MR2 Roadster track car build
Discussion
A few weeks ago I picked up my new track day car that I will be keeping a build log on .
It’s a MK3 MR2 facelift 2003 that had the 6 speed gear box .
The car is in great condition with no to very little rust under the car and divers very well indeed .
I was looking at an MX5 but the problems with rust have just put me off and I like the MR2 better ( I did run a MR2 REV 3 Turbo )
The plan is to build it up ready for next year where we will be going to the Ring again but will look to take in some UK track days as well .
Plans are Suspension coilovers , ARB , tyres , brakes , exhaust , induction , bracing and any other things along with some weight reduction .
The T sport 190 BHP engine swap is said to be easy so I might look in to that later .
The car is 975 KG in stock form so I plan to get this down to around 930 KG
The car is now sat in the garage and will be until the new year but first thing done is a Mat performance chassis brace .
WP_20170826_15_09_30_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr
WP_20170828_19_26_42_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr
WP_20170828_19_27_13_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr
WP_20170828_19_29_36_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr
V__DA93[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr
It’s a MK3 MR2 facelift 2003 that had the 6 speed gear box .
The car is in great condition with no to very little rust under the car and divers very well indeed .
I was looking at an MX5 but the problems with rust have just put me off and I like the MR2 better ( I did run a MR2 REV 3 Turbo )
The plan is to build it up ready for next year where we will be going to the Ring again but will look to take in some UK track days as well .
Plans are Suspension coilovers , ARB , tyres , brakes , exhaust , induction , bracing and any other things along with some weight reduction .
The T sport 190 BHP engine swap is said to be easy so I might look in to that later .
The car is 975 KG in stock form so I plan to get this down to around 930 KG
The car is now sat in the garage and will be until the new year but first thing done is a Mat performance chassis brace .
WP_20170826_15_09_30_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on FlickrWP_20170828_19_26_42_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on FlickrWP_20170828_19_27_13_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on FlickrWP_20170828_19_29_36_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on FlickrV__DA93[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickrsubscribed!!! it'll be nice to see another red mk3 on track 
I picked mine up 3 months back (after also previously owning a tubby) and i've done 2 days at thruxton with it pretty much stock! like you said, any mx5 around the same price are rustbuckets, on paper these mk3's look like and under-rated track whip.
mines pre '02 so I've already replaced the pre-cats with the aftermarket manifold from ebay (it's the same one everyone else sells), thinking behind it was that no point chipping out the crud from the pre-cats that ruin the pistons and then the engine as it would just give more volume for the gas (you wont need to do this, the facelift revision had this ironed out) I then replaced disks for like and uprated pads to yellow stuff, the brakes are REALLY good.
Apart from that I dont think i'll touch it as I was looking to prep it for sprints but regs dictate rollover protection and getting good half cages for these things is annoyingly hard. The steering is very vague even on the limit (i've been told a smaller racing wheel will solve this, disabling powersteering is not a thing here.) and amongst everything else track attack club sell race prepped ones for £3k.
Good luck with your build, The 1zz is a hoot to drive on circuit, these things can house K-20a's if you want to surpass the power from the Celica lump.
I picked mine up 3 months back (after also previously owning a tubby) and i've done 2 days at thruxton with it pretty much stock! like you said, any mx5 around the same price are rustbuckets, on paper these mk3's look like and under-rated track whip.
mines pre '02 so I've already replaced the pre-cats with the aftermarket manifold from ebay (it's the same one everyone else sells), thinking behind it was that no point chipping out the crud from the pre-cats that ruin the pistons and then the engine as it would just give more volume for the gas (you wont need to do this, the facelift revision had this ironed out) I then replaced disks for like and uprated pads to yellow stuff, the brakes are REALLY good.
Apart from that I dont think i'll touch it as I was looking to prep it for sprints but regs dictate rollover protection and getting good half cages for these things is annoyingly hard. The steering is very vague even on the limit (i've been told a smaller racing wheel will solve this, disabling powersteering is not a thing here.) and amongst everything else track attack club sell race prepped ones for £3k.
