The Martinsburg Special Options

[badman322]

So I figured I'd kick one of these off to get help, input, and dissenting opinions on current and future plans for my Celica. The pics I have posted as part of my profile depict how the car looked when I bought it except the sh***y seat covers that are covering up some nastiness. I will post some picks to show what I've done so far tomorrow. I want to start off with a pic of my "to do" list to give you all an idea of what direction this is going in so you all can give me ideas or point me in the direction of resources to get this done. Most of the work will be done by my mechanic, but I can do some of the simpler stuff myself. Thanks in advance for everything, I'm loving this site so far and there is so much info here, it's really gotten my brain racing on all the cool stuff I can do with The Martinsburg Special.

[block]

Nice lol!

[dakotahwyatt]

Sounds like a fun time to me

[SupraKid]

This was my life in high school chemistry...

[badman322]

Alright, so here are pics of some of the pics I said I'd throw up to show some of what I've done since I bought it. Also, if you look real close you can see where the passenger side low beam assembly mount snapped. Not sure when or how that happened.

I painted the intake pipe red cause everyone knows that it adds like 8 more hp if you paint it a cool color. The radiator house was red when I got it.


Sub & Amp


Here's one showing the ride height. Not very accurate as it's not on level ground.


New Distributor


Isn't there supposed to be some insulation under here?


Frog Lights


Not sure if it's the cowl or the hood that's out of whack here.


Happened to look over and thought a pic at this angle would look cool.


This post has been edited by badman322: Feb 4, 2012 - 10:07 AM

[Red123]

it adds like 8 more hp if you paint it a cool color.

Reminds me this picture.

[badman322]

Yay, almost everything to redo my brakes! All I'm waiting for now is the stainless steel hoses.


Calipers


Rotors, Pads, Hardware Kits, and Fluid

[SwissFerdi]

Please post an impression of the HPS pads, as they are my choice for whenever I do some upgrading.

[KAOS]

Thats quite the list man.

I've had my bucket list for almost 6 years now... lol - too many things have changed.

... did you paint your car, or buy it like that?

[badman322]

Swiss- I will let you know. I had originally wanted to go for EBC pads, but couldn't find rear pads to match the grade of the front pads I wanted so I went with Hawk instead.

KAOS- Hell no I did not paint it like that, it was like that when I bought it. Once I get it running the way I want it, then I will worry about correcting the affront to style that it currently is.

[KAOS]

KAOS- Hell no I did not paint it like that, it was like that when I bought it. Once I get it running the way I want it, then I will worry about correcting the affront to style that it currently is.

I figured as much - there's a guy I work with that had his car painted, but not thoroughly. So when he opens his doors and trunk you can still see the original color in the door jambs, etc.

When I saw your pictures it reminded me of his car, made me chuckle a lil bit - I won't lie. Just so you know, his new color is Silver... and the old color is RED, so you can only imagine how it clashes...

[czwalga]

Don't put harnesses in.....

[badman322]

Don't put harnesses in.....

Which harnesses are you referring to?

[czwalga]

On the seats. They are a pain in the ass. I have them in two of my cars... in which they are required for what I race. I'd never put them in a car that isn't actively raced. They are a huge pain in the ass, and no passenger likes them.

[badman322]

Brakes are switched out. Hooray for new hoses, rotors, calipers, and pads!

Front


Rear


Haven't done any hard braking yet, but they feel great. Definitely an improvement over OE.

This post has been edited by badman322: Mar 10, 2012 - 11:11 AM

[badman322]

I've got a new Megan Racing radiator on its way and have been looking for hoses. I'd prefer not to get just plain old OE hoses. The only "upgrade" hoses I can find say they are for the st/gt4 st205, Samco Hoses.

Will these fit my st204?

[badman322]

I've got a new Megan Racing radiator on its way and have been looking for hoses. I'd prefer not to get just plain old OE hoses. The only "upgrade" hoses I can find say they are for the st/gt4 st205, Samco Hoses.

Will these fit my st204?

Forget that question, because here's what happened when I went to install the Megan Racing radiator:

Fan 1


Fan 2


Both Fans not fitting


Oh look, got the fans modded up to fit, but guess what else doesn't line up...


On either side!!!!

[badman322]

Alright!! Short shifter installed!! Tow truck on the way to take it to shop. Engine ordered and should be here by Friday!!! Still looking for new radiator to replace stupid wrong Megan one. Thinking Mishimoto.

[badman322]

It's here!!!!!!!!

[KAOS]

It's here!!!!!!!!

Is that out of an ST215? Or a MR2?

[kurt95gt]

Guessing s215 since its coil on plug
Dont think the mr2 3s has cop

[badman322]

Guessing s215 since its coil on plug
Dont think the mr2 3s has cop

You would be correct sir.

[turnip]

Looks to be out of a Caldina ST215. With that said, whose gonna do the wiring?

[badman322]

Looks to be out of a Caldina ST215. With that said, whose gonna do the wiring?

The same shop that's putting it in. It came with the wiring harness and ECU, so it shouldn't be to terrible. Hard part right now is finding a valve cover gasket.

[badman322]

Finally time for an update!! Wiring harnes has been made thanks to MR220v of the MR2 boards and the special is currently up on a lift at the exhaust shop. Boost gauge, fuel pump, and a couple odds and ends still need to be installed. Hopefully no more hiccups and I'll be up and running within a week or so. Got a dual outlet cherry bomb turbo muffler they're putting on, walbro fuel pump to go in, and intercooler piping for the CX Racing FMIC. 3" pipes from cat-back and 3"FMIC, all sorts of good stuff.

[badman322]

UPDATE!!!


So, turns out my mechanic has been stringing me along for quite a while now, either not doing things he said he was or doing them wrong. Car is back in my possession now. The mechanic kept claiming the wiring harness was bad, but he just didn't know what he was doing. Now thanks to a lot of help and guidance from mr220v it is nearly running now. Not only did he do a great job on the harness, but his knowledge and willingness to help out beyond just making it has been amazing. Still a lot of work to do to get it on the road, but it's a lot closer now than it would be if it were still sitting in the shop. Will post some pics/vids once I get it fully up and running.

[Special_Edy]

UPDATE!!!


So, turns out my mechanic has been stringing me along for quite a while now, either not doing things he said he was or doing them wrong. Car is back in my possession now. The mechanic kept claiming the wiring harness was bad, but he just didn't know what he was doing. Now thanks to a lot of help and guidance from mr220v it is nearly running now. Not only did he do a great job on the harness, but his knowledge and willingness to help out beyond just making it has been amazing. Still a lot of work to do to get it on the road, but it's a lot closer now than it would be if it were still sitting in the shop. Will post some pics/vids once I get it fully up and running.

Dont forget that were here to help you out if your having any issues. If you get 50 replies to a problem one of them is bound to be right!

[badman322]

So I've been working on getting the special back in shape after it's horribly long and useless stay at the mechaninc's shop. Since I'm waiting for a new EFI relay and some money to buy the stuff for the belt and everything else I decided to put the hood latches in. So guess who forgot to take into account the effect the curvature of the hood would have on the alignment of the pins with the catches!!

THIS GUY.




Not a huge deal, just have to move the pins over a bit, but still very frustrating having spent all morning working on it trying to finish.