MR2 MK3 FL Track Car

[Kaveney]

Small update

I replaced the O ring on the chain  tensioner to stop a small oil leek I have had .

WP_20171021_16_34_18_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

WP_20171021_16_34_22_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

[shnazzle]

Bit late but, why o2 spacers?

[Kaveney]

I was told that removing the pre cats can throw up a EML light .

Regards

Bit late but, why o2 spacers?

[shnazzle]

I was told that removing the pre cats can throw up a EML light .

Regards

Bit late but, why o2 spacers?

Nope. Guaranteed.
What you will get is o2 misreadings. Get rid of those spacers  s:) s:)

[Bossworld]

Must say that really does look a good example in the front 'frunk' area and engine bay, far less rusty than others I've seen (inc my own!).

Great progress so far

[1979scotte]

I was told that removing the pre cats can throw up a EML light .

Regards

Bit late but, why o2 spacers?

Nope. Guaranteed.
What you will get is o2 misreadings. Get rid of those spacers  s:) s:)

What he said.
Gutting precats won't upset anything.

[Kaveney]

Ah ok looking at it they are before the pre cats anyway so I will get them removed .

Thanks

Alan

I was told that removing the pre cats can throw up a EML light .

Regards

Bit late but, why o2 spacers?

Nope. Guaranteed.
What you will get is o2 misreadings. Get rid of those spacers  s:) s:)

[Kaveney]

TBH there is no rust on the car so think I have got a good one as the rear sub frame was in great nick as well .

Must say that really does look a good example in the front 'frunk' area and engine bay, far less rusty than others I've seen (inc my own!).

Great progress so far

[Kaveney]

At the weekend I finished off all the bits I was planning to do before the end of the year for its stage 1 before I put the car back on the road and do my first track day in it .


Rear bumper back on


WP_20171104_13_49_34_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20171104_13_49_28_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Rear strut brace installed


WP_20171104_12_43_43_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20171104_13_28_58_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20171104_13_29_08_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


New TRD gear knob


WP_20171104_14_13_33_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Oil and fuel system cleaner


WP_20171104_14_13_09_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Front thicker whiteline ARB old vs new


WP_20171104_14_54_22_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20171104_14_54_27_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20171104_14_54_32_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


New front drop links with Super pro upgraded bush


WP_20171104_15_20_41_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


And installed


WP_20171104_15_33_18_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


This is now it for the stage one of upgrades so I will see how we get on at the track and then look to install stage 2 parts that will really help the car out on track .


Full list of stage 1

Front strut brace
Rear strut brace
Front whiteline ARB
Front upgraded drop links
Rear whiteline ARB
Rear upgraded drop links
Solid shifter bush
Short shifter
Solid shifter bace bush
PPE cold air induction kit
Toyosports 4-2-1 manifold
Cobra quad exhaust
Matt performance under chassis brace
42 Kg weight removed from car
Engine service oil , fuel cleaner new plugs

The car has good tread on its Continental  premium contact tyres and the brakes have lots meat on the stock pads and discs .
The suspension looks ok but again is stock and has done a fair few miles .

[1979scotte]

Nice upgrades.
You'll be adding coil overs and track rubber soon I would imagine.
Tyres on there own are generally the best mod going.

[Kaveney]

I will see how it gets on after the first track day and then look to add the stage 2 parts .

Coliovers
ADO8R
CL RB6 pads front and rear
New front and rear discs
RBF 600 brake fluid
Braided brake lines

I want to see and feel how the car changes after each part / stage .

Regards

Nice upgrades.
You'll be adding coil overs and track rubber soon I would imagine.
Tyres on there own are generally the best mod going.

[Kaveney]

At the weekend I did some final bits to put the car on the road .

Oli and filter change .

WP_20171111_14_02_33_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

Small key ring even tho there is no TRD stuff on the car ( bar the gear knob )

WP_20171111_17_32_14_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

Then a quick wash and clean up .

WP_20171112_12_54_26_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

WP_20171112_12_54_26_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

And one with my road car .

WP_20171112_12_55_06_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

Gave the car a drive up the road to check everything and there is good and bad news .

Good the car driver and feels really good and tight and I know will be great fun on track even with only a few upgrades on the car .

Bad the clutch is now slipping and will need changing before I can drive the car again but this does give me a good excuse to fit a light weight flywheel .

[Kaveney]

So after the winter I'm now looking to get the car up and running and on the road and ready for its first track day that I have booked for Brands Hatch on the 16/05/18 .

With this in mind and wanting to do 3 / 4 other UK track days like Thruxton before my annual trip to the Nurburgring in August the car is half complete and I'm after what will be better to fit first for the first track day .

I need to get the new clutch and light weight flywheel fitted and then MOT , TAX and insurance but that will leave me short of cash and time to get the other bits done that are the below .

Brake pads , fluid lines discs
Coilovers
Track tyres ADO8R

So out of the three what will be better as I think Im going to struggle to get all of them done before the 16/05/18 .

Thanks 

[1979scotte]

Any reason why you have picked the AD08R?
I always think of them more as a fast road tyre.
If it's a dedicated track car what about Toyo R888 Federal 595RSR Yoko R1R Nankang NSR2.

[Kaveney]

Any reason why you have picked the AD08R?
I always think of them more as a fast road tyre.
If it's a dedicated track car what about Toyo R888 Federal 595RSR Yoko R1R Nankang NSR2.