Good luck with your build, The 1zz is a hoot to drive on circuit, these things can house K-20a's if you want to surpass the power from the Celica lump.
I plan on changing a fair few things on the car so watch this space but like you have said they are very good out of the box .
Alan
Alan
ribiero said:
subscribed!!! it'll be nice to see another red mk3 on track
I picked mine up 3 months back (after also previously owning a tubby) and i've done 2 days at thruxton with it pretty much stock! like you said, any mx5 around the same price are rustbuckets, on paper these mk3's look like and under-rated track whip.
mines pre '02 so I've already replaced the pre-cats with the aftermarket manifold from ebay (it's the same one everyone else sells), thinking behind it was that no point chipping out the crud from the pre-cats that ruin the pistons and then the engine as it would just give more volume for the gas (you wont need to do this, the facelift revision had this ironed out) I then replaced disks for like and uprated pads to yellow stuff, the brakes are REALLY good.
Apart from that I dont think i'll touch it as I was looking to prep it for sprints but regs dictate rollover protection and getting good half cages for these things is annoyingly hard. The steering is very vague even on the limit (i've been told a smaller racing wheel will solve this, disabling powersteering is not a thing here.) and amongst everything else track attack club sell race prepped ones for £3k.
Good luck with your build, The 1zz is a hoot to drive on circuit, these things can house K-20a's if you want to surpass the power from the Celica lump.
I picked mine up 3 months back (after also previously owning a tubby) and i've done 2 days at thruxton with it pretty much stock! like you said, any mx5 around the same price are rustbuckets, on paper these mk3's look like and under-rated track whip.
mines pre '02 so I've already replaced the pre-cats with the aftermarket manifold from ebay (it's the same one everyone else sells), thinking behind it was that no point chipping out the crud from the pre-cats that ruin the pistons and then the engine as it would just give more volume for the gas (you wont need to do this, the facelift revision had this ironed out) I then replaced disks for like and uprated pads to yellow stuff, the brakes are REALLY good.
Apart from that I dont think i'll touch it as I was looking to prep it for sprints but regs dictate rollover protection and getting good half cages for these things is annoyingly hard. The steering is very vague even on the limit (i've been told a smaller racing wheel will solve this, disabling powersteering is not a thing here.) and amongst everything else track attack club sell race prepped ones for £3k.
Good luck with your build, The 1zz is a hoot to drive on circuit, these things can house K-20a's if you want to surpass the power from the Celica lump.
Nice.
I had one of the first roadsters in the country. Ordered on launch day and I recall it was the 10th customer car off the boat.
First gen were excellent, but they did soften them for the next gen as it was felt they were a bit too sharp for the general public.
Only one of two cars I've had that could be properly steered on the throttle ( by which I don't mean tail out sliding, but trimming the line in a bend by small adjustments to the throttle position). The other was a mk1 mr2 !
Really strong too, the safety cell can take a lot of abuse with no intrusion, but they don't fly too well
I had one of the first roadsters in the country. Ordered on launch day and I recall it was the 10th customer car off the boat.
First gen were excellent, but they did soften them for the next gen as it was felt they were a bit too sharp for the general public.
Only one of two cars I've had that could be properly steered on the throttle ( by which I don't mean tail out sliding, but trimming the line in a bend by small adjustments to the throttle position). The other was a mk1 mr2 !
Really strong too, the safety cell can take a lot of abuse with no intrusion, but they don't fly too well
kaveney said:
Was it a black one that was for sale last month around the £ 7000 mark ?
The matt brace came with the car .
Are they hard to get hold of then ?
Alan
It was indeed, already fixed a few foibles, and had it on Anglesey and found a few more issues.The matt brace came with the car .
Are they hard to get hold of then ?
Alan
Seb Gwizdek said:
Good choice!
I just picked up a MK3 a month ago, albeit powered by honda K20.
How did you get hold of matt for the brace?
I just picked up a MK3 a month ago, albeit powered by honda K20.
How did you get hold of matt for the brace?
I don't have Facebook and see no other way of contacting the chap!
Watching with interest – I bought an 03 FL one two weeks ago and have the exact same plans as you. Haven't found a decent underbrace source yet, thinking of maybe an Ultra Racing one. Sticking some AD08Rs on at the weekend and am currently doing the lambda sensor replacement dance!
