Hi everyone, I'm Justin and this is my story.
After doing a 1.5 hour commute to work in London's busy tube system twice a day, every day, for just over a year I was desperate to cut my journey in half by buying a car. I started looking for a cheap runabout (excuse the pun) with low mileage, and, I'm a car guy, so I wanted something... INTERESTING, to say the least. All roads led to the MR2 Roadster so I looked around for the best one I could find and this goofy looking thing crossed my path. s:mrgreen: :mrgreen: s:mrgreen:
[attachment=2:1sv9qur9] ia2 MR2 ROADSTER SPYDER MK3 FIRST TRIP HOME.JPG ia2 [/attachment:1sv9qur9]
I chose it because it's immaculate, original, had 37000 miles on the clock and its a Pre-Facelift model. I just love that massive open mouth of a front bumper.
So I started driving it to work everyday and spending lots of time with it. I kept reading up about them and noticed the massive community and a bottomless pit of information. What's the deal with goats by the way? s:lol: :lol: s:lol: But the first time I really thought I had something special was when I took this photo.
[attachment=1:1sv9qur9] ia1 MR2 ROADSTER SPYDER MK3 TOP DOWN.JPG ia1 [/attachment:1sv9qur9]
I thought to myself, ...man, it looks like a Super Car...
So I got rid of the boot/luggage/barbecue rack and got myself some new wheels because.. let's just say, the car was more attractive than the wheels.
[attachment=0:1sv9qur9] ia0 MR2-ROADSTER-SPYDER-MK3-BBS-WHEELS.jpg ia0 [/attachment:1sv9qur9]
I decided on the BBS 764's because they'e a good suitable late 90's style and a good size.. 16 inch x 6.5inch with an ET45 offset and I wrapped them in TOYO 195/40/16 tyres. The tyres are a bit bumpy but I was planning on doing an air ride install so I didn't want them in the way. Anyways I decided against it because of the weight of the car and the fact that it's a 2 seater (it would never carry a load) and went with Meister R coilovers instead, thinking it would do the same job as air ride with track quality handelling but I noticed that that car can't go very low without scraping the tiniest bump being naturally low already.
This is the car set at a height where it can go over speed bumps..
[attachment=0:3jz5mzua] ia0 MR2-ROADSTER-SPYDER-MK3-Meister-R-COILOVERS.jpg ia0 [/attachment:3jz5mzua]
The guys at R2 Automative did a great job installing the coilovers and the owner took me for a drive in his K20 powered MR2 Roadster which was potent!
At this point I got a new job. In the city. So I didn't need the car for a daily drive any more. It was also the point where I decided the car doesn't have enough POWER s:shock: :shock: s:shock: and I thought, that's the key ingredient for a super car.. power, so, after a lot of conideration I decided to go 1zz turbo. Aiming for above 274HP. Just to beat the Japanese gentlemen's agreement and I want to have this done before the car goes over 40k miles. I'm sure that's some kind of record.
Welcome along post up a Readers Ride and keep us updated on progress
By the way we are a goatfree zone that's for the Facebook Group :-) :-) :-)
Quote from: "macdool"I decided on the BBS 764's because they'e a good suitable late 90's style and a good size.. 16 inch x 6.5inch with an ET45 offset and I wraped them in TOYO 195/40/16 tyres. The tyres are a bit bumpy but I was planning on doing an air ride install so I didn't want them in the way. Anyways I decided against it because of the weight of the car and the fact that its a 2 seater (it would never carry a load) and went with Meister R coilovers instead, thinking it would do the same job as air ride with track quility handeling but I noticed that that car can't go very low without scraping the tiniest bump being naturally low already.
This is the car set at a hight were it can go over speed bumps..
[attachment=0:1i76un7b] ia0 MR2-ROADSTER-SPYDER-MK3-Meister-R-COILOVERS.jpg ia0 [/attachment:1i76un7b]
The guys at R2 Automative did a great job installing the coilovers and the owner took me for a drive in his K20 powered MR2 Roadster which was potent!
At this point I got a new job. In the city. So I didn't need the car for a daily drive any more. It was also the point were I decided the car doesn't have enough POWER s:shock: :shock: s:shock: and I thought, thats the key ingredient for a super car.. power, so, after a lot of conideration I decided to go 1zz turbo. Aiming for above 274HP. Just to beat the japanese gentlemens agreement and I want to have this done before the car goes over 40k miles. I'm sure that's some kind of record.
Welcome!
So glad you've joined us :-) :-) :-)
First things first- we're quite a social bunch some of us are social AND knowledgeable... I'm just the former.
