Polyurethane Filled Motor Mounts
Walbro 255lph Fuel Pump
J-Spec 1998+ Front Molding to replace side markers
Lots of other stuff

[MR2Jedi]

damn!!! deep pockets....i'm so jealous.... I'm wondering what kinda HP/TRQ #'s it will produce...any idea? sounds like it's built to last..

[EVOLMTR]

WOW...keep us updated once you get everything worked out. Good Work!!!!

[arcasmachineracing]

damn, had to delete the pics from the server

[Piddy]

... and then you're coming to Cali and we're gonna have a huge meet.

[arcasmachineracing]

Originally Posted by ishcoleobo

... and then you're coming to Cali and we're gonna have a huge meet.

Hell yeah, for sure! Last time I met any California MR2 people was at the JGTC... I was kinda dissapointed by the #/quality of the cars though. Aren't you guys supposed to be home to all of the baddest-ass imports in America?

[arcasmachineracing]

I had to take down the other pics I had on here...

I add and then remove the pics of my engine on my 'MySpace' page as I get more work done, so go here if you wanna check 'em out:

http://www.myspace.com/sargdesigns

Late,
Brandon