What coilovers do you think you'll go for?
What coilovers do you think you'll go for?
TimmyWimmyWoo said:
Watching with interest – I bought an 03 FL one two weeks ago and have the exact same plans as you. Haven't found a decent underbrace source yet, thinking of maybe an Ultra Racing one. Sticking some AD08Rs on at the weekend and am currently doing the lambda sensor replacement dance!
What coilovers do you think you'll go for?
I was tempted by these : https://www.meisterr.co.uk/products/zetacrd-plus/ there's an imoc discount too which a mates used. What coilovers do you think you'll go for?
I was looking at the BC ones as they seem to get good reviews .
Alan
Alan
TimmyWimmyWoo said:
Watching with interest – I bought an 03 FL one two weeks ago and have the exact same plans as you. Haven't found a decent underbrace source yet, thinking of maybe an Ultra Racing one. Sticking some AD08Rs on at the weekend and am currently doing the lambda sensor replacement dance!
What coilovers do you think you'll go for?
What coilovers do you think you'll go for?
I had them on my old 350Z and they were good and not that harsh .
Looking at them or the BC ones .
Alan
Looking at them or the BC ones .
Alan
ribiero said:
I was tempted by these : https://www.meisterr.co.uk/products/zetacrd-plus/ there's an imoc discount too which a mates used.
Just a small outlook plan of what will be going on the car in the coming months .
ENGINE
PPE INDUCTION KIT
NGK SPARK PLUGS
DOWN PIPE 100 CELL SPORTS CAT
BG 44K
FORTE ENGINE FLUSH
4-2-1 MANIFOLD
O2 SENSOR SPACER X 3
O2 SENSOR PRE CAT X 2
O2 SENSOR POST CAT
EPSF POWER STEERING FLUID
COBRA EXHAUST SYSTEM
GEARBOX
GEARBOX OIL
BRASS SOLID SHIFT BUSH
SOLID SHIFTER BASE BUSH
CC LIGHTWEIGHT FLY WHEEL 4.5 KG
CLUTCH KIT
QUICK SHIFTER
COOLING
MISHMOTO 3 CORE RADIATOR
MOTUL COOL
SUSPENSION
BC RACING BR ADJ COILOVERS
WHITELINE FARB
WHITELINE RARB
ULTRA RACING REAR ENGINE X BRACE
ULTRA RACING FRONT STRUT BRACE
FRONT FROP LINK
REAR ADJ HD DROP LINKS
NANKANG NS-2R TRACK TYRES
MATT PERFORMANCE CHASSIS BRACE
BRAKES
GOODRIDGE BRAKE LINES
MOTUL RBF 600 RACE BRAKE FLUID
CL RC6+ FRONT BRAKE PADS
CL RC5+ REAR BRAKE PADS
WEIGHT REDUCTION
SPEAR WHEEL 12KG
SPAR WHEEL BIN AND LID 5KG
TOOL KIT 3KG
REAR STORAGE BINS 6KG
FLOOR MATS 2KG
WIND DEFLECTOR 1KG
EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD 1KG
EXHAUST SPLASH BOTTOM SHIELD 1KG
FOG LIGHTS 1KG
OLD EXHAUST MANIFOLD WITH PRE CATS 3KG
MANIFOLD HEAT SHIELD 1KG
OLD STOCK CAT AND DOWN PIPE 4KG
OLD EXHAUST SYSTEM 4KG
REAR STORAGE SOUND COVER 2KG
AREIL 2KG
SOUND TAR 3KG
ECU PLATE 1KG
STUFFING FOOT WELL 1KG
TOTAL WEIGHT REMOVED 53KG
ENGINE
PPE INDUCTION KIT
NGK SPARK PLUGS
DOWN PIPE 100 CELL SPORTS CAT
BG 44K
FORTE ENGINE FLUSH
4-2-1 MANIFOLD
O2 SENSOR SPACER X 3
O2 SENSOR PRE CAT X 2
O2 SENSOR POST CAT
EPSF POWER STEERING FLUID
COBRA EXHAUST SYSTEM
GEARBOX
GEARBOX OIL
BRASS SOLID SHIFT BUSH
SOLID SHIFTER BASE BUSH
CC LIGHTWEIGHT FLY WHEEL 4.5 KG
CLUTCH KIT
QUICK SHIFTER
COOLING
MISHMOTO 3 CORE RADIATOR
MOTUL COOL
SUSPENSION
BC RACING BR ADJ COILOVERS
WHITELINE FARB
WHITELINE RARB
ULTRA RACING REAR ENGINE X BRACE
ULTRA RACING FRONT STRUT BRACE
FRONT FROP LINK
REAR ADJ HD DROP LINKS
NANKANG NS-2R TRACK TYRES
MATT PERFORMANCE CHASSIS BRACE
BRAKES
