mr2-digest Saturday, January 10 1998 Volume 02 : Number 090 MR2 Malibu Rallye & Cheapie-Cheapie Tires Re: MR2 cd changer MR2: POVray model of MKI? MR2:MKI Drilling through fire..... MR2 frozen parking brakes / Mk 1 styling/ rough paint MR2 Definite Sales MR2 My Story RE: MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? MR2 rain/corner/boost Re: MR2 MK1 Weird MR2 cheap fix for 5th gear Re: MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? MR2 mk1 sunroof rattle MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? MR2 CF Autox next weekend Re: MR2 My Story MR2 Turbo for sale in Colorado ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 10 Jan 98 12:21:58 -0000 From: Subject: MR2 Malibu Rallye & Cheapie-Cheapie Tires Hey Greg! >I just remembered I have some fuel milage data for you: Many thanks, me amigo... it's always very helpful... >I hope you still are interesetd in the info. Always... > >By the way how do you like your Nitto tires? My Dunlops have gone bad at >less than 20k miles. I'm not surprised, Greg. You're not the lone ranger. Everyone complains about high-priced, brand name performance tyres. My cheapie Nitto's are a VR rated, _hard_ compound tyre. They're suppose to have a high treadware rating. They're noisy on the track, but they're awesome in the rain, especially on a lightweight car. And, they're cheap. I've never got more than 3,000 miles on a set of low profile radials. I've run them all: Bridgestone & Firestone, Michellin & BFG (Comp and Euro), Dunlop, Yokohama, Goodyear, Continental, Toyo... In fact, I spent 1,300 bux on a set of A008's back in the 80's, and they lasted for about seven months of hard canyon drivng on my SVO Mustang. I've had six sets of tyres on my SC in the 25,000 miles I've owned the car, and every set I've owned has one thing in common: They're throw-aways; they don't last for shit. I've fried two sets. Remember my Nittos after the punishment they took at Willow? I never buy expensive tyres, anymore. I go to America's Tyre Store. I play stupid: "... gaaaul-ly, look what happened to my tyres." Last summer they gave me a brand new set. Heh! They said: "Humph, never saw a set of tyres do that before." Heh, I'm afraid blew it, big-time, on the Malibu Rallye. Get this: That Champaign colored 325i we all passed on Mulholland Highway? Remember? That was the store manager! We passed him like he was standing still. Zing, 30 MR2s, going like a bat out of hell. He probably thought, "I know that SonOfABitch! I just gave him a brand new set of tyres, and look at that bastard go!" Heh! The last time I went in to have my tyres rebalanced, they gathered around my car to look at the set of brand new tryes they gave me that were "a little used" after the Malibu Rallye. I heard whispers: "that's the guy I was telling you about." Right then I thought: "they were so nice before; wonder what could have changed?" heh! They really gave my car the white glove, the the guy said: "I saw you out there on Mulholland with all your buddies. You guys are nuts," and then I knew that the jig was up. Heh! You should have seen the serious looks on everyone's faces, eyes narrow, like I'd just run over Bambi. Heh! They couldn't believe I had 700 miles on those tyres. I've sure as hell wore out my welcome there (flames welcome). But, regardless of the fact that I fried a set of Nittos at Willow, you've gotta say that they really held up, considering how badly they were punished: two 45 minute stints at the ragged edge. I've got to say that they're no worse than anything else I've owned. I look at it this way. What am I getting for my money? (1) I'm getting a speed rating, (2) I'm getting treadware factor, and (3) I'm getting tripple keystone pricing on a product that I'll be lucky to retain for 5,000 miles that's built by a manufacturer who doesn't care about anything but succoring me out of my money... Less is More. Sammy Joseph, '88 4AGZE- __________________________________ Alfred Samuel Joseph and / or Barbara June Joseph 1707 Jenner Street Lancaster, CA 93534 (805) - 723 - 6506 asjoseph@as.net asj6961@csun.edu ASJ/alphasierrajulietendcommunique __________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 98 12:05:44 From: gseeley@island.net (Geoff Seeley) Subject: Re: MR2 cd changer > Date: Thu, 08 Jan 1998 19:12:54 +0200 > From: "Kostas G.D.Chryssos Ph.D." > > >Steve B will know for sure, but I think the gas tank is right behind the > >fire wall. > > >>>No, the gas tank is not behind the fire wall, it's in the 'transmission' >>>tunnel. Very ingenious design, about as safe a place as it could be and >>>about as low as it could be. > > Come on now, we all know the fuel