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We Meet Again, Mr. 2 Feb 3, 2005
So, by now you probably know that we have an ‘85 MR2 in the stables once again. One thing we’re noticing this time around is that, although the car still feels modern, it’s starting to age. And with age come the need to replace certain non-performance items that help the car function. Most of what we’ve already written about the car (look for stories to start appearing soon) deals with the need to “restore” more modern cars and the companies and knowledge bases out there set up to assist with such projects.
We were recently introduced to one such product out of necessity. The engine lid prop on our car disappeared one day after the grommet that secures it to the body wore out and allowed it to fall out and attempt life on its own.
A visit to a couple of junkyards told us that we’d either be replacing it with a piece of equally crappy disrepair, or paying the exorbitant dealer price for what amounted to a piece of metal and plastic that they probably paid some Malaysian kid a third of a penny to make.
The solution was discovered when we visited Twos-R-Us, which is the distribution arm of Club MR2. Twos-R-Us has a slick little kit that replaces your original manual prop rod with a slick gas-actuated rod and is available for any first generation MR2.
The kit is almost too easy to install-it only took about ten minutes-and requires only a 10mm socket, 10mm open end wrench and a Phillips screwdriver. Basically, you remove anything that’s left of the old grommet, bolt on the supplied posts into pre-existing holes on the car, then pop on the gas rod. It really is that easy.
Better still, the kit can be yours for only $35. That’s almost too cheap. Okay, MAYBE you could figure out a way to get these pieces together separately, and save maybe a nickel. But this kit is a seamless bolt on and more than worth the price (which even includes shipping).
If your MR2’s prop rod is gone, or just getting on your nerves, pry $35 out of your pocket and buy one of these kits.
Look for more MR2 goodies in the near future as work progresses on our car.
MR2 Project Balances Out Jun 13, 2005
Just pulled the MR2 off thes scales after doing some tweaking to the Koni/Ground Control coil-overs that were recently installed. The good news is we managed to get a perfect cross percentage of 50.0%, and only 52% of the weight is on the driver’s side (that’s with a driver). It also looks cool with its new, lower stance.
Next we try to figure out what do do for anti-roll bars. We’ve gotten some interesting info on some other bars (non AW11 MR2) that supposedly fit pretty well. We’ll have to wait and see.
Picture to come when I’m not so sweaty (this wireless thing is cool, until you drip on your laptop…)
MR2 On the Dyno Jul 9, 2005
Our 1985 MR2 Project took its first trip to Daytona Street and Performance on Friday for a baseline dyno run. Despite a stock intake and exhaust and an engine with who knows how many miles on it, the MR2 managed a better-than-we-expected 97 hp and 91 ft./lbs. of torque. From the dyno, it was a short drive to the exhaust shop for the installation of the Magnaflow can, cat and mandrel bent pipe, then a Saturday morning project produced and more freer flowing intake setup. We’ll visit the dyno again in a few days to see what kind of improvement we have.
One thing causing some concern is the extremely rich mixture at full throttle. A more fre flowing intake and exhaust will take care of this somewhat, but we may have to explore some other methods to thin out the fuel mixture a bit if this number stays too high.
A Little Bodywork for the MR2 Jul 16, 2005
It’s been a while since the MR2 Project has been seen in all its glory, so here’s some new photos. Most recently we spent a few hours straightening a little boof in the rear bumper that was bugging us more and more every day. All it really involved was removing the bumper and bumper cover and straightening some bracketry that looks like it got tagged either in a previous accident or in a parking lot scuffle. Oddly enough, whoever painted it just shot right over it and didn’t bother even inspecting what was wrong. If they had, they would have realized it was easy to fix, but we have a feeling that the paint job was more of a “shoot-n-scoot” operation.
Unfortunately, we did find some rust in the bottom of the trunk when we took all of the carpet out. Not much, but enough to warrant doing something about before it gets any worse. Hey Per, got any POR-15 left…?