GOODRIDGE BRAKE LINES
MOTUL RBF 600 RACE BRAKE FLUID
CL RC6+ FRONT BRAKE PADS
CL RC5+ REAR BRAKE PADS
WEIGHT REDUCTION
SPEAR WHEEL 12KG
SPAR WHEEL BIN AND LID 5KG
TOOL KIT 3KG
REAR STORAGE BINS 6KG
FLOOR MATS 2KG
WIND DEFLECTOR 1KG
EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD 1KG
EXHAUST SPLASH BOTTOM SHIELD 1KG
FOG LIGHTS 1KG
OLD EXHAUST MANIFOLD WITH PRE CATS 3KG
MANIFOLD HEAT SHIELD 1KG
OLD STOCK CAT AND DOWN PIPE 4KG
OLD EXHAUST SYSTEM 4KG
REAR STORAGE SOUND COVER 2KG
AREIL 2KG
SOUND TAR 3KG
ECU PLATE 1KG
STUFFING FOOT WELL 1KG
TOTAL WEIGHT REMOVED 53KG
Yes I think im done now but there is all ways one more thing to add
ribiero said:
A mate with a tubby swapped his Teins to the miester-r's and loves them for track work. Else I was looking at BC because a lot of the racing mk3's use them I believe.
edit : fook, that's a list and a half!!
edit : fook, that's a list and a half!!
Edited by ribiero on Wednesday 13th September 10:12
At the weekend work has started on the MR2 .
Fist things done have been to strip the car of some weight so removed has been the below
Wind deflector
Front storage trunk
Front mats
Sound carpet
Pop up aerial
Fog lights
Mud guards
Storage bins and doors
Sound Tar stuff
Spear wheel
Tool kit
Jack
Exhaust Heat shield
Other plastic / metal bits and bobs
With this little lit removed I make it 35 Kg taken out of the car so with the stock weight at 975 Kg the car is now at around 940 Kg .
And a few photos of the work done .
WP_20170917_13_29_32_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr
WP_20170916_12_43_59_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr
WP_20170916_12_44_56_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr
WP_20170917_13_31_08_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr
Fist things done have been to strip the car of some weight so removed has been the below
Wind deflector
Front storage trunk
Front mats
Sound carpet
Pop up aerial
Fog lights
Mud guards
Storage bins and doors
Sound Tar stuff
Spear wheel
Tool kit
Jack
Exhaust Heat shield
Other plastic / metal bits and bobs
With this little lit removed I make it 35 Kg taken out of the car so with the stock weight at 975 Kg the car is now at around 940 Kg .
And a few photos of the work done .
WP_20170917_13_29_32_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on FlickrWP_20170916_12_43_59_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on FlickrWP_20170916_12_44_56_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on FlickrWP_20170917_13_31_08_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on FlickrDid you weigh the car to start with?
I thought the pre-facelift were about ~975kg, but the post-facelift were 1,050kg or something.. Don't know where the weight increase comes from.
Oh and might be an idea to relocate the battery to the frunk the get the weight distribution back (you maybe have already planned this!)
I thought the pre-facelift were about ~975kg, but the post-facelift were 1,050kg or something.. Don't know where the weight increase comes from.
Oh and might be an idea to relocate the battery to the frunk the get the weight distribution back (you maybe have already planned this!)
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