tank is in the rear spoiler. > > Kostas G.D.Chryssos Ph.D. ROFL!!! Please people, *no* Pinto sub threads on this ok? :-) BTW, I *have* seen pictures of racing MR2's where the gas tank (or in this case fuel cell) was located in the front "boot". Hey Chris (King), I think this needs to go into the FAQ so new owners know exactly where the gas tank hides (and hence, not drill into it, etc.) Geoff '91t, 227,000km ------------------------------ Date: 10 Jan 1998 20:55:10 -0000 From: Felix Morley Finch Subject: MR2: POVray model of MKI? I'm doing some POVray (a ray tracing image generator) modeling of a house I want to build, and thought it would be fun toinclude an MR2 in the garage and/or out front. Anybody worked on such a model of a MkI? If I did it, would anybody else be interested in it? It certainly wouldn't be very detailed - probably blacked out windows, no door lines, etc. - -- ... _._. ._ ._. . _._. ._. ___ .__ ._. . .__. ._ .. ._. Felix Finch: scarecrow repairman & rocket surgeon / felix@crowfix.com PGP = 91 B3 94 7C E9 E8 76 2D E1 63 51 AA A0 48 89 2F I've found a solution to Fermat's Last Theorem but I see I've run out of room o ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 16:48:45 EST From: Sport Ridr Subject: MR2:MKI Drilling through fire..... Anybody have any suggestions on where the best place is to drill through the firewall behind the seat? The reason being to run a power wire from an Amp. to the battery. Better yet, does anyone know EXACTLY where Toyota routes the wires coming from the engine compartment to the cockpit? Are they in the center console, or are they on the lower driverside firewall? I routed for temporary, the power wire to another source found in the passenger side kick panel, but im afraid that this is not enough power to supply the amp continuously. Any help would be appreciated. I have installed after-market stereos before in many cars, but never an MR2, its a whole new ball game. Mike Craig 86 MR2 http://members.aol.com/SportRidr/intro.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 13:53:38 -0800 From: william brandt Subject: MR2 frozen parking brakes / Mk 1 styling/ rough paint FWIW your e-brake cable is brobably broken at the rubber "accordian" section that protects the cable - (back by the rear wheels). You get ice in it which freezes the cable. This spring put some new cables on. Not difficult but messy. Also i have heard that in freezing weather it is a good idea NOT to use an e-brake - they can freeze in a variety of places- right to the brake pads. On the MR2 the ebrake just pushes the brake pads to the rotor (disk) - other cars have special itty-bitty e-brake shoes that can freeze. Mk 1 styling - i have liked the whole of the car (especially with the "aero" package that has the plastic on the side bottoms - makes it look more substancial - from the front they look cool esp with the stupid "TOYOTA" taken off the bumper - the spoiler makes me think I'm in a little F1 car - but the back looks like someone became uninspired with the styling & simply took a meat cleaver - said 'that's it!" Paint - on the mercedes list several people have said they've had great luck with the "cleaning clay" from Griot's garage. Maguirs also makes it. It feels a bit funny rubbing something relatively hard on your paint but several people have been amazed at the results. Cleans out all the debri. Bill ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 16:55:16 EST From: Lsaccone Subject: MR2 Definite Sales Ok, I'm sorry that I haven't gotten back to anyone about the parts for sale, but I haven't had as quick of a recovery as I had hoped for. Also I have to way to get to the car. Anyways, what I need is an email from everyonw who wants something. I am selling the engine and tranny with anything else that needs to be included... I forgot to mention that it has a brand new RPS Turbo clutch with 2000 miles on it included!! for $2,000. I need definites on what everyone wants. EVERYTHING MUST GO!! I have to pay people to get the engine and stuff out of the car so I can't have maybees. Thanks again for all the support from the list. Thanks, Larry ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 16:55:20 EST From: Lsaccone Subject: MR2 My Story It was New Years Day and I was headed South on a road down the block from my house. The road was 1 lane in each direction and a common turning lane. I got cut off by a truck coming onto the road from my left then the truck jammed on the breaks to make a right. I swerved to go around the truck and there was a car coming North. He thought that I was going to hit him so he swerved into the turning lane and we had a head on