Ok I'm about to start with my first real "wave" of mods...

Spearco intercooler kit
3" dump pipe
ss exhaust manifold

the engine and tranny are probably coming out to do the head gasket and sort out my cooling problem....putting it on the dyno to try and assess the problem some more first.

if i have enough cash after its sorted a Motec M400 will take over management duties.

and with all the new goodies i figured i'd get the paint freshened up... it'd be a shame to leave all those stone chips.....

Forget the manifold.

If you are on the factory turbo still there is no reason to go to a Motec.

yeah i'm not sure about the manifold... what's your reasoning for not getting it?

the motec is to allow thew future mods i want without having to change computers again. basically i'm gonna need it in the end so i might as well get it and get used to it now, also means i don't buy a bunch of piggyback gadgets only to throw them out later. it costs twice as much in the short term but i'll save money long term.

long term i still want to build a dual beams engine with a GT30... i'll need the motec to run it properly.

You would end up waisting time and money now setting up and tuning the motec. Besides, unless you are building a race car the Motec is over kill.

There are better plug-n-play options for an eMS for the MR2 that require very little set up.

As for the exhaust manifold .. they suck. They all end up cracking and are more of a pain than they are worth. You will see very little gains for increased headaches.

yeah i know the motec seems like overkill... but i need boost and VVTL-i control and none of the plug and play options do that.

i'm getting a harness made to adapt the motec to the factory loom and use the factory sensors. it's supplied with a base map. so it's pretty plug and play, but yes to get the most it'll then need tuning. right now it looks like the only thing i won't use out of the factory set up is the air flow meter. I COULD use it... but i might as well go to MAP/MAT...

ok spearco intercooler just turned up at work. it's pretty.....

i'm delaying the motec cause i think i'll do my clutch and synchro's while the engine and tranny are out.

i'm going to have to take a bunch of pictures...

alright things now stand at.

New Synchros
new transmission oil pump impeller
new seals and gaskets through whole engine and gearbox.
toyota (TRD) metal head gasket
ARP main bolts
ARP head studs
ARP rod bolts
ARP flywheel bolts
Custom 5 puck solid hub clutch and uprated pressure plate
new head (old went soft) and valve grind
JE 0.020" over pistons (heat coated ceramic on top moly on skirts)
total seal rings (though i suspect i've actually got the JE pro-seal rings)
Spearco intercooler kit
new plugs and toyota leads.
twosrus brass shifter bushings
twosrus cam cover bolt kit
twosrus foglight bolt kit
twosrus engine lid gas prop
Kirkasaurus engine mount inserts
cam cover coated (satin black)
momo race 350mm steering wheel

trying to decide if i want to fit the 3" downpipe i've got or just gut the cat
got a ss manifold but not going to use it.

That, and SS autochrome doesnt have the best reputation for creating spectacular welds..

lol yeah i didn't get it from ss... it's just made of ss (stainless steel) but i think the welds are probably the same standard... i'm not impressed. sending the dp and manifold back and will just leave it gutted till turbo upgrade... or MIGHT get an Aussie unit some time

It doesn't matter who makes it or who welds it,
given enough use, every tubular manifold will eventually crack - some just faster than others ;)

yeah but if the weld starts as incomplete or basically with cracks and if the heat effected zone is poorly managed and highly stressed these cracks will occur sooner. the tubes in mine didn't even line up at the joins.

Okay, why would you want to buy a manifold and/or downpipe that will crack months after you buy it? How does that make sense?

It doesnt.

The only reason I could see buying one is if you have a dedicated race car and are willing and expecting to add fixinf the manifold into "regular maintenance."

well... i got them for my CT26 which won't be around that much longer... i wanted about 12 months out of them and the manufacturer was silly enough to give a life warranty.

i want to use a completely different turbo and that means replacing those parts, i won't be using stainless at that point i'll just get a steel one as it can handle fatigue.