MR2 Update: ...and I was grateful!
Engine mostly mounted. I converted all potential parts headaches to US model equivalents instead of dealing with potential Japanese parts orders. This ended up being a God-send of sorts, because closer inspection of the “better” Japanese equipment proved that even though they were shiny and visibly less tired, they were actually in poorer shape.
The A/C compressor for instance barely turned and had all the spinning ability of a rock and some sandpaper. The “used” US one was rebuilt in Texas and spins effortlessly.
Another surprise is the model year of new engine.
As I kept sorting through wiring shenanigans and making the best of the situation through common sense (JDM connector shenanigans), I noticed the distributor and igniter were different- way different. So upon researching the parts code of the igniter, I noticed that it was for a Gen2 (US year 94+) motor.
I was replacing a Gen1 (US year 91) motor.
And like a kaleidoscope of failure the problems became obvious. This kind of swap is still common, but it gives me a frame of reference for how to go about things moving forward (and kept me from making some hilarious mistakes).
It’s not the engine I wanted, It’s actually a bit better, and I can make do. It’s not the supplier’s fault either for shipping the wrong product. Because it is a 3SGTE engine like I ordered. It probably did come from an early gen MR2 SW20 like I need. And it does have all its parts. But the key here is what year are they referring to and from what country are they referencing, because the USDM motors lagged behind their JDM counter parts. A ’93 3SGTE motor means 2 different things depending on country.
Regardless, whether through ignorance or accident, I got a better engine than I bargained.
In a dream world, the car would be running given a few more hours of hard work and no mistakes. It’s about 5 radiator hoses, reassembling the fuse box, putting on the other engine mounts, attach the shift cables, attach the transaxle, and add fluids. I’m in the final mile.
The thing that amuses me the most is the anecdote I can distill from this. It's been cold lately, with snow all over the ground typically.
I can finally say, "In my day when we wanted a car we built it... out of parts... in the snow... AND WE WERE GRATEFUL!"
I'm not embellishing that much at all either.
The A/C compressor for instance barely turned and had all the spinning ability of a rock and some sandpaper. The “used” US one was rebuilt in Texas and spins effortlessly.
Another surprise is the model year of new engine.
As I kept sorting through wiring shenanigans and making the best of the situation through common sense (JDM connector shenanigans), I noticed the distributor and igniter were different- way different. So upon researching the parts code of the igniter, I noticed that it was for a Gen2 (US year 94+) motor.
I was replacing a Gen1 (US year 91) motor.
And like a kaleidoscope of failure the problems became obvious. This kind of swap is still common, but it gives me a frame of reference for how to go about things moving forward (and kept me from making some hilarious mistakes).
It’s not the engine I wanted, It’s actually a bit better, and I can make do. It’s not the supplier’s fault either for shipping the wrong product. Because it is a 3SGTE engine like I ordered. It probably did come from an early gen MR2 SW20 like I need. And it does have all its parts. But the key here is what year are they referring to and from what country are they referencing, because the USDM motors lagged behind their JDM counter parts. A ’93 3SGTE motor means 2 different things depending on country.
Regardless, whether through ignorance or accident, I got a better engine than I bargained.
In a dream world, the car would be running given a few more hours of hard work and no mistakes. It’s about 5 radiator hoses, reassembling the fuse box, putting on the other engine mounts, attach the shift cables, attach the transaxle, and add fluids. I’m in the final mile.
The thing that amuses me the most is the anecdote I can distill from this. It's been cold lately, with snow all over the ground typically.
I can finally say, "In my day when we wanted a car we built it... out of parts... in the snow... AND WE WERE GRATEFUL!"
I'm not embellishing that much at all either.
posted by Ouchies at
11:01 AM
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