MR-Tuesday

"nerd_racing" (nerd189) 04/07/2015 at 07:02 • Filed to: MR-Tuesday MR2 AW11

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Here's the second installment in my AW11 MR2 ownership adventures.

During the week I spend some time getting to know the MR2 better, both mechanically and from the driver's seat, and so far I still haven't been disappointed. I made my first modification, had some 205 50 15's mounted on 15x6 Miata wheels that I installed:

While I was putting on the wheels I also took some pictures of the wheel wells to show how clean this car really is. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised. I know the general rule of thumb for these cars is if you think there is no rust, you have to look harder. So far so good though.

While I was under the car I replaced a leaking catalytic converter seal and found about a half dozen nuts down in the heat shield. I'm guessing the previous owners had the same problem I did, my hands didn't fit inside the shield window well enough to thread the nuts.

The wider tires and summer grip made the car even more go kart like in the corners, I still haven't found the edge of traction on the car yet. I am looking forward to when that day comes for sure.

Unfortunately winter is fighting tooth and nail to stick around here so it cut into my driving days. I want to keep the salt off the car as much as possible.

I did get a chance to replace the steel vacuum lines that run under the throttle body and as many rubber lines as I could reach. This did not fix my idle issue though, and I noticed that the car is pulling vacuum between the head and the block. I have been thinking my next step will be to pop off the valve covers and clean them, re-torque the head bolts, and see if that makes the vacuum leak go away.

For now the car is officially registered and plated in NY now. It seems to have gone to it's head already ;)

Sneak peaks for next week: Stainless exhaust and I crack open the valve covers.

Sn210 > nerd_racing 04/07/2015 at 07:12

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that looks pretty clean underneath!

nerd_racing > Sn210 04/07/2015 at 07:15

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It was definitely shocking when I looked and poked around a little bit under there. Further confirming I don't want to get it anywhere near salty NY roads.

pip bip - choose Corrour > nerd_racing 04/07/2015 at 07:16

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lambo dude!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > nerd_racing 04/07/2015 at 07:31

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Haha, yes!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > nerd_racing 04/07/2015 at 07:33

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You're going to want to pull this plastic shield off next time the front wheels are off. Crap builds up behind this and leads to rust.

CalzoneGolem > pip bip - choose Corrour 04/07/2015 at 07:49

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Nice, looks like the PO kept it out of the snow. Salt, the struggle is real.

nerd_racing > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/07/2015 at 07:54

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Good tip! I will have to do that shortly. Might throw some undercoating behind it or some chassis saver.

nerd_racing > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 04/07/2015 at 07:55

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I woke up Saturday and a buddy of mine who is into Festivas and Capris sent me that.

pip bip - choose Corrour > CalzoneGolem 04/07/2015 at 07:55

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luckily for us in Oz salt isn't an issue.

Sn210 > nerd_racing 04/07/2015 at 07:55

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I hear you, I still haven't taken mine out on MA roads yet

nerd_racing > Sn210 04/07/2015 at 07:59

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I had mine out because it rained a bit and washed a lot of the salt off. But there is more back now so I'm letting it sit till the weekend. Rain in the forecast so that will help.

It's sad when I think about how little I look forward to driving the 128i anymore.

Sn210 > nerd_racing 04/07/2015 at 08:04

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lol I feel the same way about my TL-S. I should have mine back on the road this weekend

nerd_racing > Sn210 04/07/2015 at 08:09

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Hope you do get to put it on. I guess the saving grace of the 128i is all the snow fun I get to have with it. And the torque.

nerd_racing > CalzoneGolem 04/07/2015 at 10:24

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Definitely. I wasn't expecting to get a car this clean out of Ohio. Going to do my best to keep it this way.

nerd_racing > pip bip - choose Corrour 04/07/2015 at 10:24

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Between that and hot women, some countries have all the luck!