The car will be driven to tracks so Toyo R888 and full track tyres will not be best .

I did have the Nankang on my last track car ( Saxo VTS ) and they were great but have herd that the ADO8R and even better and also in the size 195/50/15 - 225/45/16 the ADO8R are more common and cost less .

[1979scotte]

Any reason why you have picked the AD08R?
I always think of them more as a fast road tyre.
If it's a dedicated track car what about Toyo R888 Federal 595RSR Yoko R1R Nankang NSR2.

The car will be driven to tracks so Toyo R888 and full track tyres will not be best .

I did have the Nankang on my last track car ( Saxo VTS ) and they were great but have herd that the ADO8R and even better and also in the size 195/50/15 - 225/45/16 the ADO8R are more common and cost less .

If you considered it no worries.
Plenty of guys on here use R888 on road cars no issues.
Wouldn't want to use them in the winter.
Somebody who did use them had to be rescued when in snowed.

[Kaveney]

So after 5 months of the car sitting in the garage under a cover I at the weekend started to crack on again and fit a few bits .


First up was a Mishimoto aluminium radiator that I have had sitting in the shed for months ready to fit .


WP_20180331_12_26_54_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Old stock rad vs the new Mishimoto unit that is 3 times bigger and will keep the car cool on track not that the stock rad is that bad .


WP_20180331_12_29_45_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20180331_12_28_58_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20180331_12_30_06_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Stock fan attached to the new rad


WP_20180331_13_36_19_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr



And installed . I did have to cut the slam panel so the new bigger unit would fit in .


WP_20180331_14_46_21_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr



Then some new coolant and bleeding of the system .


WP_20180331_14_55_00_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr



I gave the soft top hood a good clean and a new wear proof coating with some Renovo .


WP_20180401_11_58_26_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Then some flat blade wiper blades to finish off .


WP_20180401_15_01_57_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

[Kaveney]

Got a few more bits done over the weekend .


First was to change out the old power electric steering fluid that was looking a bit old and dirty .


Old fluid .


WP_20180407_17_35_11_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


New Ravenol fluid .


WP_20180407_17_17_12_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Then on to some more weight saving so out came the alarm siren .


WP_20180407_15_51_10_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20180407_16_06_05_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Then the charcoal filter came out replaced with some fuel pipe .


WP_20180407_15_51_00_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20180407_17_17_27_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Then to just tidy up the rear a bit as I don't like the big MR2 badge so this got removed .


WP_20180407_15_50_34_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20180407_17_17_50_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


The clutch started slipping at the end of last year so a new LUK unit will be installed .


WP_20180408_17_28_10_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


As I'm doing the clutch a competition clutch light weight flywheel will be installed and is 4.5 Kg ( stock flywheel is 7.5 Kg )


WP_20180408_17_31_23_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


WP_20180408_17_31_36_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


And then some new MT-90 gearbox oil .


WP_20180408_17_30_19_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Next up will be getting the car back on the road so MOT tax and insurance before Brands Hatch .

[jvanzyl]

Hey man- I'm not so sure on your choice of power steering fluid!
Others can weigh in- but isn't Toyota write specific about what can be used? Happy to be wrong, it's just that I seem to remember it being expensive...

[Kaveney]

I have read that the E-PSF has been used and is fine like in the link below .

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjex6CHwK3aAhXJI1AKHcDiDdQQFgg1MAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mr2roc.org%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3Ftopic%3D60991.0&usg=AOvVaw3SJZ5ufELrqsYAYgpV1QUd

Hey man- I'm not so sure on your choice of power steering fluid!
Others can weigh in- but isn't Toyota write specific about what can be used? Happy to be wrong, it's just that I seem to remember it being expensive...

[jvanzyl]

Ah good stuff! Bit out of date then on my side :-) carry on!

[Kaveney]

I got a few more bits done at the week end .

I fitted a towing strap to the front of the car .

WP_20180414_13_43_18_Pro[2] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

WP_20180414_13_55_47_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

WP_20180414_13_56_00_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Then I checked the noise level and it is at 79 dB

WP_20180414_13_43_26_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr


Then as I had some gold heat reflective tape left I used this on the induction pipe .

WP_20180414_13_43_26_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

And to finish off as the car is a soft top you need a full face helmet so my OMP open face helmet will be no good so I purchased a Agrius one .

WP_20180413_20_55_25_Pro[1] by Alan Kaveney, on Flickr

[Kaveney]

I will be looking to change the wheels and tyres next month but I'm just thinking what will be best .

The car is for track use only so looks do not matter but I'm after some lightweight wheels that will go with some track day tyres .

The car as it is has the below set up from the factory

Front 185/50/15
Rear 215/45/16

The wheels I'm looking at are the Team Dynamics pro race 1.2 but am unsure what size to go for .

I'm thinking to go for a square set up of 15 inch wheels all round but what tyre size would be best do you think .

Front 205/50/15
Rear 205/50/15

Or

Front 195/50/15
Rear 205/50/15

Or

Front 195/50/15
Rear 225/50/15

What do people think will be best .

Thanks for your thoughts .

[Alex Knight]

Just a word of warning regarding the Mishimoto radiator.

I fitted one a few years ago, and last year it started to leak from the end tanks. It was replaced under warranty, but it had only covered around 6,000 miles.

If you spot your coolant temps rising, you'll probably know why.

I've reverted back to an OEM Koyo replacement radiator now.

[1979scotte]

Don't forget to cast your vote for the PB