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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ A Father's Day Mid-engine Happy Time
Posted by: bkrantz Jun 16 2024, 07:25 PM
Nothing as fun for fathers, on any day, than to spend happy time with kids. I got to FaceTime with my daughter and grand daughter in another state while staying with my son for the weekend. He has the car thing, and last year started a mid-engine race car build project. No, not a 914 (he did help often with my build). Instead he found a 1986 MR2. And for more fun (and revs and power) he will set it up with a Honda K motor.
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Posted by: bkrantz Jun 16 2024, 07:30 PM
He bought this as a roller, but otherwise mostly complete. The body is almost rust-free--just like a 914! And it once had a collision front left, with a crappy repair (I know about that).
Anyway, yesterday and today we got the Honda motor and transaxle bolted in, using an adapter mount kit. That worked with just a few minor hiccups. Like the 914, the engine inserts from below.
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Posted by: bkrantz Jun 16 2024, 07:30 PM
Almost like it was designed to fit!
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Posted by: bkrantz Jun 16 2024, 07:36 PM
I had my own project, restoring some very bent sheet metal to a reasonable shape. This photo does not show the ugly details, but the forward part of the inner fender liner panel was crumpled, with a couple of tight folds of metal, and overall shortening of about 2 inches.
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Posted by: bkrantz Jun 16 2024, 07:39 PM
I worked it for a few hours, and at least restored the basic shape. Ugly but at least ready to weld in the attaching panels.
I hope you enjoyed (or tolerated) seeing another brand, and listening. And happy Father's Day to all dads.
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Posted by: Blue6 Jun 16 2024, 08:02 PM
A Father’s Day spent working on a project with your son, is a great day in my opinion. 
Posted by: worn Jun 16 2024, 08:17 PM
A Father’s Day spent working on a project with your son, is a great day in my opinion.
Thanks for the story. Such fun!
Posted by: technicalninja Jun 17 2024, 06:38 AM
My family has had 4 MR2s
2 first gens like yours. We called them "Traffic Weasels"
And 2 second gens. "Sharks"
We still have a 91 turbo that is in surgery for a forged motor and 350+ Hp with a 3071.
The "Weasels" are more fun to drive. Like a big adult go-cart.
Only problem with the weasels was lack of torque; You have to rev the piss out of them to have fun.
A K series will make that a BLAST!
The early seats are awesome, look kind of weird but fit me just fine.
I've kept a nice set of those to go into something else.
Posted by: bkrantz Jun 17 2024, 08:01 PM
My family has had 4 MR2s
2 first gens like yours. We called them "Traffic Weasels"
And 2 second gens. "Sharks"
We still have a 91 turbo that is in surgery for a forged motor and 350+ Hp with a 3071.
The "Weasels" are more fun to drive. Like a big adult go-cart.
Only problem with the weasels was lack of torque; You have to rev the piss out of them to have fun.
A K series will make that a BLAST!
The early seats are awesome, look kind of weird but fit me just fine.
I've kept a nice set of those to go into something else.
Thanks for the history. My son is on a path towards a pure track car with options to race in whatever accommodating clubs and classes come along. So the car will stay mostly stripped, and with a shell-style racing seat and full cage.
BTW back in the mid-80s I was really getting into autocrossing, and in my area, the MR2 was the car to beat in small bore classes. My X1/9 had even less power!
Posted by: wonkipop Jun 18 2024, 11:04 PM
the mister twos are great little cars.
heaps of them in australia.
still see plenty of the mk2 (mini me ferrari) later ones on the road on weekends.
the last of the line (mini me boxster) are a much rarer beast.
didn't sell in big numbers down here - dudded in the showrooms.
i kinda like em. along with the first ones. mk1 is a very light car.
you will be enjoying that one.
should go like sh$t off a shovel with the honda donk.
Posted by: JmuRiz Jun 19 2024, 09:07 PM
Great project…having had a 4AGE (in a Prizm GSi hatchback 
) it hurts to see the swap…but I understand 
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