RE: Toyota MR2: Catch it While You Can

[underphil]

Escapegoat said:

underphil said:

did Toyota also do a supercharged version of the 1ZZ in the corolla?

No that was an SC bolted to a 2zz (with typically mild boost from Mr T).

I had a supercharged Mk1 MR2, and it changes the nature of the car - feels like a bigger engine, with more torque so there's less urgency for using the revs and gears as much.

That fella way oop North - Woodruff? - bolts the Toyota 3.5 litre V6 into these. That must be a pocket rocket.

so that supercharger on the 2ZZ added all of 27bhp !!

[RobM77]

underphil said:

Escapegoat said:

underphil said:

did Toyota also do a supercharged version of the 1ZZ in the corolla?

No that was an SC bolted to a 2zz (with typically mild boost from Mr T).

I had a supercharged Mk1 MR2, and it changes the nature of the car - feels like a bigger engine, with more torque so there's less urgency for using the revs and gears as much.

That fella way oop North - Woodruff? - bolts the Toyota 3.5 litre V6 into these. That must be a pocket rocket.

so that supercharger on the 2ZZ added all of 27bhp !!

The difference in torque and the nature of the engine is probably huge though. I say 'probably' because I've only ever driven n/a MR2s, but I have driven and owned n/a and s/c Lotuses, and with the Lotuses at least, the difference is utterly enormous.

[Escapegoat]

RobM77 said:

The difference in torque and the nature of the engine is probably huge though. I say 'probably' because I've only ever driven n/a MR2s, but I have driven and owned n/a and s/c Lotuses, and with the Lotuses at least, the difference is utterly enormous.

This. I'd go so far as to say that the NA Mk1 was a more fun drive than the SC Mk1. Slower in day-to-day traffic for sure, but more demanding/fun to wring on twisties on a Sunday morning.

A few guys changed the pulley on the SCed Mk1 for more boost (Mr Toyota was VERY conservative, probably to reduce warranty claims).

[SonicShadow]

Did they ever do a manual SC Mk1? I've only seen autos!

[RobM77]

Escapegoat said:

RobM77 said:

The difference in torque and the nature of the engine is probably huge though. I say 'probably' because I've only ever driven n/a MR2s, but I have driven and owned n/a and s/c Lotuses, and with the Lotuses at least, the difference is utterly enormous.

This. I'd go so far as to say that the NA Mk1 was a more fun drive than the SC Mk1. Slower in day-to-day traffic for sure, but more demanding/fun to wring on twisties on a Sunday morning.

A few guys changed the pulley on the SCed Mk1 for more boost (Mr Toyota was VERY conservative, probably to reduce warranty claims).

I owned a n/a mk1 and I was of course tempted to supercharge it at the time, but the extra weight always put me off. Plus, the n/a mk1 MR2 engine was a lovely revvy thing as standard; unlike, for comparison, the Elise 111R engine, which had obvious problems that the supercharger solved.

[MarshPhantom]

SonicShadow said:

Honda K20 swap is an option for those who think it needs more power -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHjs7rRAM5I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38yKMXXBki8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVhfo_zIeFk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slbPwj9Mh_M

Place online will fit the V6 from the Camry for £4k.

[SonicShadow]

MarshPhantom said:

SonicShadow said:

Honda K20 swap is an option for those who think it needs more power -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHjs7rRAM5I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38yKMXXBki8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVhfo_zIeFk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slbPwj9Mh_M

Place online will fit the V6 from the Camry for £4k.

K20 is considerably lighter than an MZ V6. Depends on what you want out of the car I suppose.

[SirSquidalot]

Always liked these, i did look at them but went for a 1.8s MX5 NB in the end. Still love my MX5 even if it does dissolve every winter.

[200Plus Club]

i've had a track mx5 and got an mr2 roadster at mo, prefer the mr2. tempted to go for the 2zz route but its just a little fun toy which costs next to nothing to run. fun on track too, now its sorted.

[phillby]

I have recently gone the 2ZZ swap: agree that at commuting speeds doesn't feel that different, but a lot more oomph if I decide to race off the lights. Commuting fuel economy no worse. Of course all hell breaks loose when you reach 6800rpm.

Monkey Wrench Racing in US provides a good menu of swap parts and it was very straightforward.

I agree styling is an acquired taste ( Toyota often does oddball ungainly stuff), I leave the hardtop permanently attached as Sydney sun roasts quickly, and the car has a much better profile with the hardtop on, if you squint long enough it transforms from wannabe Boxster into wannabe Cayman

[underphil]

SonicShadow said:

K20 is considerably lighter than an MZ V6. Depends on what you want out of the car I suppose.

Is 30kg really that noticeable?

(+a V6 may have a lower COG)

[SonicShadow]

underphil said:

Is 30kg really that noticeable?

(+a V6 may have a lower COG)

In a car that's pretty light in the first place, it makes a difference. A stock Mk3 weighs near enough 1000KG.

[Escapegoat]

SonicShadow said:

Did they ever do a manual SC Mk1? I've only seen autos!

Yes, JDM-only perhaps. Mine was the run-out 'Super Edition', manual.

The autos were mainly for the USA. An automatic MR2 is surely for someone who loves the looks but is not able to drive a manual?

[TameRacingDriver]

To those who have 2ZZ the MR2, does anyone modify the gearbox in any way to shorten the ratios? I find the standard car's ratios a little tall, so unless they are shortened a tad I can see them being way too tall with the extra 1,500 rpm to play with?

[SonicShadow]

TameRacingDriver said:

To those who have 2ZZ the MR2, does anyone modify the gearbox in any way to shorten the ratios? I find the standard car's ratios a little tall, so unless they are shortened a tad I can see them being way too tall with the extra 1,500 rpm to play with?

There must by some shorter final drive diff options available?

[cib24]

MarshPhantom said:

Place online will fit the V6 from the Camry for £4k.

How much for a K20 swap?

[Loyly]

These are fantastic cars on the whole. They could maybe have done without that wheezing, useless engine but swaps are available if you're committed enough.

[MarshPhantom]

cib24 said:

MarshPhantom said:

Place online will fit the V6 from the Camry for £4k.

How much for a K20 swap?

I have no idea. This is a site I found called Woodsport, they only list Toyota based engine conversions.

[Johnny5hoods]

"More benign" than an MX5, says the article. Really??? I've never driven either. But I've read numerous threads on PH and elsewhere where people who've driven both say the MR2 roadster has less warning on and towards the limit. Lots of threads. Don't think I've seen any exceptions to this.

[CABC]

Johnny5hoods said:

"More benign" than an MX5, says the article. Really??? I've never driven either. But I've read numerous threads on PH and elsewhere where people who've driven both say the MR2 roadster has less warning on and towards the limit. Lots of threads. Don't think I've seen any exceptions to this.

... than Elise