JLee's 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo build thread

[jlee]

Took the stock pistons and rods apart. New pistons will be here Friday but I'm out of town so I won't be able to get them back together 'til Tuesday or Wednesday. Hopefully before the weekend of the 10th, I'll have an assembled shortblock - and hopefully by the end of the weekend, I'll have the bare longblock together and ready for accessories.

 

[jlee]

Bearings and shims are on the table. Pistons come in tomorrow. I'm back in town Tuesday. Progress by next weekend.

 

[JCH13]

Yay!

 

[jlee]

 

[exdeath]

:awe:

Should do the diff bearings this weekend, and took off 8/22-8/23 for 4 day visit. Assuming diff work this weekend, next weekend is free as well.

As long as it doesn't rain 8/22-8/24 we should be good.

Don't forget verify crank end play on your list unless you want a DSM. :awe:

I think you know by now to ALWAYS check everything no matter what the vendor/machine shop says with your main bearing experience hehe.

 

[manimal]

Don't forget verify crank end play on your list unless you want a DSM. :awe:

.

Dude I sprayed coffee out of my nose in a room full of people. I am still laughing.



Progress looks good man!

 

[jlee]

Crank end play is good. 0.0025" (spec is 0.0008"-0.0087").

All piston rings were in spec except the four top rings. They have been filed to 0.017" (Wiseco spec for 86.5mm bore and street turbo/nitrous use). I started putting the rings on the pistons tonight, but I'll finish that tomorrow. I have to determine which side of the piston will face the front of the engine before I can set ring gap location.

 

[jlee]

Piston rings are all installed - two out of four piston/rod assemblies are done. I'll have to clock the rings properly before installation, but we're getting close to having a rotating assembly!

Determining appropriate piston orientation took a while - I looked online and couldn't really find anything definitive (nor could I find any build threads detailed and knowledgeable enough where I trusted it with my engine's life). I ended up taking my failed #3 piston (because I could tell from pictures which way it was originally installed) and comparing piston pin offset and the divit in the back of the piston skirt. Now I'm 100% confident that they're going in properly.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

It's awesome that you are taking so much time and effort to get it right. This is sure to be a solid build because of it.

 

[jlee]

It's awesome that you are taking so much time and effort to get it right. This is sure to be a solid build because of it.

I hope so! I double checked my thrust washers and found one backwards (oil grooves facing in instead of out) and I corrected that. I made very very sure the pistons and rods were in the appropriate orientation, and I will double check ring placement when they go in. Main bearing clearances and crankshaft end play were checked and confirmed to be within spec. I have to check rod bearing clearances and then bolt 'em in, and the rotating assembly will be done.

Pistons and rods are assembled!

 

[AdamK47]

Where are the other four pistons?

 

[jlee]

Where are the other four pistons?

:whiste:

 

[AdamK47]

Cute

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Lolololol

 

[jlee]

I removed the old rear main seal and pressed/hammered the new one in (used a roll of blue tape as Toyota SST #183593181391385193819314312 - worked great).

The factory service manual makes no mention of a gasket on the rear mail seal's plate, but I found a post on MR2OC that referred to one..sure enough, I found a corresponding gasket in the kit. I really hope I don't miss anything - almost missed that because it wasn't in the book!

 

[jlee]

I have to install the rear main seal/plate onto the block (six bolts), then I am here:

We're getting there!

 

[jlee]

oh damn, I forgot to post these!

Recruited my brother to hold tension on the crank (note the hammer stuck in the flywheel bolts) so nothing would move while I plastigaged and then re-assembled/torqued the rod bolts:

 

[JCH13]

:awe:

So cool to see such a good engine build without "I sent it out to an engine builder."

 

[jlee]

Rear main seal installed

Knock sensor installed

 

[manimal]

you brother should be holding a bottle of captain morgan with that pose!


Looking good man! love the shiny!

 

[exdeath]

I'm all done on my end, I'm go for driving up on 17th to help assuming there's anything left.

 

[exdeath]

We get the MR2 driving next weekend.

End of story.

 

[JCH13]

We get the MR2 driving next weekend.

End of story.

I expect this to be on "single repeat" the whole time.

 

[exdeath]

I expect this to be on "single repeat" the whole time.

I knew before I even clicked the link...

 

[jlee]

The oil pump surface on the block is ready for the oil pump. Gasket and pump are out and ready. The two alignment studs have been installed in the bottom of the block for the oil pan.

I have a little bearing play in the water pump so a new Aisin (OE) unit has been ordered and will be here Monday (<3 Amazon local express). The oil pump / pan should be installed by tomorrow night. Water pump on Monday, then the head, manifolds, and turbo can go on. It's going to look like a proper engine pretty soon!