collision. The passenger side T-Top came crashing into my head from the impact and cut it open. I severed 3 arteries and needed 200+ stitches in my head. That's my deal... for all who were interested. Larry S ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 17:15:52 -0400 From: bagdon@rust.net (S and K Bagdon) Subject: RE: MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? >I understand that this can and does happen (hell, it got me 2 weeks >after I got my MKII, and cost me $150) but What I want to know is what I >can do to learn this and how to properly react. Unfortunely, I don't >have anywhere good to do it around here. I should to go up to Firebird >raceway and signup for the BonDurant school there, but damn that costs a >bit. Oh well. Any suggestions on what moves to try if I can find a >nice "safe" open area with little to no obstacles to hit? increasing >the speed in a constant circle, hard trans-lateral moves, what? Thanks Well, rule #1 - there is no recovery, once you start spinning in any condition that equals zero traction (oil, snow, water, ice, etc) it's over. So the best you can do is to learn where just before traction loss is, and don't breach it. That's easy enough on dry land (but then again, on dry, you can recover reasonably well, but under ice/snow, it's a long learning curve. Steve B. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 15:21:04 -0800 (PST) From: Phil Esra Subject: MR2 rain/corner/boost Gordon said: <<>> May I recommend autocrossing? You'll gain vehicle control skills applicable to nearly any situation, and the risk of damage/injury is very small. But just one session is not going to make you a racer. It takes practice to develop that "feel" that helps you predict what your car is going to do next. I spun at least once at the first few autoxs I ever went to, and almost never do now. Phil ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 18:42:27 -0500 From: "TheArk" Subject: Re: MR2 MK1 Weird Is it going to hurt the car, now that it is running better....It may have been off before, but it runs much better now, I dont want to change it back!!!!! "Cant you trip like I do?" TheArk@teleweb.net Noah Boehm - ---------- > From: Andrew P. Tasi > To: TheArk > Cc: mr2-interest@mr2.com > Subject: Re: MR2 MK1 Weird > Date: 10 January, 1998 9:17 AM > > -----Original Message----- > From: TheArk > To: MR2 > Date: Saturday, January 10, 1998 1:38 AM > Subject: MR2 MK1 Weird > > > >Tonight I finally changed the O-ring on my distributor shaft to see how > >much of the oil leak it would clear up...I removed the > distributor...[snip!]....When > >I took it out for a ride, it was unbelievable, the car seemed to have quite > >a bit more punch!!!! QUITE A BIT...[Snip!] > > Could it be that the timing in your '2 was off? Removing and replacing the > distributor, then correcting the timing could have had a noticable effect on > power. > > >"Cant you trip like I do?" > >TheArk@teleweb.net > >Noah Boehm > > Just a thought, > Andrew P. Tasi > Black '88 MR2 T-top > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 17:42:49 -0600 From: Allen Sanders Subject: MR2 cheap fix for 5th gear Nobody ever responded to the Supra guy who said it was possible to fix the 5th gear pop-out by replacing a clip and spring mechanism for a cost of about $3. Can this be true? Allen asanders@law.tulane.edu '85 na silver ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 15:58:38 -0800 From: Randy Chase Subject: Re: MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? McQuillin, Gordon wrote: > > I understand that this can and does happen (hell, it got me 2 weeks > after I got my MKII, and cost me $150) but What I want to know is what I > can do to learn this and how to properly react. Unfortunely, I don't > have anywhere good to do it around here. I should to go up to Firebird > raceway and signup for the BonDurant school there, but damn that costs a > bit. Oh well. Any suggestions on what moves to try if I can find a > nice "safe" open area with little to no obstacles to hit? increasing > the speed in a constant circle, hard trans-lateral moves, what? Thanks hmm..let me see. Where can you learn the limits of your car, safely and without damage, without spending too much?...Gee...sounds like the perfect thing I learned from autoxing. About $20 bucks a day and you get to find out where the limits are. I have spun my car hundreds of times. 