1999 TOYOTA MR2

I bought the best condition MR2 I could find and paid a premium price for it. But a few years back when I took my daughter (down to Monaco!!) in it for a 10 day tour, I thought it was too slow compared to modern cars. So began my 2GR transplant journey. Since the 2GR install, the Sonic has given silky smooth effortless power, a correctly weighted and feeling transmission, better handling, better fuel consumption and sounds amazing without being obnoxious (you can take the cat out if you want it to be louder with even more power).

ENGINE

V6 2GR 3.5ltr taken from a 2009 Toyota Alphard Vellfire. With the below set up - the standard recommended by all the US 2GR tuning gurus (FMW, TCS, Wilhelm, ATS and Woodsport in the UK), it should pull around 290/300HP, but I've not put it on a rolling road to find out exactly what it gives - simply put, it is a lot, and more importantly to me, silky smooth effortless power on the road.

FMW engine mounts left, right and rear to suit E series transmission. Front mount poly bushed.(FMW = Frankenstein Motor Works)

FMW cast headers

FMW 3.5" inlet pipe

FMW modified ECU

Wilhelm Raceworks MAF intake elbow with resonator

OEM 2009 Lexus 350 throttle body

OEM MAF sensor, Toyota 22204-28010 (AKA 22204-0V010)

K&N 6" filter (also have an ITG 12" filter, which works just as well)

New knock sensors (have the OEM originals, there was nothing wrong with them)

TCS Motorsports stainless steel big single muffler twin exhaust (looks as beautiful as it sounds, but I couldn't justify the twin smaller mufflers system as it would have been too loud for me on long journeys)

TCS modular Y pipe

TCS cat (installed) and cat bypass will come with it (pretty sure it still passes MOT with bypass pipe, but I've never tried to be fair)

TCS modified water neck

Woodsport 2GR DBW pedal and mounting

ATS Racing throttle adaptor (this is an easy plug in/out unit, so if you want ridiculous power at the first touch of the throttle, just take this out)

Woodsport engine loom wiring harness to match the FMW modified Rav4 ECU

Walbro 255/hr fuel pump

Wilhelm raceworks fuel regulator and hose set up with Bosch 3 bar set up.

Replacement coil packs (nothing wrong with the originals, I just wanted the assurance of new stuff)

OEM iridium spark plugs (Denso FK20HR11)

All injectors were sent away to ASNU for refurbishment and spray alignment.

Uprated OEM alternator.

TRANSMISSION and DRIVE

FMW axle carrier (the OEM carriers were never correctly aligned in their castings!)

Flywheel and clutch cover from an SW20 turbo car

Woodsport Flywheel modifications

Exedy performance clutch

Tracmotive axles

Woodsport rev counter kit

E355 transmission from a 2001 Toyota Avensis Verso (faster changes, can take the additional power, much better ratios to match the V6, lighter than the original S54). These are are better for fast road use and motorways than either the original S54 box or the E350 (which is more easily obtainable).

I've installed a Traction Concepts LSD into the E355. I also have a spare E355 which will come with the car, which I was going to buy a Quaife LSD to put in (but there has never been an issue with the existing E355/TC LSD, so I never bothered).

FMW rosejointed gearshift bushings

2003 Camry speedometer sensor

Ratios on the E355 multiplied by final drive are

First 14.120772, second 7.5337, third 4.910772, fourth 3.787152, fifth 2.8551

On an E350 they would have only been

First 14.98343, second 8.660575, third 5.645255, fourth 4.11642, fifth 3.282125

On the original S54 they would have been worst at

First 13.71816, second 8.18496, third 5.520672, fourth 4.292928, fifth 3.42432

COOLING

Twin core aluminium radiator

Twin electric fans (NOT flat fans, these are two OEM fans and their shrouds, much greater volume of air transfer at stand still)

FMW engine side silicon hoses

Radiator silicon feed pipes

Silicon bottom bushes

SUSPENSION, BRAKES, WHEELS

All new OEM spec springs (2 years/3000 miles ago)

All new OEM spec shock inserts (2 years/3000 miles ago)

I have a new poly bush set to go in, but never got round to installing them

Brakes are stock OEM rev 5, fully capable of managing the car (the 2GR+E355 engine transmission set up is LIGHTER than the original 2.0+S54 set up) and have been meticulously maintained

I sold the Rev 5 wheels, as they were never my cup of tea, they are replaced by OEM Rev 3 wheels powder coated in black.

The tyres are Toyo Proxies all round in good condition.

BODYWORK and INTERIOR

I have the original Rev 5 spoiler, it is immaculate and painted in silver, all bubble wrapped which will come with the car. I always preferred the Rev 2/3/4 spoilers, hence why it currently has one of those mounted, in black, BUT close up the black spoiler needs to come off and be painted, as it is marked on the rear lip.

The lower front lip has a very small crack on it, I'd have to point it out for you to see it. I was always minded that one day I would actually put a big crack on it and get it repaired then, but I never seem to have damaged it!

At enormous expense (and 2 days of my life I'll never get back), I changed the roof seals for new OEM items. Well worth it as they now seal properly and probably will for the next 20+ years.

I installed a Pumpkin head unit, which is connected up to give radio, TV, DAB, USB, Sat Nav, rear view camera.

There is an under seat bass unit and all the midrange and tweeters were changed before I bought the car.

I replaced the electric aerial, so it works fine.

I bought a Momo wheel and adapter, but was never brave enough to drive without the airbag, so you are welcome to have the adaptor, I'll keep the Momo.

As you can see from the pictures, I wanted to keep the car looking very much as Toyota designed it. It is always clean, always garaged and always serviced properly.

As you can see from the history folder, the receipts for the build and servicing over the last 4 years were £20.8K, almost all in parts alone. The original purchase was £11K. All in, it has cost me £31.8K, plus and hundreds of hours of build time to create a really fast, reliable and now low maintenance MR2, so I think I'm offering it at a great price to its next owner. We all know the prices of well sorted cars are only going up, so once you've bought it, look after it, you will never regret this one.