Roadster Project

[vinp182]

I've copy and pasted a quick bit of background about my car for those that are not familiar with it

Some of you may already know this car but I'm sure most wont so heres a little bit of its background in my ownership

I bought the car in early 2010 as a daily to replace my company car that wasn't being replaced due to the recession. Bought it so I didn't have to use my mk2 tubby and it was going to stay standard   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  

As I bought it
 

After a couple of months or so I found that the car suffered the old oval bore syndrome so I took it off the road to have the engine rebuilt.. Once the engine was back in the car and I was using it more I started to really love it, so I decided to do a bit of tidying up and light modding   s:D s:D  This included TRD front lip to match the sides and rear, new exhaust, koni adjustables, new wheels and tyres, TRD upper bracing, Cusco under bracing front middle and rear, Polybush kit, hard top, and various other bits and bobs

Car ended up looking like this


After a small time it seems that I was never using my tubby so I decided to sell it and turbo my mk3   s:D s:D   So I managed to get my hands on a second hand C2 turbo kit and got that fitted   s:) s:)  

The car ran at around 200bhp ish for a while and I upgraded everything on the kit over time, including the turbo and exhaust and I had crower cams fitted. I'd also bought upgrade parts like Apexi PFC, charge cooler, bigger injectors for bigger power. Until early last year when I got a little bored of it and sold the engine and turbo kit on

JAE 2012 with El Creation front bumper


I then got talking to GeorgeL and ended up buying his mk2 turbo which I'd wanted since first seeing it in 2008 lol so the mk3 got washed and put in the corner at work under cover until a couple of weeks ago   s:D s:D  

I got myself a standard 1zz engine and pulled the car out and started working on it.. Over the christmas period we weren't too busy at work so I managed to replace both hand brake cables (which I bought about 2 years ago). I also got the box attached to the engine and into the car on all 4 mounts.. I'm a few pipes and bits missing which should be here today so I can crack on when I get time   s:D s:D  

How it stood earlier this year


Managed to get the few bits I was missing last week and I got chance to spend a bit of time on the car yesterday..

Fitted the offside driveshaft with carrier, Finished off the water pipe work, fitted the fuel line, air box and pipe work, battery carrier, heat sheilds and finished off plugging the loom in. Also put the new gear oil in   s:) s:)

Also got my exhaust manifold on with new studs, got the Nur Spec hanging on the rubbers and connected to the cat   s:) s:)  

Just need to fill and bleed the coolant, connect the cat to the manifold, fit the ecu and battery and turn the key and see what happens lol.. Once I know everything is tickety boo I'll do a bit of tidying up in the engine bay   s:) s:)  

Finished off the bits mentioned above a couple of months ago...

Which brings me to yesterday when I picked this little package up






It was a Woodsport conversion into a mk2 so I have a bit of modification to do to get it into my roadster  s:D s:D

[Wabbitkilla]

Come on Vinny, make your mind up   s:crazyeyes: :crazyeyes: s:crazyeyes:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

[vinp182]

Too much choice Nic   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[StuC]

!SUBSCRIBED!  s8) s8)

Nic - I think he is going to start slowly increasing cylinders. The 2016 posts should make for very interesting reading!  s8) s8)

[1979scotte]

And I thought I was getting carried away with mine.
Will look on with the utmost interest.

[andyroo104]

If you change your mind again let me know please Vinny,I can pick your wheels up at the same time.   :-) :-) :-)

[vinp182]

Quick update

I have given this car to Stace (my wife) ... So instead of her just having my old car we are going to make it HER car by changing its appearance and obviously its heart    s8) s8)  

New kit has been bought but we are undecided on weather to stick with the V6 or go 2zz turbo.. The plan is to have it ready by JAE 2016 at the latest  

Couple of pics of how it should look

Monocraft GT300   s:D s:D  





The kit was originally on a race car that was built for Britcar.. I'ts a little rough around the edges but has no cracks/splits or any real damage so should come good

[andyroo104]

[SMILING FACE WITH HEART-SHAPED EYES]

[MrACD]

What a project! - Will be watching this closely.. I've had mine 3 weeks now and I am itching, bad case of moditus   s:D s:D

[Anonymous]

I wondered who bought the kit!

Good work looking forward to it.

Has to be v6 surely

[J03]

Currently experiencing the same sort of chin rubbing myself, stick with 2zz Rotrex plans or throw caution to the wind & 2grfe it!

Have you driven similar setups? I like the idea of having the 2gr torque curve & v6 bellow, but the screaming 2zz with jetfigher-esque Rotrex is pretty special as well   s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

[vinp182]

If money was no object then I'd get a 2gr fitted to it but the cost doesn't justify the gains in my opinion

I've not driven a charged 2zz but a standard one with proper manifold makes a great car... You don't need massive power in a sorted roadster, around 200-220hp is a sweet spot

It's going to be up to Stace to decide what she wants tho, I'm just the monkey with the spanners   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[J03]

Is that a 1mz above?

Here's how the Rotrex puts power down.... It's nice & linear, but that 6cyl sound & low down torque thump is very tempting.   s:? :? s:?  

Anyway, looking forward to seeing how this unfolds   s:) s:)  

[vinp182]

Yeah it's a 1mz vvti from a lexus rx300

[MR TWO]

I know what engine I would choose!

The kit looks great, and I will be checking in on this thread to see the car develop.

[cabbydave]

Ha I bought the other kit. If your panels are the same as mine you will have some serious filling to do to make it right. What wheels are you going for on the kit? If you decide you don't want the side scoops let me know as I want some.
I have a friend that's just bought a wood sport converted roadster with the 3000 V6 in it so any pictures or measurements you need just let me know.

[vinp182]

Well I'm hoping that as its already been fitted then some of the panels have already been modded. I can hope   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  

Might take you up on that dude. I have got a guy bringing his mounts my way so I can take patterns but I'll let you know   s:) s:)   cheers for that  s:D s:D

Not sure on wheels yet.. I'd like something similar to the original wheels that came on the monocraft so may mean biting the bullet and ordering new   s:shock: :shock: s:shock:

[1979scotte]

Ordering new! Are you ok perhaps you should have a lie down.  s;) s;)

Great project please go for the V6.

[cabbydave]

You seen the price of them. But hey its got to be rihht

[MilesH]

Vinny, I bought the large wheel spacers that Lewis used to run with that kit, but found I don't need them. Let me know if you want them.

Cheers

Miles

[vinp182]

Yeah I know the price unfortunately... Made the mistake of showing some to Stace and now she loves them   s:shock: :shock: s:shock:   we'll see   s:) s:)  

Miles yeah I may be interested in those as a get by for now solution even though I don't really like spacers... PM me how much please mate   s:) s:)

[tommyzoom99]

real nice looking mr2 there buddy always liked black on black

cheers tommy

[Dyn-Evo]

Well...you can't really go wrong with a V6.....!    s8) s8)    s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

[ChrisGB]

I recon the VVT-i  version is the best of the 1MZ engines.  For a standard ish MR2, 230 bhp is definitely a sweet spot, not too full on, but nippy enough to get your attention, and with the right supporting mods, that engine should be good for that sort of output. Very drivable, sounds great too. 2GR is a very different animal in cost and output terms.

[MR TWO]

I recon the VVT-i  version is the best of the 1MZ engines.  For a standard ish MR2, 230 bhp is definitely a sweet spot, not too full on, but nippy enough to get your attention, and with the right supporting mods, that engine should be good for that sort of output. Very drivable, sounds great too.

I like mine!