Hi everyone, New member here. Thought i'd tell my story...
I bought a Rev 1 turbo in 2001 from a mate who had got it from the importers. Wow, never had anything like it - and even today it still puts a huge smile on my face to drive her (yes its a her - family have named her Murtle - closest name to MR2 they could think of)
She was my daily for a couple of years or so, and I did a lot of miles. Apart from a K&N cone filter and a hand built Powerflow exhaust (what was I thinking) shes stock - oh and the contents of the cat removed as it had come apart. Had to replace the turbo and odd jobs here and there, but was perfectly happy.
The time came to get something more 'sensible'. So in 2004 I drove her to my parents 150 miles away, parked her up under covers, and that's where she stayed for the best part of 10 years. Every now and then when I was up there wed uncover her and she'd start up 1st time every time
6 months ago I moved, and now have a garage of my own. Uncovered Murtle, and took her for an MOT - passed after sorting out the front fogs
Taking a drive the other week, I noticed whilst sat at the lights that there was steam pouring from the engine cover - turbo coolant pipe had sprung a leak. I've always done my own mechanical repairs etc, so now is a good time to see what 25 years and just over 100K miles have done to the engine.
So far, I have the exhaust, DP, turbo, ex manifold, intake piping, TB, intake manifold, injectors and cam cover removed.
How much oil and sand had collected around the injectors astounded me !! Got the ex Manifold off without breaking anything - though one of the studs looks like its brought some of the ally from the head with it. All the intake pipes and tb are covered in sticky oily gunk inside as you can imagine. Couple of the small bore water pipes attached to the intake mani are completely blocked with rust and c**p.
Checked the cam gaps, 4 of them were out by about .02mm, so not bad. considering.
Timing belt and head off next - don't thing the HG is gone, but whilst im down there ill change it..
Just a general thanks to everyone who over the years has posted on here, and has made the removal of parts soooo much easier.
Thanks for your time
Ant
MY Tubby and me !
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Re: MY Tubby and me !
That's an awesome story
Let's see some pics from your... 14 year fling!?
Let's see some pics from your... 14 year fling!?
Re: MY Tubby and me !
Get your 15 posts up and show us some pictures.
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Re: MY Tubby and me !
I enjoyed reading that write up and little story - keep posting updates please. And you will need an m10x1.25 helicoil kit to repair that exhaust stud if the threads are gone. You did well - I wound up helicoiling every exhaust stud on my head.
Re: MY Tubby and me !
Called mine Muttley for some reason not dissimilar sounding I suppose.
Sounds like you've had a good experience over the years, encouraging to anyone who is afraid of the turbo on grounds of perceived unreliability
Photos please
Sounds like you've had a good experience over the years, encouraging to anyone who is afraid of the turbo on grounds of perceived unreliability
Photos please
Re: MY Tubby and me !
Welcome mate. Looking forward to seeing pics.
Re: MY Tubby and me !
Guess i'd best get my 15 posts in !
Then i'll get some pics up guys.
Thanks for the info on the Heliociol. Have to be honest, after reading so many of the horror stories regarding getting the manifold off, I wasn't looking forward to doing it.
So far the only nut that has snapped off is one of the dizzy cap nuts. Fingers crossed for the cam and head bolts.
Going to change the dreaded HFH and HFHOE. Lots of oil around the oil cooler, though the filter was loose.
Don't know if I have just been lucky Ads, I have always done the best I can at the time to keep her running with oil changes and repairs etc. Shes had a water leak for years, which I now know it the heater hoses, and not the rad pipes like I first thought. Shes certainly not been pushed with regards to boost or anything, but yeh, seems pretty solid.
The grin I still get driving says it all !
Ill keep you all posted. Going to take a while as I steal a few hours here and there.
Then i'll get some pics up guys.
Thanks for the info on the Heliociol. Have to be honest, after reading so many of the horror stories regarding getting the manifold off, I wasn't looking forward to doing it.
So far the only nut that has snapped off is one of the dizzy cap nuts. Fingers crossed for the cam and head bolts.
Going to change the dreaded HFH and HFHOE. Lots of oil around the oil cooler, though the filter was loose.
Don't know if I have just been lucky Ads, I have always done the best I can at the time to keep her running with oil changes and repairs etc. Shes had a water leak for years, which I now know it the heater hoses, and not the rad pipes like I first thought. Shes certainly not been pushed with regards to boost or anything, but yeh, seems pretty solid.
The grin I still get driving says it all !
Ill keep you all posted. Going to take a while as I steal a few hours here and there.
Re: MY Tubby and me !
OK well I have my 15 posts, so heres a few pics of Murtle....
This is how she spent the last 10 years or so - once my dad had kicked her out of his garage lol
Few outside shots
Inside - this is exactly how I bought her. The seats and door cards had come out of a Ferrari replica that had curled itself around a tree.
And this is her now....
Taking the boot lid off so I could sit in it to work on the engine made life sooo much easier lol
Next job is head off, then by the looks of things about 6 months of cleaning off the oil, sand (seriously maybe she used to live on a beach in Japan) and carbon from everything . All good fun though
This is how she spent the last 10 years or so - once my dad had kicked her out of his garage lol
Few outside shots
Inside - this is exactly how I bought her. The seats and door cards had come out of a Ferrari replica that had curled itself around a tree.
And this is her now....
Taking the boot lid off so I could sit in it to work on the engine made life sooo much easier lol
Next job is head off, then by the looks of things about 6 months of cleaning off the oil, sand (seriously maybe she used to live on a beach in Japan) and carbon from everything . All good fun though
Re: MY Tubby and me !
Good to see this - exterior shots as she stands now or are they old photos?
Re: MY Tubby and me !
Hi Ads, the exterior shots were taken a few summers ago, however, since then shes been under covers and hasn't really done any more miles. So once I give her a wash and polish, that's still how she looks. The rims need changing, they are quite badly corroded and I took then to a refurb shop who basically sais that it would be cheaper to get new ones. Its a labour of love keeping the 25yr old paint looking anything half decent.
Re: MY Tubby and me !
The paintwork looks bloody great for a 25 year old example
Black 94' GT-S Turbo