Keeping the MR2, suggestions on mods.

Keeping the MR2, suggestions on mods.

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Discussion

Steve_Evil

Original Poster:

10,662 posts

230 months

Wednesday 6th April 2005
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Decided to keep my MR2 after all, having got a very good quote from Elephant. It's running around 300bhp at the moment (will take it in at some point to make sure it is still healthy) Just had it serviced and new brake discs and pads put on the back.

The 16 alloys that were with the car when I bought it are pretty tatty so i'm gonna get some new ones, probably 17's this time, although i might stick with 16's, recommendations on the best tyres? I have Pirelli P7000's on them at the moment and am not very impressed with them.

Decided to go for a set of hi-spec brakes for the front, they do a 4 pot conversion with the 285mm/24mm coming in at about £650 and the 300mm/28mm kit around the £875 mark, I'm pretty sure that the smaller kit will be fine and will improve the braking on the car no end and don't really want to stump up for the bigger set unless they are really necessary.

It's a Rev 1 car and i'm tempted by a HKS SSQV BOV, but don't really want the hassle of the issues with rev 1 & 2 cars with vent to atmosphere blow off valves and overfuelling.

Wouldn't mind a set of racing seats with harnesses either, but I might just wait a while for those. Any opinions would be most welcome, especially on the brakes.

Steve_Evil

Original Poster:

10,662 posts

230 months

Thursday 7th April 2005
quotequote all
As far as engine spec goes (not 100% sure if this is all of it as most of the work was done before I bought it) Has an Apexi AVC-R and S-AFC with a new management chip (fairly certain on this but I will check), Intercooler, Apexi Filter, Garage Fukubi SPL Departure 2 exhaust, HKS hoses and plugs, Greddy Plugs. I don't really intend taking the engine power faster than it already is as in that respect the car is far more capable than I am, I do intend getting it set up on another rolling road just to check the power (it was last done 2 years ago before I bought it and was measured at 302.9bhp) and make sure it is still all ok.

As far as the brakes I am leaning towards the smaller ones purely from a cost standpoint.

Think I am going to stick with 16's for the wheels too.

>> Edited by Steve_Evil on Thursday 7th April 08:35

tuttle

3,427 posts

238 months

Thursday 7th April 2005
quotequote all
£800.00 for a big brake conversion sounds very reasonable.
Apexi S-AFC,gen1 or gen2? Gen 2 are better.Had a gen1 in the r33-its quite a crude device & made my car overfuel like crazy(good for spitting flames tho )A tuner ripped it out at 1st look-car ran a lot better.

If it were my MR2,with the mods you already have,1st thing I'd put in would be an EBC & new boost gauge.Greddy profec 'B' dual solenoid is good for the money.

>> Edited by tuttle on Thursday 7th April 09:47

Steve_Evil

Original Poster:

10,662 posts

230 months

Thursday 7th April 2005
quotequote all
Not sure what version S-AFC it is, was fitted 2 years ago, think it is the earlier version. As for the brakes, found out the difference in price is down to the 300mm set having a seperate mounting bell and rotor, whereas the 285mm set is just a solid disc, got word from the guys selling it that I won't notice much difference between the two sets anyway, so I will probably go for the smaller ones.

tuttle

3,427 posts

238 months

Thursday 7th April 2005
quotequote all
A gen 1 earlier today...!
The gen 2 is silver,has a lot more useful functions & a funky blue screen

Steve_Evil

Original Poster:

10,662 posts

230 months

Thursday 7th April 2005
quotequote all
Its definitely a Gen 2 then, that looks like an extra from Buck Rogers... Mine are mounted together on the dash in front of the passenger and usually elicit the 'what are those?' response.

edit: almost 100% certain that it has an Apexi Power FC engine management chip in it, won't know for sure until I get the car back next week, have seen that Thor Racing in Coventry specialise in this unit so i'll probably end up taking it to them as they're not far from me.

>> Edited by Steve_Evil on Thursday 7th April 17:38

Dakkon

7,826 posts

254 months

Friday 8th April 2005
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If you can afford it, go for a hybrid turbo, its what I did with mine, really allowed me to turn up the boost safely

Steve_Evil

Original Poster:

10,662 posts

230 months

Friday 8th April 2005
quotequote all
Looking around at alloys though, sticking with 16's really limits my choice, unless anyone knows of any good websites who know their stuff, i have been looking at rochford tyres website which seems excellent, but they only have 5 wheels available to fit the car in 16" size as opposed to 50 in 17".

Steve_Evil

Original Poster:

10,662 posts

230 months

Friday 8th April 2005
quotequote all
I'd call it the Max Power effect myself, have found these:



and they're going for about £380 for a set of four, or £555 with a set of tyres, although I'd probably spend a bit more and get a good set of tyres instead.

tuttle

3,427 posts

238 months

Friday 8th April 2005
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Thor racing are very good,imo.They shall be re-mapping the '33 on their hub dyno,when I've finished putting some new bits in.

MrFlibbles

7,692 posts

284 months

Friday 8th April 2005
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Gazboy said:

Steve_Evil said:
Looking around at alloys though, sticking with 16's really limits my choice, unless anyone knows of any good websites who know their stuff, i have been looking at rochford tyres website which seems excellent, but they only have 5 wheels available to fit the car in 16" size as opposed to 50 in 17".



Ah yes, the Playstation generation's demand for the biggest diameters with the skiniest width has narrowed the choices of the proper enthusiast.

Try Wheelmania,


Ever been to Wheelmania mate? I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

DanBoy

4,899 posts

244 months

Friday 8th April 2005
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Handling is fine on 17s. And they look miles better than 16s.

Just get the right tyres though.

Team Dynamics wheels are good and not too expensive.