MR2 Track car

[kaveney]

I have this on the readers cars but though I would copy it here as well .

Regards

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[T0MMY]

Looks good mate, be very interested to see how it goes with the 2ZZ swap. I always liked the idea of these as a cheap track car; the only real alternative to an MX5 for that budget really. How much is the swap costing or do they not want you sharing that info?

[kaveney]

All I will say is its not cheep but then no corners are being cut and it is being done properly .

I have spent way to much on the car already and my cheep track toy has become a more expensive track toy

T0MMY said:

Looks good mate, be very interested to see how it goes with the 2ZZ swap. I always liked the idea of these as a cheap track car; the only real alternative to an MX5 for that budget really. How much is the swap costing or do they not want you sharing that info?

[T0MMY]

Be interesting to see how much converted cars cost second hand although it's a bit of an unknown quantity then.

[Angpozzuto]

I don't think it's a silly priced conversion, a corolla t sport can be picked up for around £1k then if I remember correctly it needs 1 new engine mount and a new exhaust manifold, I can't see it being much more than a £2k swap if you're doing the work yourself

[kaveney]

So after packing the track car up in October last year I got round to doing a few bits and checking the car over ready to get her back on track soon .


First was to change the spark plugs that to be fair were nearly new from the engine swap but as I have them I change them anyway .




Then as the old MAF sensor was used from the old 1ZZ engine I thought I would get a new fresh one to go along with the new O2 sensors .




Next up was the E-PSF that I did a quick flush and top up .






Then was on to change the gear know for a smaller nylon unit .




Old and new





Installed






Then was to put in some fuel system cleaner BG44K as I have used this before and rate this stuff .



Last of all was to fit the Lotus spark plug cover .



As the 2ZZ was never used in the MR2 when the conversion is done the coil packs and spark plugs don’t have a cover and water and get in so this will be a good little cover and looks nice too .









Then a quick wash to finish off .



I still need to change the oil and adjust the hand brake but she seem all good to go so all I need to do know is book some track days and enjoy as this will be the first time the car will be back on the track with the new engine and suspension set up .

[Bright Halo]

I reckon that will be excellent on track.
Nice looking conversion.

[kaveney]

Another small update in getting the car ready for this year’s track season .

I thought it would be a good plan to have a TPMS so I can check pressures and temps but wanted something small that would not get in the way so I have located it at the top of the window .









Next up will be an engine flush new oil and filter fresh brake fluid then book some track days .

Regards

[kaveney]

At the weekend I got a few more things done before getting the car back on track .

First was an engine flush and then an oil and filter change .



I will run this for testing the car and then look to change this out for some 05W-50 oil for the first track day as I want some more protection and the 50 grade oil will help with this .

Then as I still had some DEI gold heat tape left over I thought I would wrap the metal induction pipe to help keep the intake temps as low as possible .





Looking to book Castle Combe on the 29/03/19 or Bedford for the 30/03/19 for the first track day of this year and then go from there .

Looking forward to seeing how the car is now on track with the 2ZZ engine swap , C60 gear box swap and the Geo settings set up done as the stock car was good fun last year .

[Babw]

You'll have fun in that at Combe, mine was great fun with the 2ZZ.

Unfortunately it decided to blow the bottom end at Anglesey so make sure you keep an eye on oil pressure and temperature. I'm in two minds whether to part it out or get a new engine in there...

[kaveney]

Will do and im going to run 10w 50 oil to give it some extra protection .

Babw said:

You'll have fun in that at Combe, mine was great fun with the 2ZZ.

Unfortunately it decided to blow the bottom end at Anglesey so make sure you keep an eye on oil pressure and temperature. I'm in two minds whether to part it out or get a new engine in there...

[Babw]

Have you had the billet oil pump gears fitted?

[kaveney]

Yes oil pump gears and EP baffled sump that holds an extra 1 litre are all fitted .

Babw said:

Have you had the billet oil pump gears fitted?

[kaveney]

So another weekend done and got some more bits done to the car in the form of a brake change .


First was the rear and to change the old discs for some Mtec C hook discs .





Then some new Yellow stuff rear pads .








And all fitted .











Then on to the front with the new discs .





At the front I will be running the stronger Blue stuff pads








Fitted











Then to finish off some fresh Motul RBF 660




This little lot should give a bit of an upgrade from the set up last year as I was running stock discs and yellow stuff pads front and rear and this was a great set up as the stock brakes on the MR2 roadster are one part that does not need upgrading that much as they are such strong stoppers and then add this to - 90 Kg removed from the car and the new little upgrade should do nicely on track .

[kaveney]

Time for another update .

I have been after a hard top for the MR2 for a bit now but wanted to do the other bits first .


First up the cost of the hard top is not cheep and they come in at around £ 500 and then another £ 200 for the fitting kit and £ 20.00 for the de mist cable so it is a £ 700 + item .


The hard top will give the car some extra structural rigidity , a weight reduction of around 10Kg from the soft top and a touch more safety ( at the end of the year the car is going in for a MSA 6 point full roll cage ) and also looks nicer I think .


One came up for sale not that far from me in a colour I was after so I picked it up last weekend .





Then yesterday I started to prep the hard top to remove some weight from it so removed the headlining plastic housings and other bits .








Then a quick spray of satin black to tidy it up a bit .





Then it was on to remove the soft top .














If you are keeping the stock seat belts you need to do a bit of cutting to keep the seat belt mounting points and cross bar .


I also jut some of the soft top fixing mounts from the cross brace and gave it a quick spray again to tidy it up a bit after the cutting .








Then to install and bolt down the hard top super tight .








And installed













And as I had some time left I gave the brake calipers a quick tidy up and paint .

[kaveney]

As I had a day off yesterday I got round to yet another upgrade in the form of wheels and tyres .


I have planed to run two sets of wheels this year one dry set and one wet / road driving set and was looking at used Toyota wheels in the face lift staggered format 15 front 16 rear .


After not getting much luck finding a used set of Toyota Mr2 face lift wheels I was looking at pre face lift wheels that are 15 front and 15 rear but the max rear tyre size you can run in the compound I want is 205/45/15 not the 225/45/16 im running at the moment .


The other more expensive option was to get some new wheels so I started looking in to this and as the car is all about low weight the OZ Ultraleggera were looking good .


As the stock Mr2 wheels are light anyway you are never going to save loads of weight but every little helps .


I went for the OZ Ultraleggera in matt black and for 15 inch all round with a 7 inch width so I can still run the 195/50/15 front 225/45/15 rear tyres .


New 15 inch OZ Ultraleggera














And the tyres are Nankang AR-1 in 195/50/15 front and 225/45/15 rear

















And light weight alloy wheel nuts





Old and new nut





Then to see what the difference is in weight


Old Toyota nut





Light weight nut





Front 15 inch Mr2 FL wheel





Front 15 inch OZ Ultraleggera





Rear 16 inch Mr2 FL wheel





Rear 15 inch OZ Ultraleggera





Adding the numbers this should reduce the un sprung weight by 11 Kg and I can still keep the tyre size I want on the second set of wheels .


Then fitting them to the car .

[kaveney]

Another small update .


With running a 15 inch on the rear and a 16 inch for a wet set up I have adjusted the rear coilovers to cope with the two wheels sets .


Dry set up at the rear with the 15 inch wheel





Wet set up / road driving at the rear with the 16 inch wheel





The fronts are set to there max but as there is so little weight in the front this is them at max that is spot on for me I think .





And how the car is sitting on the dry set up now .





Also gave the rear a quick tidy up and spray in Toyota Red .


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