Just wanted to say hello as I've recently bought Rowland's MK3 turbo SMT...with a broken engine (big end failure - most likely caused by oval bores drinking all the oil). And have been catching up on all the info via search for a couple of weeks now.
I've been a fan of MK1's for years and I've currently got a MK1 supercharger with about 180bhp - it's great fun and I'm yet to drive the MK3 so can't really compare them yet.
Anyway, I've bought a brand new 1zz engine as a replacement (to avoid any future issues and all the hassle of rebuild/recon) and will post progress of the swap once it stops snowing/raining.
A great site s:D :D s:D
Some pics:-
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w285/Captain_Vimes/mk3%20mr2/P2084076-small.jpg)
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w285/Captain_Vimes/mk3%20mr2/DSC00095.jpg)
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w285/Captain_Vimes/mk3%20mr2/P2023982.jpg)
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w285/Captain_Vimes/mk3%20mr2/P2024025.jpg)
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w285/Captain_Vimes/mk3%20mr2/P2024028.jpg)
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w285/Captain_Vimes/mk3%20mr2/P2024025.jpg)
Welcome. Enjoy the site, It a great place here. Doing the swap yourself then? Don't be afraid to ask anything. Got my engine out at the moment.
Oooh, shiny. You'll enjoy it when finished! A Pratchett fan too s:) :) s:)
So you really did mean BRAND NEW?
Good luck with the swap and like Custard said, if you need any help i make a mean cup of tea
What did your engine set you back?
Ah, so that's what a clean engine looks like s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
Welcome to the ROC matey. All the best with the swap. If you're yearning for an A-B comparison we have a couple of members with experience of both the Mk1 and the Mk3(turbo'd)
Hi Kev,
New engine already, you don't hang about.
Look forward to seeing her up and running again how she should be - Enjoy!!
Rowland
s:D :D s:D
I'm presuming thats a recon engine? If you can afford it I would loose the heavy flywheel when you do the swap unless Roland had one installed.
If this turns out as nice as your Mk1, its going to be ace!
Welcome to the Club Kevin. As you have already found out a good lot of info around here. Hope you enjoy s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Welcome Kevin ... quite a start - very nice shiny things, a virgin engine ... s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:
Welcome to the club mate!!!
Thanks for all the 'hello's' s:D :D s:D I feel welcome already.
To answer a few q's:-
I'll be doing the swap myself (I've done a few swaps in the past starting on mini/metro/allegro engine swaps through some other cars/bikes and more recently swapping the gearbox on my mk1) - looking forward to working on a new engine though! Just orderred an ebay cd MR2 manual - so should be able to muddle through the swap but will shout if I need any help.
The light flywheel sounds like a good idea, (should help with the SMT change speed) but as I haven't even driven it yet I'm a bit reluctant. I'll do a search on it but welcome any comments!
Welcome!! I'm a fellow Mk3 Turbo owner, you'll love it when its back up and running, look forward to seeing your progress, I also have a Mk1 MR2, the Mk3 is reminscent of the mk1 in many ways, just like a modern mk1, and a lot of what was lost in the mk2 has been revived in the Mk3 I love em!! Like your SC too, spotted it for sale, looks a nice example, if my Audi shifts, I'm in the market for an SC, although I've kind of got one waiting.
Good luck with it all!
I spent a morning on the car last week and thought I'd post my first progress pic:-
Thoughts so far?
It's much nicer working on a relatively 'young' car compared to what I'm used to - no snapped/seized bolts yet - even the exhaust manifold came off easily s:o :o s:o . It seems well designed too (except if you wanted to get to the inlet manifold without dropping the whole engine) but I'm going to have to chop through some of the piggy back ECU wiring to get the loom out with the engine, apart from that it's not far off of dropping out the bottom.
I need to have a think about whether to borrow a hoist or make up a frame to drop the engine into now. Hopefully another few hours and it'll be out.
I'm in no rush to finish it as I'd rather enjoy working on it in decent whether than curse at it in the rain! So the next update may take a while...
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w285/Captain_Vimes/mk3%20mr2/MR2.jpg)
Another quick update.
I spent yesterday afternoon with a friend on the car and we dropped the engine/box/hubs/crossmember all together. We then set about swapping parts across to the new engine, replaced the clutch and pressure plate, bolted the new engine to the gearbox and got almost to the point of lifting it back in. However, as I didn't have a replacement inlet manifold gasket and I wanted to do the throttle body mod (to speed up the SMT shift) it's still sitting on the floor under the car until I get some more time to spend on it.
Hopefully it'll only take another day to get it back in and running.
More to follow...
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w285/Captain_Vimes/mk3%20mr2/DSC00207.jpg)
Just a quick note to say that the engine is all back in now, car is all legal and I've been using it since yesterday.
First impressions? It's excellent!
I can't really rev it yet as I want to take it easy on the new engine for a while and get it on a rolling road to ensure everything is OK with the turbo map but the chassis is great - really communicative and just good fun to drive! With the old tyres on the back it's soo easy to push the back wide coming round roundabouts and control it - very progressive s:D :D s:D
As I replaced the clutch, I think the SMT needs to re-learn the biting point as it just catches 4th on the downchange, but that's a minor issue. I actually really like the SMT box - it's nowhere near as slow as I'd come to expect and I don't think I'll be swapping to a manual unless this one breakes. I keep changing gear for the sake of it - every time it changes the dump valve releases too s:idea: :idea: s:idea: s:arrow: :arrow: s:arrow:
Driving it gently, I can feel the power building and it feels like 190bhp will be about enough to keep me busy for a while, not sure it'll really add to the fun factor by increasing the bhp (maybe fear factor), so it's gonna stay like it is for now and I'll just get on and drive it! s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:
I can understand why you lot like them so much and I'm pleased with the move from MK1 to MK3.
Glad after all the work that your first impression is a good one s:) :) s:)
Hopefully once the engine is worn in a bit you can have even more fun. Keep us posted.