awdmofo
Member
Decided it was either a monster 400+RWHP MR2 turbo project car, or build another all-trac like I had 13 years ago. I've owned 2 MR2 turbo's, 1 N/A, 1 Spyder MR2, and one 1990 all-trac. I'm no newb to Toyota's, been wrenching on them for 15 years now, makes me feel old saying that ! Buddy of mine is building a MR2 with a caldina motor in it, and he happened to find me this little gem in LA down town...
So I bought myself a 1990 ST185 (212K miles) with what the young kid that owned it before me said was a blown head gasket. He even included a Permatorque head gasket when he sold me the car for super cheap. Kid said that it leaked coolant and over heated on him one day, so he limped it home, parked it and then it wouldn't run again :shrug:. I bought it in mid may, the tags are good until JAN 2017, and he had proof it past smog in January. He told me end of april the car died on him and he just wanted to get rid of it and was done with it. I got the car with a blitz BOV, some walmart looking head unit that still works thank god, a set of TRD brake pads in the trunk for an unknown vehicle (need to search the Part#), and the best part The OEM repair manuals complete with the electrical manual as well!!
Towed it home and started watching the Love horse power videos a few times and started digging into the car already. I'm not a tech, not certified whatsoever but, I got the tools and a little experience so i said why not try and fix it before I buy a new motor. Basically I have a very low budget and only bought the car because it was STUPID cheap, and figured I'd be a long term project. I have three choices at this point #1 attempt a fix, remove the head get it clean and tested at a local shop, replace the hoses and gaskets and if everything checks out with the head slap it together and see if it runs. Will cost me less than $500 for everything as I will do most of the labor. If it does run well then i'll be proud I tried and i'll be cruising the streets in no time 8) . Option#2, save a little and buy my buddy's mr2 3S-GTE with a blown HG that's already removed from the car and slap that into my car, cost might be closer to $1000+ range. Option#3 save for the rest of the year, sell my first born and buy a ST205 motor and mod the crap out of it and make it a 400AWHP monster. I have 6 weeks of free time and not much money so I think option 1 is the way i'll have to go. I have a toyota tech that lives next to me so if I get stuck he's only a text away lol.
[album]1218[/album][album]1219[/album][album]1220[/album]
So I bought myself a 1990 ST185 (212K miles) with what the young kid that owned it before me said was a blown head gasket. He even included a Permatorque head gasket when he sold me the car for super cheap. Kid said that it leaked coolant and over heated on him one day, so he limped it home, parked it and then it wouldn't run again :shrug:. I bought it in mid may, the tags are good until JAN 2017, and he had proof it past smog in January. He told me end of april the car died on him and he just wanted to get rid of it and was done with it. I got the car with a blitz BOV, some walmart looking head unit that still works thank god, a set of TRD brake pads in the trunk for an unknown vehicle (need to search the Part#), and the best part The OEM repair manuals complete with the electrical manual as well!!
Towed it home and started watching the Love horse power videos a few times and started digging into the car already. I'm not a tech, not certified whatsoever but, I got the tools and a little experience so i said why not try and fix it before I buy a new motor. Basically I have a very low budget and only bought the car because it was STUPID cheap, and figured I'd be a long term project. I have three choices at this point #1 attempt a fix, remove the head get it clean and tested at a local shop, replace the hoses and gaskets and if everything checks out with the head slap it together and see if it runs. Will cost me less than $500 for everything as I will do most of the labor. If it does run well then i'll be proud I tried and i'll be cruising the streets in no time 8) . Option#2, save a little and buy my buddy's mr2 3S-GTE with a blown HG that's already removed from the car and slap that into my car, cost might be closer to $1000+ range. Option#3 save for the rest of the year, sell my first born and buy a ST205 motor and mod the crap out of it and make it a 400AWHP monster. I have 6 weeks of free time and not much money so I think option 1 is the way i'll have to go. I have a toyota tech that lives next to me so if I get stuck he's only a text away lol.
[album]1218[/album][album]1219[/album][album]1220[/album]