Red Turbo history

[motorheadsw20]

Hiya Everyone,

We have a new addition to the MR2 family - got it off trademe / Reliable Performance Motors in Henderson and while it looks like it needs a bit of TLC and a wee bit of fixing up I was wondering if someone knows this car and if not too much trouble can share some history on it

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It's apparently a NZ New 1989 Turbo, targa top, repainted red (reasonable quality job). Engine has had a bit of work done - aftermarket IC (no fan), no BOV, custom (handmade ) exhaust. Engine is a bit clunky/noisy but driveable and boosts up to about 15PSI (I need to investigate that - maybe exhaust/maybe wastegate vaccum hoses). All up looks like a reasonable project car (for my boy) - but it'd be great to know where it came from

[Benckj]

Looks decent enough from the pic given the previous work done.
I don't think we got any NZ turbos released here. GDII will be able to help with history from rego plate.

[Benckj]

Just ran a quick Carjam report and its imported with several different plates issued over the years. First rego was 1995.

[motorheadsw20]

Awesome - thanks for the report Jim - much appreciated !!! I will see how the WOF inspection goes this Friday and will make an action plan from there.

Haven't pulled an engine out for 2 years now lol ... I'm missing the experience

[Benckj]

Hope WOF goes well with no surprises. The car was de-registered and went through several time lapse intervals during re-con work.
If it was orginally a NA you would want to see if all the turbo goodies such as brakes & suspension have been upgraded. Possible to post up a few more pics?

[GDII]

Hope WOF goes well with no surprises. The car was de-registered and went through several time lapse intervals during re-con work.
If it was orginally a NA you would want to see if all the turbo goodies such as brakes & suspension have been upgraded. Possible to post up a few more pics?

Remember the brakes for cars outside the USA were all the same for turbo and NA. Changed in 92.

[GDII]

Curious if it is NZ new as it has some JDM bits on it.

Only Japan, USA and Canada got turbo powered models. Everywhere else was NA so this will be a swapped one.

More photos will help with any other questions you might have.

[GDII]

Ok so it is a December 1989 JDM GT.
https://www.toyodiy.com/parts/q?vin=SW20-0001379

It has NZDM front lights with the clear middle sections and the NZDM rego plate holder.
Has JDM side indicators which are in front of the front wheels instead of behind like the June 1996 JDM models.

It has 92-96 wheels.

Curious to know what other changes have been made. As this car is 33.5 years old and has a few no standard parts on it it could have the bigger 92+ brakes, suspension changed out although it looks to have REV1 height so maybe not.

[motorheadsw20]

So from the chassis label looks to be a genuine turbo (3S-GTE) not an upgraded N/A, but no LSD here (E153 - 734).

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From the 15" tires looks like the brakes are the smaller version - but I haven't measured. The boot says GTS. The rear cross member looks like the shorter trailing arms version so pre 92. Shocks look standard ... and a bit clunky

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Inside is slightly not factory - I noticed that the fuel pump may have been changed since the connectors under the ashtray look non standard. Sadly someone drilled a hole in the trim for the boost gauge wiring/hose

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The engine is the weird and wonderful part

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2023-08-01 13.04.46.jpg (1.81 MiB) Viewed 2879 times

No fan on aftermarket IC, the fan temp sensor has found it's way next to the air filter ?!? little wee filter on the cam cover vent (which is not oily so maybe good sign), turbo looks like CT26. It apparently boosts up to 15 psi which is a bit odd (when I tested it it only went up to 10) - i need to trace the vaccum hose that comes off the wastegate. It's missing the heatshields on the firewall . There's some odd looking wiring on the thing (AC idle valve???) next to the injector/fuel pump resistors.


All up looking like a good project so far - we'll measure compression, do fluid change (and fix whatever WOF says needs fixing) and take it from there. Hopefully if all good we'll bring it on the next Auckland club run

[Benckj]

Looks to be quite a speckeled history which I'm sure you will untangle. Hopefulley WOF doesn't turn into an expensive repair bill. Take it you bought from a dealer so they should provide a WOF that is less than 30days old.

[motorheadsw20]

Lol bought from a dealer is a bit of a yeah/nah ... purchased it as a parts / as is where is car (very reasonable price since they just wanted it gone) from the dealer with 5 days remaining on the WOF.

We had a look at another wee turbo on Trademe - but that was advertised for $13K ... and (my son's comments) if this was for sale 10 years ago it would have been a $500 car - everything needed fixing on that one. This one is for what it is is OK inside and in drivable condition so even if engine needs a bit of work or reconditioning it's acceptable (and I got few spares in the garage that the wife wants me to get rid of )

[GDII]

So from the chassis label looks to be a genuine turbo (3S-GTE) not an upgraded N/A, but no LSD here (E153 - 734).

