• SHOWROOM
  • Matt's 1990 JDM SW20 Turbo MR2 (p.17)
2019/06/10 11:22:52
Matts_SW20
sr2223
Where did you get the fittings for your aftermarket radiator, would you happen to have a link to which fittings you bought I would love to run a similar set up.

I got all my fittings from RaceWorks at AutoOne in Castle Hill NSW. Any auto store that stocks AN fittings should be able to sort you out. 
The adapter from the Fenix Radiator to AN was a male 1/4" NPT to male -6 AN fitting (https://www.raceworks.com.au/fittings/adapters/bsp-tapered-an-to-bspt-adaptors/) and then from there it's:
- 90 degree female -6 to 5/16" barb (https://www.raceworks.com.au/fittings/barb/female-an-to-barb/)
- 70cm of -6 hose (https://www.raceworks.com.au/fuel/e85-hose/push-lok-hose/)
- 5/16" barb to -6 male (https://www.raceworks.com.au/fittings/barb/an-flare-to-barb/)
- -6 female cap (https://www.raceworks.com.au/fittings/flare-cap/)
Thats it for the permanent set up. I also have another female -6 to 5/16" barb that I replace the cap with when bleeding and attach clear tubing to it to bleed easily. You'll also need thread tape for the NPT fitting because it's an NPT fitting. 
2019/06/10 15:40:46
Matts_SW20
Thought I didn't punish myself yesterday so I removed the water lines to the throttle body and looped the supply lines. It'll lower intake temps slightly, remove a high point and clean up the engine bay.
Before:

Hoses removed:

outlets capped:

left some outlets open:

After:

 
2020/02/09 20:16:12
Matts_SW20
Another larger update with some emotional ups and downs. I guess we don't expect anything less with these cars. So after the turbo upgrade I needed a new head unit as the old one was dieing and couldn't get FM radio anymore. I gave it away but later found out it was just dodgey solder behind it. Nevertheless I upgraded to a Sony AX-100 unit with Android Auto, the unit is compact and intuitive to use and the android auto makes driving so much easier with the google assistant. Whilst I was doing the swap I couldn't help but noticing a lot of mystery wire so what was a simple radio install turned into a full cabin strip to get rid of the excess wiring. I also discovered that my rear speakers were never hooked up so I was able to fix that too. I think at some stage the car has had serious sound gear in it and just been ripped out without care or skill. 



But in the end it all worked out

 
I took the car to the Newcastle All Japan day as organised by the same people who do Toyota Nationals. Despite not great organising we managed to park some MR2's together and the all looked great!



 
The car was running great UNTILL! MR2 Nationals. Sadly despite a great event full of epic cars, great people and amazing cars my car was overheating on the way down. The car would raise temperature momentarily then reduce back down to normal for the 3 hour drive to Canberra. I had no idea what could possibly be going on and thought I must have had a coolant leak from the thermostat housing as thats the only place I could see water droplets. It did kind of put a downer on the weekend as we left early during the last night so the car could have a cool run home. Fortunately there were no issues on the way home but further testing was needed. 
 














 
After the event I ran compression testing and cyl 1 was 180 psi and cyl 2 was 120 psi but when I cranked the engine for cyl 2, water vapor shot out of cyl 1. I presurised the cooling system to 0.9 bar and stuck my endoscope into the bore and sure enough coolant was leaking into the bore. Insert many sad emotions here. I thus relegated the car to the shed for 4 months while I waited for my mechanic to arrange some time to fix the car, I began to order some parts as we agreed that we would take the engine out for the next head gasket job. Initially I was going to put an MLS gasket on

But later decided against it because I wasn't machining the head or the block and only hand skimming. I had also heard horror stories of people who didn't properly skim for MLS and had it leak again so I ordered a stock gasket. I've heard the stock gasket can take well to extra boost (16psi) so I wasn't stressed about using an inferior gasket. I also heard from Advanced Motor Mechanics (people who builts Robk's car) that Cometic probably shouldn't be used and use HKS if anything. With HKS not being available and me not machining block or head I decided to go stock. 

While parts were still coming I took Jess's AW11 to MCM Nationals for her and was a pretty cool car to drive. Having the supercharger is a weird concept but works well when you need it

 
While the car was off the road I attempted to fix the sunroof on the car as it's never worked. I found out that the sunroof is a cheap POS that should never have been put on the car. A cast aluminium bracket snapped on both sides and couldn't be welded as the heat would crack the glass and without a very expensive TIG you risk melting the thing and not being able to put it back on ever again or not aligned. I used JB weld and stainless steel wire but the brackets still snapped so I forced it into place, cut the wires to the motor and will sikaflex it in later so its a permanent glass roof. 

 
Engine out time and new head gasket time. I took the opportunity to replace the HFHOE (HFH done 10,000k's ago) and some clamps and o'rings on the water pipes. I also was able to see where the old head gasket had failed 
 





 
Finally got her all back together. The engine out took 6 hours, the engine assembly took 4 and back in took 5 hours so it wasn't too bad. The engine now has ARP studs to hold that stock gasket right down to the block. There was no damage to the bore and was a relatively easy experience with the assistance of my mechanic mate who had all the right tools and the hoist was so unbelievably amazing to have. 
 
Glad to say I'm back on the road now

2020/02/09 20:54:48
Lumix
Great update. Def had some ups and downs.
 
Lately I have been on the verge of swapping out the stock headunit for a Sony AX100 or equivalent. I think the AX100 is discontinued and now it's the AX200 for andriod auto? The volume knob and simple aesthetic is very pleasing. Where did you set up the microphone?
2020/02/09 21:24:57
Matts_SW20
Yep AX100 is discontinued but I really wanted the knob, it's impossible to find an android auto unit with a knob on the current market so I picked mine up off gumtree for $300. Microphone I mounted under the top right windscreen trim piece. 

It comes with a clip so you can put it on a sunvisor but if you take it apart the ball end of the mic fits neatly under the trim. Sadly the car is often too loud with engine or wind noise for the google assistant to work 100% but it's not too bad. 
2020/02/10 11:43:12
Lumix
That's a good spot. Unobtrusive. Thanks for the photo.
2020/02/12 17:09:29
Fast Eddie
So you've been a busy boy I see.
I need someone to put my motor back in as its ready to go.
2020/02/12 17:21:50
Matts_SW20
Fast Eddie
So you've been a busy boy I see.
I need someone to put my motor back in as its ready to go.

Yea was a long wait but good to be back. Glad to hear your motor is good to go! I thought the US parts would hold you back a little longer. You can do it at home but far easier with a hoist and engine jack 
2020/02/13 15:07:47
Carmikey
Fast Eddie

So you've been a busy boy I see.

I need someone to put my motor back in as its ready to go.

Pity your so far away. Would love to help you out.

Sent from my SM-J320ZN using Tapatalk

2020/04/15 08:31:43
Matts_SW20
Given this whole isolation thing it's a great time to work on the car. I've started by jumping on the MR2OC bandwagon and removing the cancer foam, no its not an issue in Australia but better having it out rather than in there. 

Happily there was only one on the passenger side and even more happily there's no rust even with a leaking sunroof. 
 
Also bought 100 interior clips off eBay that should arrive soon so I can fix the broken interior panels.
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