Toyota MR2

[craigjm]

I think I would rather do a ZZ2 over the 1.8T

[Mike230]

I think it depends on how you like your power delivered and whether any further tuning is on the cards. I've never driven a 2ZZ but from what I've read they don't feel that different in normal driving. The advantage of the 1.8t is the low down torque.

From what I saw in YouTube there is only 5kg difference in weight between the 1.8t and the 1zz so barely noticeable I imagine. A good 2zz engine is becoming very difficult to find too. I got a quote a few years ago for a 2zz conversion at rogue and it came back at £7k as a starting point.

[Race2day]

Why not to put a turbo on 1zz?

I had MRS with 1zz. Tried to swap it to 2zz, but it didn't go well After 2zz died in the first 10 km run, came back to 1zz and installed Power Enterprise Turbo Kit. Pretty sure that it's not available now, but i guess it's possible to build something similar.

The only special thing in the kit was the intake pipe where you are mounting MAP sensor (or is it MAF?). With using it, it was possible to keep stock ecu without mapping. So, you will need to find it or make something similar or you will need to do something with ecu...

So, with that kit, added intercooler (which isn't in the kit) and 2zz injectors without any tune it gave 208 hp on flywheel. And it's on the only 0.5 bars.
After porting the head we got 240hp.

Oh...I miss it so much....

Edited by Race2day on Tuesday 23 January 09:33

[craigjm]

Mike230 said:

I think it depends on how you like your power delivered and whether any further tuning is on the cards. I've never driven a 2ZZ but from what I've read they don't feel that different in normal driving. The advantage of the 1.8t is the low down torque.

From what I saw in YouTube there is only 5kg difference in weight between the 1.8t and the 1zz so barely noticeable I imagine. A good 2zz engine is becoming very difficult to find too. I got a quote a few years ago for a 2zz conversion at rogue and it came back at £7k as a starting point.

Yeah they dont feel that different until you get over 6000rpm so in daily driving really its not really noticeable until you press on, I guess at the end of the day as soon as you do any engine swap you limit your market for re-sale so may as well do whichever one suits you. Like someone says above im not sure on the gearbox on the 1.8T although you could of course fit a DSG with paddles that might be interesting.

[QuantumTokoloshi]

Race2day said:

Why not to put a turbo on 1zz?

I had MRS with 1zz. Tried to swap it to 2zz, but it didn't go well After 2zz died in the first 10 km run, came back to 1zz and installed Power Enterprise Turbo Kit. Pretty sure that it's not available now, but i guess it's possible to build something similar.

The only special thing in the kit was the intake pipe where you are mounting MAP sensor (or is it MAF?). With using it, it was possible to keep stock ecu without mapping. So, you will need to find it or make something similar or you will need to do something with ecu...

So, with that kit, added intercooler (which isn't in the kit) and 2zz injectors without any tune it gave 208 hp on flywheel. And it's on the only 0.5 bars.
After porting the head we got 240hp.

Oh...I miss it so much....

Edited by Race2day on Tuesday 23 January 09:33

That got some go. I think the 1zz matches the car well, and with a lift of 50 to 90 Bhp, would give it another level of enjoyment. been looking at some kits, but it is hard to tell which is decent or not.

[QuantumTokoloshi]

craigjm said:

Yeah they dont feel that different until you get over 6000rpm so in daily driving really its not really noticeable until you press on, I guess at the end of the day as soon as you do any engine swap you limit your market for re-sale so may as well do whichever one suits you. Like someone says above im not sure on the gearbox on the 1.8T although you could of course fit a DSG with paddles that might be interesting.

DSG would be funky, added that to a big turbo 1.8T will be properly rapid, license losing rapid. The gearbox in the MR2 is excellent, makes you want to change gears. a real strong point of the car. They had a 1.8T conversion for sale in December, and it sold quickly, so I guess there is some demand, but your point is well made, standard cars will always be easier to sell.