2023-08-01 11.30.37.jpg

From the 15" tires looks like the brakes are the smaller version - but I haven't measured. The boot says GTS. The rear cross member looks like the shorter trailing arms version so pre 92. Shocks look standard ... and a bit clunky

2023-08-01 13.48.47.jpg

Inside is slightly not factory - I noticed that the fuel pump may have been changed since the connectors under the ashtray look non standard. Sadly someone drilled a hole in the trim for the boost gauge wiring/hose

2023-08-01 13.04.25.jpg

The engine is the weird and wonderful part

2023-08-01 13.05.04.jpg
2023-08-01 13.04.46.jpg

No fan on aftermarket IC, the fan temp sensor has found it's way next to the air filter ?!? little wee filter on the cam cover vent (which is not oily so maybe good sign), turbo looks like CT26. It apparently boosts up to 15 psi which is a bit odd (when I tested it it only went up to 10) - i need to trace the vaccum hose that comes off the wastegate. It's missing the heatshields on the firewall . There's some odd looking wiring on the thing (AC idle valve???) next to the injector/fuel pump resistors.


All up looking like a good project so far - we'll measure compression, do fluid change (and fix whatever WOF says needs fixing) and take it from there. Hopefully if all good we'll bring it on the next Auckland club run

Yes it is definitely as genuine REV1 GT. They did not start selling the GT-S until December 91. So the boot lid badge is from another car.
People always think the GT-S is a 'better' car but it's a low spec car with cloth interior, low spec stereo and non power folding mirrors. Might be lighter and cheaper but lower spec.

Yeah they look to be the smaller OEM REV1 brakes. 25T36 and 16V front and rear will be cast into them.

The fuel pump has a funny grey plug from factory but I suspect you already know this. Someone has given the wiring on this car a bit of a go.

Very odd the intercooler has no fan. Not ideal.
The little filter will be the large PCV pipe. No oil means it's either fresh or blow by is minimal. Potentially good.
It is a CT26 as it is cast in to the compressor housing. I can see it in the photo. They will go up to 15psi. Well, boost cut is 14.7psi so you don't t really want to be trying to get to 15psi.
Yeah looks like the AC idle up wiring has been messed with. And you have a bunch of interesting wiring on the right hand side of the car. Most SW do not have wiring here except if they had cruise control. Some looks partly OEM while others look DIY.

Definitely a good little project. Depending on where you want to take it there is plenty to clean up and fix.
I'm big on OEM stuff and the blue vacuum hoses and pipes really gets to me

[Benckj]

Lol bought from a dealer is a bit of a yeah/nah ... purchased it as a parts / as is where is car (very reasonable price since they just wanted it gone) from the dealer with 5 days remaining on the WOF.

We had a look at another wee turbo on Trademe - but that was advertised for $13K ... and (my son's comments) if this was for sale 10 years ago it would have been a $500 car - everything needed fixing on that one. This one is for what it is is OK inside and in drivable condition so even if engine needs a bit of work or reconditioning it's acceptable (and I got few spares in the garage that the wife wants me to get rid of )

I look forward to your work on this car. Been a while since we have had a turbo build take place. I've pretty much hung up the wrenches now that I'm a grand dad with baby responsibilities.

On the lighter side I've had my eye on a 97NA that is at a shop near me for the past 8 months. Thinking about making an offer as could probably get for a song but rerally don't want another project. Its an auto with cloth seats and a fair bit of wear all around.

[GDII]

Lol bought from a dealer is a bit of a yeah/nah ... purchased it as a parts / as is where is car (very reasonable price since they just wanted it gone) from the dealer with 5 days remaining on the WOF.

We had a look at another wee turbo on Trademe - but that was advertised for $13K ... and (my son's comments) if this was for sale 10 years ago it would have been a $500 car - everything needed fixing on that one. This one is for what it is is OK inside and in drivable condition so even if engine needs a bit of work or reconditioning it's acceptable (and I got few spares in the garage that the wife wants me to get rid of )

I look forward to your work on this car. Been a while since we have had a turbo build take place. I've pretty much hung up the wrenches now that I'm a grand dad with baby responsibilities.

On the lighter side I've had my eye on a 97NA that is at a shop near me for the past 8 months. Thinking about making an offer as could probably get for a song but rerally don't want another project. Its an auto with cloth seats and a fair bit of wear all around.

What about my turbo build?
But yes, keen to see someone else's too even though this place is dead and only has about 5 users posting here.

[Alsw20]

Well, boost cut is 14.7psi

12.8psi on the early turbos. There's not a lot of margin of error when on full boost of 11.8psi with the t/vsv energised, as I found out myself hitting boost cut on a winters morning 20 years ago on a 100% standard car.