Air intake

[1979scotte]

I'm not going to start that discussion as it's probably for another thread and I really think you need a good long session of reading up on both. 2zz with a turbo further down the line could be the ultimate option.
Bracing is well worth it!  Braided hoses are good IMO.

V6 V6 V6.
Until someone gets a V8 that actually works.

[dan944]

True!! I think there's not a huge price gap between turbo and v6.

[1979scotte]

True!! I think there's not a huge price gap between turbo and v6.

Let's not go there on this thread.
Turbo done properly will cost less and make more power.
But it won't necessarily be better.
Oops I went there.

[michaelb]

Would it really cost less? I'm looking at one from monkeywrench and it's nearly 3 grand, plus need a clutch at 500, injectors at 150 and then mapped at 1500!!

[dan944]

If you look at the kit I've just built it will be about £3700 I think. Can't remember exactly. I think woodsport quote 4.5k?

[Ardent]

Availability is the problem, but you can nigh on buy a whole car for that sort of money. Just turbo cars do not come up very often.

[Ardent]

plus need a clutch at 500,

What sort of power/torque is that producing that it needs a £500 clutch?

[1979scotte]

Would it really cost less? I'm looking at one from monkeywrench and it's nearly 3 grand, plus need a clutch at 500, injectors at 150 and then mapped at 1500!!

I have heard of turbo kits done for under 2k but Dan's 3.7k DIY is more like it imho.
Secondhand kits go for 2k plus.
V6 swap is 4.5k minimum.

V6 cars come up rarely mine cost 2.5k but needed another 2k to make it road worthy.

[michaelb]

He didn't say how much it would put out, just that it was needed! Lol

[m1tch]

My engine build alone is probably at the 3k mark if not more, then you need to factor in the ECU, mapping and upgrades such as brakes and suspension, cooling etc.

Main issue with the 1zz or 2zz is the gearbox being quite weak - not many uprated options without going for an E153 box.

[michaelb]

Once you start getting into more money than the car cost, it always worries me! Lol

[dan944]

But you do end up with a car that can keep up with much much more expensive cars and then leave them behind in the bends.

[michaelb]

That is true mate! They are like go-karts in the corners!

[1979scotte]

Still waiting for my head to head with a Cayman S.
Confident I've got the power on the straights.

Doesn't matter how much you spend though the 2 isn't going to be such a nice place to sit.

[m1tch]

Once you start getting into more money than the car cost, it always worries me! Lol

The cheapest 1zz powered Lotus Elise I can find on Autotrader is at around £17k, true is it lighter at 860kg but its still £17k for a standard car with standard power levels. With my engine build (most parts overrated for the power) should make around 400bhp, but of weight reduction should drop the car to around 900kg. Lets say I spend £7.5k on the car in terms of mods, here are the options:

Facelift MR2 (say £2.k to buy and get up to spec), plus £7.5k in mods = £10k

Lotus Elise - 1zz powered, standard = £17k

My MR2 when its finished - 444bhp per ton
Lotus Elise - 160bhp per ton

Also to put my build in perspective:

Pagani Zonda C12 S 7.3 - £339k - 437 bhp per ton
Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, £271k - 438 bhp per ton
Nissan R35 GTR Nismo - £92.8k - 325 bhp per ton

[dan944]

Amen to that.  Had loads of people ask why are you spending that much on THAT car. You could've got and m3??
These will eat m3s at the power levels Mitch is aiming. Once you put it into power/weight ratios. Most cars are below an uprated '2.
And weight is the biggest killer of acceleration.
Why start with a heavy powerful car and try to make it light when you can have a light car and make it powerful.

[m1tch]

Amen to that.  Had loads of people ask why are you spending that much on THAT car. You could've got and m3??
These will eat m3s at the power levels Mitch is aiming. Once you put it into power/weight ratios. Most cars are below an uprated '2.
And weight is the biggest killer of acceleration.
Why start with a heavy powerful car and try to make it light when you can have a light car and make it powerful.

This is why I spent a while trying to find the right platform, was initially looking at some of the 2.0 TFSi powered cars, would have needed to be RWD meaning it would have needed to be a Quattro. The engine is easily tuned up to quite a high output with many parts out there - even had a look at the older 1.8t, however the car itself was around 4-500kg heavier than the MR2 so I would have needed to have run far more power to match the MR2. Did also look at the mk1 mx-engineinwrongplace  however without an engine swap it wouldn't have made the power, plus an issue with rust and its still quite common.

For me I am not too worried about the actual power output it makes on a dyno, its all about power to weight coupled with some good gearing - sure I could have 6-700bhp in various other cars but the platform they are in make them quite heavy or difficult to get parts for - example is the Toyota Soarer with the 1JZ engine or the Lexus LS400 with its awesome 1UZ engine - but the car itself weighs 1.7 tons lol.

The MR2 roadster is great as the platform itself has great handling, just need a bump in power - good thing about a turbo build is that you can turn the boost down or up depending on the application. Doubt I will be running full boost much as that would only be on the drag strip, probably be running lower boost on the road - say around 6psi with around 220bhp which I think is where the car should have been at in the first place.

[1979scotte]

Power to weight or even torque to weight is where it's at.
I figure my car runs at about 235 bhp and 235 ft-lb per ton.

I would like to say that an MR2 Roadster will never handle or feel as sweet as an Elise or Exige. The rigidity of the tub allows the double wishbone suspension to do it job beautifully.
It will however be much more comfortable and cost less to fix.
Also down here in the south east I see way more Elise and Exige so it's more rare too.

[m1tch]

Power to weight or even torque to weight is where it's at.
I figure my car runs at about 235 bhp and 235 ft-lb per ton.

I would like to say that an MR2 Roadster will never handle or feel as sweet as an Elise or Exige. The rigidity of the tub allows the double wishbone suspension to do it job beautifully.
It will however be much more comfortable and cost less to fix.
Also down here in the south east I see way more Elise and Exige so it's safer too.

I think the comparison between our car and the Lotus is that our car is a road car for the track, the Lotus is a track car for the road.

[michaelb]

I agree guys, I just get nervous is all lol I did look at an Elise but I don't really fit in It very well! I tall and broad and the 2 fits me fine!

[8thumpers]

I'm not going to start that discussion as it's probably for another thread and I really think you need a good long session of reading up on both. 2zz with a turbo further down the line could be the ultimate option.
Bracing is well worth it!  Braided hoses are good IMO.

V6 V6 V6.
Until someone gets a V8 that actually works.

Ok ok... I'm working on it!!! Lol

[shnazzle]

I'm not going to start that discussion as it's probably for another thread and I really think you need a good long session of reading up on both. 2zz with a turbo further down the line could be the ultimate option.
Bracing is well worth it!  Braided hoses are good IMO.

V6 V6 V6.
Until someone gets a V8 that actually works.

Ok ok... I'm working on it!!! Lol

Hurry up!

Can we close this discussion? As this has absolutely nowt to do with air intakes anymore

[8thumpers]

Cone filter:
That was mine before it came out.
Absolutely zero performance gain and irrelevant for road use - but looked sharp!

[michaelb]

I just purchased a k&N gen II cold air induction kit, should be here tomorrow and will fit it on Friday

[shnazzle]

That was the kit that was on the car I got my emanage piggyback from ( @robsonic) and it required a 10% adjustment in the MAF calibration.
So you'll be running a fraction lean, until the ecu adapts.