Where are you based?
We often try to meet up and talk shop and help us out.
:-) :-) :-)
Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk
Have a read through my thread, I was going for the gentleman's agreement but then realiased that with a slight bit of weight reduction and just 325bhp it would have a better power to weight than an R35 GTR Nismo:
l viewtopic.php?f=88&t=62144 (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=62144) l
You will need to go fully forged for anything about around 240bhp.
Quote from: "m1tch"Have a read through my thread, I was going for the gentleman's agreement but then realiased that with a slight bit of weight reduction and just 325bhp it would have a better power to weight than an R35 GTR Nismo:
l viewtopic.php?f=88&t=62144 (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=62144) l
You will need to go fully forged for anything about around 240bhp.
240 @ the wheels you may need to go forged.
However people have gone 270-290 bhp flywheel without forged internals.
The key is not to kill the gearbox.
250 ft-lb is considered safe possibly more with a good tune.
I ran a 235bhp turbo car and it was proper rapid.
QuoteWhere are you based?
We often try to meet up and talk shop and help us out.
I'm in North London. Yeah keen to meet up and see what everyone else has done with theirs!
Quote from: "m1tch"Have a read through my thread, I was going for the gentleman's agreement but then realiased that with a slight bit of weight reduction and just 325bhp it would have a better power to weight than an R35 GTR Nismo:
l viewtopic.php?f=88&t=62144 (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=62144) l
You will need to go fully forged for anything about around 240bhp.
Yes I did read your thread, a few times! It's kinda what pushed me over the edge.
I'm using your list (I hope that's alright), tweaking it to suit me and doing it in stages. So I can enoy each upgrade bit by bit. Also because I can't afford to do it all at once.
Stage 1Garrett GT2860R
PWR Charge Cooler
Custom downpipe and exhaust system - single exit
MWR turbo manifold with T3 flange
AEM EMS4/PFC/Link/standalone ECU TBD
AEM WBO2 guage
Boost controller - TBC
I'll run that on a very low boost and upgrade parts when I get time/money or find a good deal. Then just up the boost accordingly. Correct me if that's not possible but it sounds like a good plan to me.
Stage 2Upgrade clutch
Widen my back wheels
Get bigger tyres on back
Sort out some paint chips
Change brake pads
Powder coat calipers
Slotted disks.
All in due time.
Engine
79.5mm Wiesco forged pistons @ 8.8:1 compression
Forged rods provided by TCB
Supertech springs and retainers
Stock valves (current thought)
Lightly ported head - removal of any casting marks and gasket match
Forced induction cam
Stock bottom end
ARP head studs
Head gasket TBD
Currently looking at bearing options
Cooler spark plugs
Thermostatic oil cooler
Electronics
Subaru MAF (if MAF still needed)
3 BAR MAP (if needed)
Race battery in frunk
Fuel
Uprated injectors - perhaps the VXR injectors but still deciding
Uprated in tank pump
Aeromotive FPR
Convert to return fuel system
Meth injection TBD
Gearbox
Stock C64 gearbox but fully rebuilt and refreshed
Uprated JUBA/SSC 3rd and 4th Helical gears - rated to 295ft/lbs
Upgraded driveshafts (if needed)
Gearbox cooling - TBD
Quote from: "macdool"QuoteWhere are you based?
We often try to meet up and talk shop and help us out.
I'm in North London. Yeah keen to meet up and see what everyone else has done with theirs!
Cool man,
I'm just by junction 20.
Next monthly meet is gonna be beginning of December, we usually try for the first Tuesday of the month.
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R2 are good aren't they? s:D :D s:D
Real friendly bunch and genuinely passionate about their work.
Surprised you decided on 1zz turbo after a ride in Richard's little monster.
Quote from: "SuperArt"R2 are good aren't they? s:D :D s:D
Real friendly bunch and genuinely passionate about their work.
Surprised you decided on 1zz turbo after a ride in Richard's little monster.
Yeah I definitely looked into it after that ride but he said I'm looking at 10k for the install!. Besides that I always wanted a turbo car and my engine is still very new so don't want to rip it out.
His K20 looked pretty sweet though, I took a pic
(//%5Battachment=0:8ya73g26%5D%20ia0%20R2-Automative-K20-Honda-Mr2-Roadster-Spyder-MK3.jpg%20ia0%20%5B/attachment:8ya73g26%5D)
His suspention impressed me more than anything else though. So I'll go to them for suspention related stuff and Patrick Chambers for turbo stuff and hopefully I can do little bits myself.