8) You do learn what happens on a spin. Steve is correct about the second part of the correction getting you. It's the whipping of the back end around when you correct that is much more violent. However, I do think you can learn how to deal with this. I catch the spin a lot more now than I used to, though I agree some spins are already gone by the time you can do anything. To set up your car for less spinability, try adding more toe in on the rear. Randy Chase '91 MR2 N/A with 1/8" toe in per side on the rear ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 17:54:20 -0600 From: Allen Sanders Subject: MR2 mk1 sunroof rattle Anybody know the part number (s) for the two snap-in black clips that the sunroof fits into? I assume these are the parts that people keep talking about as being the reason my roof is rattling (when open) and recently leaking (when closed). I knnow the one on the passenger side is broken. Thanks Allen asanders@law.tulane.edu '85 na silver Living for those sunny days... ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 18:58:56 -0500 From: Phil Cutajar Subject: MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? I have found the best place to learn how to drive your car at extremes is Autox. You usually get sweepers, decreasing radius turrns, slaloms, 90 degree boxes, slow and fast transitions, and just about anything else. And they only cost $20. For most fun, education, and seat time, try an Autox school... I'm going to one next weekend. You usually get lots of runs, some instructions from experienced drivers, and you can actually have an instructor drive your car, or ride with you while you drive. - -- Phil Cutajar '93 MR2-Turbo, Super White, 74k miles K&N FIPK, MR2-PP MBC mailto:Solo2_MR2@ibm.net my web page:http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/6213/index.htm ICQ #6032611 > Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 12:43:48 -0700 > From: "McQuillin, Gordon" > Subject: RE: MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? > > I understand that this can and does happen (hell, it got me 2 weeks > after I got my MKII, and cost me $150) but What I want to know is what I > can do to learn this and how to properly react. Unfortunely, I don't > have anywhere good to do it around here. I should to go up to Firebird > raceway and signup for the BonDurant school there, but damn that costs a > bit. Oh well. Any suggestions on what moves to try if I can find a > nice "safe" open area with little to no obstacles to hit? increasing > the speed in a constant circle, hard trans-lateral moves, what? Thanks > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 19:05:06 -0500 From: Phil Cutajar Subject: MR2 CF Autox next weekend *** Notice to MR2 owners in central Florida *** There is an Autox school/practice next Saturday, January 17, at McDill AFB in Tampa. Also, there will be a SCCA sanctioned Autox race event on Sunday, January 18, at the same place. I believe the school/practice starts around 10 AM. To get access to the AFB and register you must contact Shannon Paris, CF Solo2 Chairman at... mailto:solo2chairman@ij.net I will be attending the Saturday practice, but can't make it to the race on Sunday. I sure would like other MR2s to be there and compete. - -- Phil Cutajar '93 MR2-Turbo, Super White, 74k miles K&N FIPK, MR2-PP MBC mailto:Solo2_MR2@ibm.net my web page:http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/6213/index.htm ICQ #6032611 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 16:19:28 +0800 From: sirmike Subject: Re: MR2 My Story Lsaccone wrote: > It was New Years Day and I was headed South on a road down the block from my > house. The road was 1 lane in each direction and a common turning lane. I > got cut off by a truck coming onto the road from my left then the truck jammed > on the breaks to make a right. I swerved to go around the truck and there was > a car coming North. He thought that I was going to hit him so he swerved into > the turning lane and we had a head on collision. The passenger side T-Top > came crashing into my head from the impact and cut it open. I severed 3 > arteries and needed 200+ stitches in my head. That's my deal... for all who > were interested. > Larry S Whoa! Good thing your ok!(relatively of course) So you probably would have avoided it all together had the other driver not swung into the turn lane? I guess it's pretty hard to avoid crappy situations happening like that. Hope yer head heals fast. Later. Mike C ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 16:35:53 -0800 (PST) From: matt ledbetter Subject: MR2 Turbo for sale in Colorado Hey everyone, I saw this ad in the local Colorado Springs paper: Toyota MR2, 91, turbo, 70k miles, t-tops, loaded, $8500/obo 719-572-9175 If anyone wants me to check it out, just drop me a note. - -Matt '88 Twincharged _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of mr2-digest V2 #90