[MR2] I'm back (and working on cars) :) MKII

[Kevin Parker]

So, no kidding, there I was. Downtown Iraq, rockets and mortars flying
everywhere..... Okay, maybe not. :)

It WAS, however, around lunch time on November 2nd when a Boeing 757 touched
down at Robert Gray Army Airfield at Fort Hood Texas with just over 100 very
happy soldiers who had spent 15 months in Iraq. In just about 30 minutes, we
had turned in our weapons and other sensitive items and were bussed to the
gym where the families of those soldiers were anxiously awaiting their
arrival. The Fort Hood garrison commander spoke for about 45 seconds and we
were released. We were finally home!! Good stuff.

So, yesterday, my first full day home, I engaged in some re-integration
therapy. I worked on my MR2s. :) I had noticed this box of parts in the
garage when I got home, so I was ready to dig in. I "Kreen"ed the turbo (a
process I go through with every new car/engine I have obtained since I
learned about the stuff in ~ 1997) and while it was soaking, for lack of a
better term, I started to change the plugs in the NA. I couldn't complete
that due to a mix-up with the plugs, so I pulled the distributor to change
out all that stuff in the rebuild kit from KBox. Well, I don't have the
necessary tools to get that stupid pin out, so I changed the o-rings and put
it back in until I get a bead on how to finish it. It drips a nickel-sized
spot every couple of days, so I'm not freaking out about it. I also changed
the dizzy and cap on both cars. NOW, I'm about to go purchase the oil to
change in both. I'm going to Austin to buy some Redline stuff to change out
the oil in both trannies and that will complete the initial service. Whew...

A question about the turbo, I took the intake plumbing off and tried to move
the compressor wheel. The book describes radial and axial play. While there
is no axial play at all, there is some radial play. I don't have the gauge
to measure it, but based on my understanding that there should be none, I
was a bit surprised at how much there actually was. It boosts fine and there
is no "death whine," so should I be worried? Should I start looking forward
to a rebuild in the future?? Thanks for the input.

Sorry I ran long with words. I'm just excited to be home and getting dirty
with my cars again. Understand that, except for two weeks in May, my
exposure to vehicles has been M1114 HMMWVs. Of course, there are many
non-tactical vehicles over there, but they are either full-sized
SUVs/pick-ups or the BMW's and MB's that the Iraq Air Force guys that worked
next to us drove. I called it re-integration therapy. That's not 100% joke.
:)

-- 
Sincerely,
Kevin Parker
><>
                 "Look, these people, they have no jobs, no food, no
education, no future. I just figure that we have two things we can do. Help,
or we can sit back and watch a country destroy itself on CNN. "
                  -SSG Eversmann, Task Force Ranger
                   "Blackhawk Down"