[TameRacingDriver]

I'm not sure I'd agree that the gearbox is a stand out attribute of the MR2 personally. It's "fine", but for me I'd prefer slightly shorter gearing, and if you've ever driven an MX5, then you'll see it's way behind the shift quality of one of those, with both a longer throw and slowly more obstructive for me, it's certainly not a box that likes to be rushed too much. I'm not sure I'd greatly mourn not having it if I had to replace the gearbox as part of an engine swap.

[gofasterrosssco]

TameRacingDriver said:

I'm not sure I'd agree that the gearbox is a stand out attribute of the MR2 personally. It's "fine", but for me I'd prefer slightly shorter gearing, and if you've ever driven an MX5, then you'll see it's way behind the shift quality of one of those, with both a longer throw and slowly more obstructive for me, it's certainly not a box that likes to be rushed too much. I'm not sure I'd greatly mourn not having it if I had to replace the gearbox as part of an engine swap.

If you want shorter gearing, just fit the Celica 6-speed as normally attached to the 2ZZ? There are a few changes to be made, but generally straight forward (incl. using the MR2 differential)

The shorter gearing is actually one of the main benefits to the 2ZZ swap anyway, I thought.

[TameRacingDriver]

gofasterrosssco said:

If you want shorter gearing, just fit the Celica 6-speed as normally attached to the 2ZZ? There are a few changes to be made, but generally straight forward (incl. using the MR2 differential)

The shorter gearing is actually one of the main benefits to the 2ZZ swap anyway, I thought.

I've driven a T-Sport, I definitely would NOT be doing that! The gearbox is one of the worst I've ever used in that car, with badly chosen ratios for the tiny power band, although I guess that wouldn't be a problem when mated to a 1ZZ, but it also had a very obstructive action. The MR2 1ZZ box was a joy in comparison.

I'm no big fan of the VAG 20vT but I can't see that the box on that would be a downgrade, if you went for that particularly engine swap.

[Mike230]

It's all personal preference isn't it. Having owned an MX5 I don't think that it is that better than the toyota box if I'm honest. Having said that I came to this car having previously had a megane R26 and the box in that wasn't great.

[Craikeybaby]

Having owned both, I agree with TameRacingDriver, the MX-5 has the better feeling gearbox. The MR2's isn't rubbish, it is just that the MX-5's is particularly good.

[TheJimi]

Craikeybaby said:

Having owned both, I agree with TameRacingDriver, the MX-5 has the better feeling gearbox. The MR2's isn't rubbish, it is just that the MX-5's is particularly good.

This

Moreover, even at money no object levels, you will struggle to find a car with a gearbox that feels better than an MX-5 - particularly NA & NB.

[QuantumTokoloshi]

Car is running well, taken the hardtop off, drop the hood whenever the rain decides to stay away, which has not been often, in the last while.

Service and some work needs doing, O2 sensor and cam cover gasket replacing, but otherwise all good. I find it is a car which makes you want to have a little fun. The soft standard suspension is ideal for rutted and bumpy B and rural back roads, absorbs the imperfections and allows you to make progress without being bounced off through road with a stiffer suspension.

Edited by QuantumTokoloshi on Wednesday 17th April 11:13

[QuantumTokoloshi]

Ooops, got some expenses coming.

Oil service, cam cover gasket needs replacing, Rear caliper is sticking, rear disks and pads, front caliper is sticking and pads, and the O2 sensor. I might get lucky with the front caliper, if I can get it moving reliably, but rear needs a new caliper.

Joys of an older car.

[Heaveho]

TameRacingDriver said:

QuantumTokoloshi said:

for £7K, plus another £3K for the MR2, gets you into Boxster S territory, which makes the decision marginal, £3K or 4K it makes sense to do, unless you are going for massive power 400BHP+ then the 7K + makes sense, but for ~200 BHP, it is marginal.

MR2 is way more fun than a Boxster. Even with the standard power. It also doesn't have a grenade for an engine.

I've got both. I like the MR2 a lot and have had a ball in it. There was a brief period when I thought I might be satisfied enough with the MR2 to let the Porsche go, but that passed pretty quickly. They're very different prospects, both with their own specific potential problems, the collapsing pre-cats on the Toyota, the usual, well documented stuff with the Porsche. My Boxster has so far been very reliable, and has surprised me with how much I've grown to like it, despite my undenied cynicism for anything not Japanese. Perhaps if the Porsche had caused me more problems I'd feel differently.

