'88 MR2 NA, building it up for the "One Lap" in 2018

Well, clock ran out for the short term, didn't get the time to attack the current head gasket issues before the car had to go into storage. But at the same time it's still a bit drivable, and am between houses at the moment, so it's going into storage. I also haven't tested the trailer hitch or wiring at all yet, and the trailer's got to go into storage too, which I have nothing else currently that has a tow hitch.

So, in proper GRM style, just hitch and go! And surprisingly there were no issues at all for this particular aspect of the project.

Finally had time to handle a basic video update to the project. Nothing NEW compared to this thread, but have to keep the audience happy.

Video update link

Hoping to get some time working on it tomorrow some more.

I'll be honest, this situation sucks. It's broken and I have almost no ability to work on it until we get into the new house. It's starting to wear on me and my motivation is slipping.

-Hans

The first year I did OneLap, I did my first HPDE in October, and then got two in between March and the beginning of OneLap.
Now, admittedly I had a new car, under warranty, that I could "trust" to "not break on me"...
but, my point is, there's still plenty of time left.

Are there any rental miatas to get a track to get some time while the MR2 is tucked away?

Any consideration of "Plan B"?

I have a number of theoretical "Plan B" ideas, but can't really do anything about it at the moment due to the upcoming house purchase. I need to keep the bank account in good shape to make that happen and then I can crack down on this project.

Two more weeks, Two more weeks, Two more weeks.......

Then and I'll have it in a garage again and can start getting this damn car fixed.

The most important thing for One Lap is making sure your car is 100% reliable. You've got to have all the work done to it several months ahead of time to make sure you can put at least 2000 miles on the car to shake it down.

Lots of really cool, fast cars go to One Lap, then break after the first few days/events. So all that work and money just went done the toilet because of poor planning....

docwyte wrote: The most important thing for One Lap is making sure your car is 100% reliable. You've got to have all the work done to it several months ahead of time to make sure you can put at least 2000 miles on the car to shake it down. Lots of really cool, fast cars go to One Lap, then break after the first few days/events. So all that work and money just went done the toilet because of poor planning....

Yep, that harkens back to my three primary goals for this event.... 1. Show up at the starting line. 2. Finish the event. 3. Make an optional attempt at being not-last.

The truth is that I am seriously considering bumping my entry a year for that exact reasoning. I'm not liking the current situation for many reasons. I don't want to make this kind of run with a questionable car, and I didn't get in anywhere NEAR the track and autocross time I had originally planned for 2017.

That and I'm currently not getting enjoyment out of this project. That's problem #1 to fix..... in late August when I have a house again.

In reply to hhaase:

sounds good. Deadlines are for work, this is supposed to be fun.

Cars you can't drive are way less fun than cars you can drive.

Good News!

Moving into the new house starting today and the MR2 is already in the garage. My motivation level is rising. Not that I have any stinking time for the next couple weeks to DO anything about it, but at least I get to look at my car on a daily basis again. It's going to help in a huge way.

-Hans

I still have that fresh head...........

You are a foul foul temptress, with that cylinder head. And an extremely patient one too with all the times I've acted interested but haven't been able to do anything about it.

Man, I really wish I could just buy that damn thing right now. But I need to let the dollars settle a bit from this house purchase.

Has anybody seen my GoPro? I'd really like to start getting back to this project now.

hhaase wrote: Has anybody seen my GoPro? I'd really like to start getting back to this project now.

It's in that box in the hall closet...

Not in the Airstream, I checked.

Well, I guess I'll just have to use my Pentax until then. I doubt I'll be doing any track video in the short term.

Filming resumes today for the youtube series.

Ok,  this is going to be an odd post for me, but stick with it, will ya?

It's been a LONG day of wrenching.  I've come to the conclusion that I hate working on an AW11 as much as I love driving it.  Though in all honestly much of that is due to WHY I've been working on it.  This entire ordeal, since last winter, is 100% my own fault.   I got stupid, and created a problem,  and in a rush to 'solve' it I created more problems.  This is upsetting to me because it's so out of character but I've been doing similar dumb things a lot lately.   I need to do some re-evaluation of how I deal with things and figure out how I'm berkeleying it all up.  But I've always been a big proponent of being honest with yourself in times of failure in order to improve yourself.  This is a big moment to look in the mirror and point fingers at myself.  

That being said,  5 hours to pull the head this time.  Getting quicker.  I hope it's not a regular thing.   I had a good idea where I berkeleyed up in my rush to get the head installed so I took measures not to do a similar berkeleyup this time.   See, the issue is I was in a rush because I was supposed to be moving.  Never could get the exhaust manifold off,  mostly due to access limitations with an MR2 and no lift.  So, there's a mix of bolts and studs where it bolts to the head, and a beefy bracket that holds the manifold to the block.   I even thought to myself "this is dumb, you're going to screw it up".  But I was in a rush and did something stupid .... I kept going.   Then, as you know, it was a leaker.  This time I opted to get some jam nuts and pull those studs out of the head, and everything came apart easy and clean, just like it's supposed to.  

So, without further depressing introspection.... here's what I found.   Exactly WHAT was expected, and exactly WHERE it was expected,  and it's my own stupid, lazy, impatient, should have known better, did know better, did it anyway, twice so far, fault.   (with a closeup).    Now I'll go hang my head in shame for a while and rest.  Tomorrow I examine the head and inspect the damage there.     

Now this is just getting stupid.   Bumped the new gasket and ruined it, again,  but at least this time I didn't even have the head bolted down yet.   So no real lost time except for the $40 for yet another head gasket.

-Hans

Is your torque wrench accurate?

crankwalk said:

Is your torque wrench accurate?

Sure is now, I had it professionally calibrated after that first stupid bolt that started this whole escapade in April? May?

Any chance you can get a second set of hands to help you with setting the head in place next time? 

Maybe cut the heads off a couple bolts to use as guides? 

At least that way you can't damage the gasket. 

What's a set of studs for these go for? 

OK,  back at it today.    The biggest hurdle is cleared too.    Gasket and head are sitting on the block now, nice and clean,  settled in JUST the way it's supposed to.   It's amazing what happens when you actually take the time to pay attention to what you're doing.    Only reason I stopped working on it for a moment is so I can come in and print a few pages out of the manual for torque specs and and length limits for the head bolts,  and grab my calipers to measure length.

Finally some good news.  Found the missing GoPro.   Oddly enough it was in a side pouch of my lunch bag,  that I bring to work with me on a daily basis. It's been in there since June.

Engine re-assembly is going well.  Just waiting on a couple smaller gaskets from the local Toyota dealership to continue.

-Hans