Started 2014 like this. Spun a rod bearing on Halloween 2013.
Tore the engine down, and rebuilt it. Wiseco pistons, 3rd gen 3SGTE cams, new intercooler with one piece piping, brand new OEM seals all around, new OEM ancillaries, new OEM hoses and lines, Cometic MLS HG, machined block and head by Alec's, JDM crankshaft, and some other little stuff I'm probably forgetting.
During the rebuild, scored some brand new Work Meister S1Rs from swfk.
Got it all up and running, then proceeded to fail aircare LOL. Slapped 3 months insurance on it, drove it for 1000 km, then road tripped to Long Beach for ToyotaFest. Smart.
On the way there, snapped a timing belt 100 miles north of Sacramento. Our convoy took refuge in a sketchy motel alongside I5, and swapped in an AutoZone belt the next morning. Took 5 hours total. Proceeded to bomb it down to Long Beach after we were done.
At the event.
There were over 40 MR2s there, so of course I didn't win anything with my otherwise stock car. Still, was a blast.
On the way back, the convoy hit a dead coyote on the road. In my defense, it's hard to avoid roadkill when going 140 kmh. It caused this.
Cracked my front lip. I stitched it up when I got home, and then snapped another timing belt. Just cuz I was missing a washer. Great. Replaced and fixed that, and around there I hit a pothole and blew out a rear tire.
So I slapped my old Meister S1s on the rear.
I then spraybombed them. Kill me.
Then, deleted EGR.
Finally installed a boost gauge.
Bought some tires, and mounted my S1Rs on the rear and relocated the S1s to the front. Fenders rolled by Serial Nine.
Replaced the alternator, got a new front lip, and 5 mm spacers for the rear.
Had another road trip, this time to Portland for a dyno day at KO Racing, an MR2 specialist shop. I didn't dyno my car, since it was literally the same as when I did it at RG (165 whp, 159 wtq). I just did it for the trip, and to hang out with other MR2 guys.
On the way there, some dolt backed into my car. Pain in the ass, total idiot.
Had a friend wrap the roof. It's off colour, but idgaf, lol.
Some Auto X stuff.
Got some engine bay bling. 3" intake pipe with a new filter.
And then right before I stuck her in storage, I handed her off to FastTrack to fix the side where the dude hit me.
Got the car back a couple weeks later, and threw her into storage. So end 2014
Woulda liked to have snuck in coilovers somewhere, but the lack of money said otherwise. Hopefully I'll get those over winter; finances are tight right now. If not, I'll get little stuff like more engine bay bling, maybe some suspension stuff, and get the coils during 2015 driving season.