mr2-digest Saturday, January 3 1998 Volume 02 : Number 050 MR2 Re: mr2-digest V2 #48 Re: MR2 Insurance Rates MR2 MKII Noise reduction? MR2 MKII NA Performance Exhaust/Cat. Con MR2 MKII Weight savings??? MR2 MKII Jax beches area. Re: MR2 MKII Noise reduction? Re: MR2 MKII Weight savings??? MR2 the almighty 3S-GTE RE: MR2 MkII: The new suspension is installed... (2/2) MR2 Mr2 - "Trunking" communications devices MR2 Atlantic City Meet, Sunday, Jan 4, 1998 MR2 MkII Turbo Tale & Gurgling Noise Normal & Supra Run? Re: MR2 MKII Weight savings??? Re: MR2 MKII NA Performance Exhaust/Cat. Con ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 22:09:30 -0800 From: Steve N Subject: MR2 Re: mr2-digest V2 #48 > Here, I have to stick up for American cars -- Yes, that's right, ME - > Sticking up for American cars! What I mean is that the "numb steering" > feel of American cars is not NEARLY as bad as it used to be. This is very true, it has improved, just not enough. > And let's be realistic -- you can't compare the "road feel" of an MR2 to > typical American sedans or coupes; be realistic! Well, if I am buying a 20k car, I feel that that is one things it should have. Ok, mabye they can't get it just like the MR2, but it is reasonable to expect a properly desgined, well executed steering system that while giving the needed hydraulic boost, it maintains good road feel and accuracy. It is not very hard to do so, they just don't. The even worse part about this is that long time drivers of american cars when driving a car like the MR2 will say that it is too involved, and don't like the direct steering feel. That drives me crazy! I for one would hate to be caught in an accident avoidance situation in most american cars just based on the fact of steering feel, and accuracy. Steve N. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 23:17:11 -0500 From: "Mike" Subject: Re: MR2 Insurance Rates $200 a half for my 91 NA (full coverage)... I can't complain about my central Ohio rates. Mike 91 Red NA - -----Original Message----- From: T. Guy To: MR2 Date: Friday, January 02, 1998 9:54 PM Subject: MR2 Insurance Rates >Olga e kay pasta > >David H.'s response to the 'new member' regarding their comment about high >insurance for a MR2 Turbo got me wondering about rates around the country. >What are you all paying per year? What model and year MR2? Full coverage? >Location? >T.Guy >93 Teal Turbo $1200/year Full coverage Reno, NV >P.S. What in the world is 'trunking'? > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 23:46:09 EST From: Mr2toy726 Subject: MR2 MKII Noise reduction? My 91 NA MR2 is LOUD! The stock exhaust noise is OK, but the road noise about 70 mph is pretty bad...I know I can add Dynamat to the interior under the carpet, but do I have to coat the entire floorpan, front and rear firewalls? I ask for 2 reasons..1) Dynamat is expensive (about $10/square foot) 2) Dynamat is pretty heavy too. Thanks in advance, Aaron 91 NA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 23:46:07 EST From: Mr2toy726 Subject: MR2 MKII NA Performance Exhaust/Cat. Con In the search for more power for my 91 NA MR2 I am considering adding a cat back exhaust, but first I have a few questions: Is it worth much power (assuming I have a free flow filter setup)? (So far I have heard they are wort about 20hp together). What is available and at what cost? HKS seems pretty expensive, Pacesetter is cheap, but is it any good? What else is out there? I don't like huge coffee can chrome tips...actually the stock tip size looks pretty good to me. Are the aftermarket systems louder than stock? I really like the sound of my stock system, I just want to free up any restrictions in the system. Is the entire system restrictive, or is the muffler OK and the intermediate pipe restrictive, or vice versa? I could have a larger diameter mandrel bent pipe made to replace the pipe from the flex joint back to the stock muffler if the stock muffler is relatively free flowing. And is there any advantage to removing or gutting the cat.? Or will that kill my torque? Thanks in advance, Aaron 91 NA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 23:46:11 EST From: Mr2toy726 Subject: MR2 MKII Weight savings??? Sorry to ask so many questions and take up so much bandwidth on my first day, but I am just so excited about my new toy. Are there any secrets to putting my 91 NA MR2 on a diet? Nothing drastic (like lexan windows and acid dipped fenders) but I would like to loose a few lbs. I want to keep the interior stock (no lightweight racing seats) and I don't want to spend a fortune...so far my plan is to ditch the spare tire, toolkit, jack remove all the plastic covers in the front storage area and the support rod that holds it open. Any other insight into this? BTW what does a typical 91 NA MKII weigh? Thanks in advance, Aaron 91 NA ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 00:17:32 -0500 (EST) From: Geoduck Subject: MR2 MKII Jax beches area. Red MKII - Full Aeroware, Tom's scoop and big rims - Atlantic Blvd about 1:45 this afternoon - are you out there? Scott '91 turbo in the shop :( HOW BOUT THEM HEELS!!!!! ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 21:24:20 -0008 From: TerrySaltzman@home.com Subject: Re: MR2 MKII Noise reduction? > My 91 NA MR2 is LOUD! The stock exhaust noise is OK, but the road noise about > 70 mph is pretty bad...I know I can add Dynamat to the interior under the > carpet, but do I have to coat the entire floorpan, front and rear firewalls? I > ask for 2 reasons..1) Dynamat is expensive (about $10/square foot) 2) > Dynamat is pretty heavy too. these carz are pretty quiet IMO (for a sposts car). instead of spending lots of $$ and more time installing the mat and adding weight look at your tires. what are they? this is where 90% of your road noise comes from. what type of tires are you running? a noisy driver in a quiet car- terry ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 21:24:20 -0008 From: TerrySaltzman@home.com Subject: Re: MR2 MKII Weight savings??? > Are there any secrets to putting my 91 NA MR2 on a diet? no dyno mat. > Nothing drastic > (like lexan windows and acid dipped fenders) but I would like to loose a few > lbs. I want to keep the interior stock (no lightweight racing seats) and I > don't want to spend a fortune...so far my plan is to ditch the spare tire, > toolkit, jack remove all the plastic covers in the front storage area and the > support rod that holds it open. Any other insight into this? instead of doing the mat put in a bitchin stereo system to cancel the road noise. other things: remove carpet, drive on 1/4 tank (or less) of gas...always, lighter wheels, take off ttops or sunroof, go to the bathroom b4 getting in the car (#1 & #2), drive naked ; ) terry ------------------------------ Date: 3 Jan 1998 05:33:56 GMT From: charlesg@cco.caltech.edu (Charles Grosjean) Subject: MR2 the almighty 3S-GTE So here I am reading the new _Street Power_ and I come across this quote: The 3S-GTE engine found in the turbo MR2 has been hotrodded to 980 horsepower for Pike's Peak racing {a reference to rod millen's celica}--and this engine is not some breathed-on monster totally unrelated to the street MR2 engine, it's the same block and crank and head and most other parts. Silly me, I thought the engine in Rod Millen's car was a 503E (as TRD told me it was one of the leftover GTP engines) and I thought the main similarities between the two were 4 pistons, 16 valves, and the word Toyota on the valve cover. I mean a 503E quad throttle body doesn't just bolt up to a 3S-GTE head so they can't be the same, and the one good picture I've seen doesn't look like a 3S-GTE so someone please set me straight. Charles ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 21:39:39 -0008 From: TerrySaltzman@home.com Subject: RE: MR2 MkII: The new suspension is installed... (2/2) > I set the Tokicos to the softest setting(5?) to start. #5 is the stiffest. it is not recommended that you use this setting out of the box. let the seals break in and then crank em up, otherwise you run the possibility of popping seals. >They were > super stiff at first, after about 2-3 weeks they softened up and > I currently have them set to 3 for street. I do have to face fairly > good sized bumps around my area. I have the stock 14" rims. personally i set the struts on #1 on all fours for normal city driving when im feeling frisky/sporting i adj according to my attitude and emotional disposition.on #5 i WILL use the whole road : ) with struts that mirror my emotions and attitude- terry ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 03 Jan 1998 01:29:35 -0500 From: nu3y@CritPath.Org Subject: MR2 Mr2 - "Trunking" communications devices I don't understand how a scanner could use "trunking". I'm not an expert on modern state-of-the-art communications techniques, but I do know a little more than most (I hold the Extra-class Amateur Radio call-sign "NU3Y" and do some reading about commercial communications techniques. I believe "trunking" is a technique that involves changing of frequencies by both the transmitter and receiver at designated, coordinated times, so that anyone listening cannot follow any more than slight bursts of the information being transmitted. Many police departments have switched to "trunking" systems to avoid being listened to. You can't realistically outlaw scanners in the United States and you certainly can't keep people from listening in to your frequency, so if you use a technique controlled by microprocessor that limits the amount of time a transmitter and a receiver stay on one frequency then switch to another, it becomes almost impossible to "follow" them. Probably the only way you could is to have the necessary software/hardware combination and the right algorithym to program it with for a particular radio service you are trying to listen to. Now you know what the address in my signature refers to... - ----- Joe Pearlstein '91 Crimson Red MKII, Past owner of '86 Super Red MKI Philadelphia, PA mailto:nu3y@critpath.org ICQ# 3480202 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 03 Jan 1998 01:37:48 -0500 From: nu3y@CritPath.Org Subject: MR2 Atlantic City Meet, Sunday, Jan 4, 1998 Come on people, lets have a show of hands! Who's coming to Atlantic City tomorrow? The weather is supposed to be relatively warm, with temperatures up in the 50's! There is a "chance of showers", and I think we can live with that; if you don't agree, please let me know. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON ATTENDING! Here is a re-post of the itinerary... 1) Caravan down to A.C. with other MR2's going your way. Meet them halfway or whatever to make your drive to A.C. more enjoyable. Use the Digest to find out who's going your way. 2) 10:30 - 11:30 AM Meet just past The Flagship Hotel/Condo, which is in the Inlet area of Atlantic City. Directions - Once inside of A.C., take Atlantic Ave. (a major north/south street just 2 blocks from the Boardwalk) all the way up to the northern extreme (this means that the Atlantic Ocean is on your right driving up Atlantic Ave., for all you "directionally-challenged drivers". Follow Atlantic Ave. to the end where it bears around to the left. Now the inlet is alongside your right. You can see The Flagship Hotel/Condo about 5 blocks away from it as you are driving up Atlantic Avenue. There is an area to pull over just after the hotel and before the iron framework of a building that you will see on the right (this was the old "Hackney's Restaurant"). The end of the Boardwalk is on your right. This area is no longer a bad area. Just look for the other MR2's. 11:30 AM Drive down Pacific Avenue past all the casinos and all of the modern Atlantic City "action", head down through the southern part of A.C. and do a sight-seeing drive through Margate and Ventnor. Drive through an interesting section of primo real estate in Longport and wind up at "The Point", the southenmost tip of the island. There is another parking area there. Get out of the cars and enjoy the scenery. 1:00 PM Head back up to Atlantic City for lunch @ the best submarine/hoagie/zeppelin joint in the world called "White House Subs", which I heartily recommend. It is a world-famous place. There is a free parking lot across the street, and interestingly enough, the lot is owned by Bob Guccione (of Penthouse fame). 2:30 PM AT this point, we can park at a casino hotel and take a walk on the Boardwalk (maybe to the new Steel Pier), or if you want a quieter casino, go to Harrah's in the Marina district. Some of us aren't gamblers, so going to a Boardwalk casino might be best. Parking at all the A.C. casinos is $2.00 for the entire day, and that is actually a city fee, so you are covered at all the casinos if you keep your receipt. Please get in touch and let me know if you are coming. See you there this Sunday, January 4th! - ----- Joe Pearlstein '91 Crimson Red MKII, Past owner of '86 Super Red MKI Philadelphia, PA mailto:nu3y@critpath.org ICQ# 3480202 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 01:46:58 EST From: DaddyCat1 Subject: MR2 MkII Turbo Tale & Gurgling Noise Normal & Supra Run? This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --part0_883810018_boundary Content-ID: <0_883810018@inet_out.mail.aol.com.1> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Ev'nin' Chillens, Gotta share: On the way home late last night, my little third-gear screamer felt compelled to blow away a hapless [previous model] Supra sporting a genUine big-ass rice-boy exhaust. Happened upon him on an cloverleaf on-ramp, where he started the game by speeding up and almost losing it (we politely backed off). Once straightened out he tried to pull away but no dice; perhaps that little cartoon balloon with "What the heck's behind me? hurt his CofD? Once we hit the actual freeway, "Christine" ripped his doors off before I managed to calm her down enuff to cruise to our exit as the Supra frantically changed lanes to try and catch up. Don't think he knew what hit him. Yeehaw! (Uh, I mean, uh, my car just took control, y'know?) Now my question: After allowing a 2-min cool-down period, I shut my baby down and noticed a semi-loud gurgling noise from the cooling system hoses on the left rear of the engine compartment. After about a minute there was a slight buzzing from somewhere below for about 30 seconds, then all quiet again except for more coolant bubbling. Never heard this before and it's probably normal but I thought I'd ask since I'm sort of new to the game. Perhaps she was just gargling after ingesting the Supra's door, or popping a magnum of champagne in celebration? Finally, anybody in the Bay Area running with the Supra Club on Saturday? Think I might if weather permits but I don't want to be the lone stranger. Hope to see someone there... Cliff Skajem, San Jose, California '93 NA, Red-Hot Mama accessorized from Victoria's Secret '93 Turbo, in Marquis DeSade Black with whip and spiked heels '97 T&C with a wonderful personality, Officer - --part0_883810018_boundary Content-ID: <0_883810018@inet_out.mail.aol.com.2> Content-type: message/rfc822 Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-disposition: inline From: DaddyCat1 Return-path: To: mr2-interest@mr2.com Subject: MkII Turbo Gurgling Noise Normal? Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 02:24:25 EST Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Good Evening, On the way home from running an errand a few minutes ago, Mostress Two--with me strapped in and nowhere to run--felt compelled to blow away a hapless [previous model] Supra sporting a genUwhine big-ass rice-boy exhaust. Happened upon him on a freeway on-ramp, he started the game by speeding up and almost losing it on the cloverleaf (we politely backed off) then tried to lose us on the straightaway but no dice. Perhaps the little cartoon balloon with "What the heck's behind me? hurt his coefficient of drag? Anyway, "Christine" proceeded to rip his doors off from third gear once we hit the actual freeway lanes. Once we hit 5th it was an EZ cruise home as he frantically changed lanes to try and catch up. Took our exit about 1/2 mile down the road, and that was that. Yeehaw! Now on to my question: After allowing a 2-min cool down period, I shut the car down and heard a gurgling noise that I traced back to the cooling system hoses on the left rear of the engine compartment. In about another minute there was a slight buzzing from somewhere for about 30 seconds, then all quiet again except for more coolant gurgling. Never heard it before and it's probably normal but I thought I'd ask since I'm sort of new to the game. Perhaps my gal was just gargling after ingesting the Supra's door? And: Anybody in the Bay Area running with the Supra Club on Saturday? Think I might but I don't want to be the lone stranger! Hope to see someone there... Cliff Skajem, San Jose, California '93 NA, in Super Red Victoria's Secret ensemble '93 Turbo, in Marquis DeSade Black with whip and spiked heels '97 T&C with a wonderful personality, Officer - --part0_883810018_boundary-- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 23:21:51 -0800 (PST) From: "Harry C. Wang" Subject: Re: MR2 MKII Weight savings??? I've thought about trying to reduce some weight but it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot you can do besides taking out every plastic panel you can. But i think lightweight seats would be a good idea. Maybe tear out all the sound deadening material and install some Dynamat. On Fri, 2 Jan 1998, Mr2toy726 wrote: > Sorry to ask so many questions and take up so much bandwidth on my first day, > but I am just so excited about my new toy. > > Are there any secrets to putting my 91 NA MR2 on a diet? Nothing drastic > (like lexan windows and acid dipped fenders) but I would like to loose a few > lbs. I want to keep the interior stock (no lightweight racing seats) and I > don't want to spend a fortune...so far my plan is to ditch the spare tire, > toolkit, jack remove all the plastic covers in the front storage area and the > support rod that holds it open. Any other insight into this? BTW what does a > typical 91 NA MKII weigh? > > Thanks in advance, > > Aaron > 91 NA > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 23:30:21 +0800 From: sirmike Subject: Re: MR2 MKII NA Performance Exhaust/Cat. Con Mr2toy726 wrote: > In the search for more power for my 91 NA MR2 I am considering adding a cat > back exhaust, but first I have a few questions: > > Is it worth much power (assuming I have a free flow filter setup)? (So far I > have heard they are wort about 20hp together). > > What is available and at what cost? HKS seems pretty expensive, Pacesetter is > cheap, but is it any good? What else is out there? I don't like huge coffee > can chrome tips...actually the stock tip size looks pretty good to me. > > Are the aftermarket systems louder than stock? I really like the sound of my > stock system, I just want to free up any restrictions in the system. > > Is the entire system restrictive, or is the muffler OK and the intermediate > pipe restrictive, or vice versa? I could have a larger diameter mandrel bent > pipe made to replace the pipe from the flex joint back to the stock muffler if > the stock muffler is relatively free flowing. > > And is there any advantage to removing or gutting the cat.? Or will that kill > my torque? > > Thanks in advance, > > Aaron > 91 NA Well I know the spare is like 33 pounds when I weighed mine. I have the HKS intake and I would say it gives no more than 5hp, but I am still running the stock exhaust. Also the intake is much louder than the exhaust. (at least the stock one) I sometimes wonder just how much louder an aftermarket exhaust would be. I used to want to get a custom one made too that would go straight back. I think there's enough room to put a short muffler on and have just a single outlet in the middle. I would think those smaller mufflers would be a bit lighter, but it may be real loud since it's so straight..? Well I'm not sure where else you could shave weight without losing something (like A/C, seats, interior, ) Mike C h ------------------------------ End of mr2-digest V2 #50