I can see how, in the Toyota, you can be more " carefree " for want of a better word, but I'm not sure it's more fun. Just different.

[TameRacingDriver]

Fair play, I always felt the MR2 was much more raw which makes it fun, and the Porsche, I'll give you that it was still a nice drive, just a bit more 'serious', and my opinion of it was almost certainly tainted by my experience of the last one I had, which was enough to make me avoid Porsches pretty much forever more. My first one was written off in an accident that could have killed me, so I don't think they're very lucky cars for me to be fair.

[Craikeybaby]

QuantumTokoloshi said:

Ooops, got some expenses coming.

Oil service, cam cover gasket needs replacing, Rear caliper is sticking, rear disks and pads, front caliper is sticking and pads, and the O2 sensor. I might get lucky with the front caliper, if I can get it moving reliably, but rear needs a new caliper.

Joys of an older car.

This reminds me I need to get mine booked in for a service.

[craigjm]

QuantumTokoloshi said:

Ooops, got some expenses coming.

Oil service, cam cover gasket needs replacing, Rear caliper is sticking, rear disks and pads, front caliper is sticking and pads, and the O2 sensor. I might get lucky with the front caliper, if I can get it moving reliably, but rear needs a new caliper.

Joys of an older car.

I’ve done all calipers, discs and pads, all shocks, springs and drop links, full service including the cam cover gasket all in the last 12 months. It’s not been too expensive compared to what spend on a modern car with just dealer servicing.

[Heaveho]

craigjm said:

QuantumTokoloshi said:

Ooops, got some expenses coming.

Oil service, cam cover gasket needs replacing, Rear caliper is sticking, rear disks and pads, front caliper is sticking and pads, and the O2 sensor. I might get lucky with the front caliper, if I can get it moving reliably, but rear needs a new caliper.

Joys of an older car.

I’ve done all calipers, discs and pads, all shocks, springs and drop links, full service including the cam cover gasket all in the last 12 months. It’s not been too expensive compared to what spend on a modern car with just dealer servicing.

We bought this to do a lap of Scotland in. I started a thread on it a while back. I'm ex Toyota, so I'm soft on stuff like this. It had FSH, full MOT, recent calipers, discs, pads, handbrake cables and rear subframe. Pre cats already removed. We genuinely intended to only put fuel in it and have our fun. Then we decided it was good enough and we liked it enough to make a bit more of it. New roof, 4 new Toyos, 4 wheel alignment, replaced the aftermarket cat that was causing an EML, with a genuine one, and a fair few other things. It was too good not to try and make better, just a few cosmetic bits to do and it'll be on the market. If I didn't already have 5 other vehicles I'd keep it, it's a much better car than I thought it would be.

[QuantumTokoloshi]

Heaveho said:

craigjm said:

QuantumTokoloshi said:

Ooops, got some expenses coming.

Oil service, cam cover gasket needs replacing, Rear caliper is sticking, rear disks and pads, front caliper is sticking and pads, and the O2 sensor. I might get lucky with the front caliper, if I can get it moving reliably, but rear needs a new caliper.

Joys of an older car.

I’ve done all calipers, discs and pads, all shocks, springs and drop links, full service including the cam cover gasket all in the last 12 months. It’s not been too expensive compared to what spend on a modern car with just dealer servicing.

We bought this to do a lap of Scotland in. I started a thread on it a while back. I'm ex Toyota, so I'm soft on stuff like this. It had FSH, full MOT, recent calipers, discs, pads, handbrake cables and rear subframe. Pre cats already removed. We genuinely intended to only put fuel in it and have our fun. Then we decided it was good enough and we liked it enough to make a bit more of it. New roof, 4 new Toyos, 4 wheel alignment, replaced the aftermarket cat that was causing an EML, with a genuine one, and a fair few other things. It was too good not to try and make better, just a few cosmetic bits to do and it'll be on the market. If I didn't already have 5 other vehicles I'd keep it, it's a much better car than I thought it would be.

I do like the blue, suits the shape well.