My Blue 2002 MR2 - Meeerrk's Track car build (LOCKED)

[4dvti]

You have to get the Rogue hard-top mounting kit - you can't use the standard latches with the full cage.

I have the full Rogue/P&P roll cage. Cost £650 plus the VAT - its expensive to deliver as Mark said (has to go on a pallet) so I picked mine up form Rogue myself. I'm getting mine welded in next week  s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:  !
Don't underestimate the work/compromise involved in having a full cage - literally everything needs to come out of the car to fit it, the welding is tricky (you have to patch various holes in the floor, and spend a lifetime scraping seal-sealer off first) and you have to bin the stock heater etc when you put it back together. It's also tricky to get in and out of, and you really do want to be wearing a helmet every time you drive it. Definitely only for a dedicated track car.

Hi

Thank you for the great posts. It's pretty much everything I wanted to know about the full cage for now. It sounds like quite some work getting it fitted! I think I'll have to keep looking around and digging out info. If all goes well and according to plan then I would like to 'drag' the car rather than 'circuit it' so I'll have to keep that in mind when choosing or building a suitable cage, as E.T.s in drag racing determine which cage is required.

For reference, if you guys have a spare bit of time then please have a look at this year's race regulations for those competing in the Jap Drag Series:

 m http://www.japdragseries.co.uk/rules/Ja ... ok2015.pdf m


Cheers

[Jrichards20]

Mark, out of PM message incase other people are interested, I was looking at Blyton Park on the 28th of June. Might possibly head up there for a track day. I know its a distance away, but if you are interested let me know, not definite that I'm going. but will know by Monday.

[Anonymous]

I'm up for it, but I'm not sure my car will be!

I'm away until next weekend so won't be able to get my car for a couple of weeks and will want some time to run it around before tracking it.l
Will have to see s bit closer to the time

[Anonymous]

Edit; Josh, certain I can't make it now, sorry!

[Anonymous]

Things haven't gone well for my car, take a seat, get some popcorn, and read through what has happened! You literally couldn't make this stuff up. Apologies for the long post....

As previously reported, during the drive home from the conversion, the car struggled to go into lift, provisionally diagnosed as a temperature related issue.

While trying to diagnose it, a fault code triggered P1349 which is related to a vvti solenoid problem. This triggered my EML and upon googling, it sounds like a blocked valve, or OCV filter. The filters were all cleaned before the engine was fitted, so it seemed strange. No more was thought of it, code cleared to see if it came back.

Anyway, back to diagnosing the lift / temperature fault;

That Same evening, about 1/4 mile from home, I got the car into lift and shifted up from 2nd to 3rd gear, when I felt a loss of power (although still in lift at about 8k rpm). I backed off the throttle and dipped the clutch, only to hear a horrible knocking / tapping noise which directly Increased with engine speed.

With freshly soiled pants, and heart in mouth, I pulled over to listen to it ; I'll add a video soon. My heart dropped, to be honest I knew it wasn't good, but I kept telling myself "it could be something simple...."

I waddled back to the drivers seat (the soiled pants was hindering my ability to walk properly) and nursed the car home in first gear, much to the annoyance of the bus behind me.....Sorry!

I spoke to Patrick on the phone and straight away he said just get the car back to him so we can get it sorted.

I sat down to eat dinner with my partner but felt physically sick, I just knew it was bad news. I didn't sleep at all on Saturday night, and spent most of Sunday in a foul mood, partly because I was knackered, partly because I was in denial about the whole situation!

I went to work in Monday, spoke to my boss, arranged an afternoon off. I arranged to hire the trailer again and headed down to the coast for the 2nd time in 3 days (250mile, 5 hour round trip each time)

As soon as Patrick heard the noise he said "that's the bottom end". At that point I knew my worst fear had become reality; I've just spent all my spare cash on getting this engine in the car, something I've been planning and working toward for the last year...and it's all gone horribly South.

I left the car at Patrick's workshop so he could diagnose the issue. After looking in the top, he couldn't see any thing untoward. Next up the sump was removed and sure enough, a spun bearing on number 3.

The engine has been rebuilt at some point in the past and the crank machined, meaning nothing left (worth risking) on machining the crank again.

I'm no engine expert, but I understand this pretty much makes the bottom end beyond economical repair, as the cranks are circa £600 from Toyota. A new bottom end being £1400+vat.

So my options are;

1) Full rebuild on current engine
Pros; reliability, warranty, piece of mind.
Cons; cost, time, inconvenience (running in etc)

2) Source another 2zz used engine
Pros; quick, cheaper (short term)
Cons, unknown, rolling dice again, no warranty
(I would get the engine fully checked over)

3) Give up for now. Get the car back home with no engine and put it in the garage until I can afford to fix it. (Another year or so, providing I don't lose interest)

My problem is that I don't have stacks of cash to get this sorted. I funded the conversion with a small bonus from work, and I over spent by roughly double, so my contingency was already wiped out! That was on the sump, timing chain, oil pump etc; ironically all the things I paid for to safe guard the engine!

I need to speak to the supplier of the engine in person, as I am hoping they offer some goodwill gesture on my purchase. I won't say any more about that until we've spoken. No warranty was implied, but it's a question of morals as the engine managed the grand total of 200 miles in my possession!

So that's it.

After all the saving, planning, hope and excitement, My 2zz experience lasted around 200 miles. I got it into lift 3 times, then it pretty much blew up.

I still can't believe it to be honest.

At least it's solved my dilemma; which track day (s) should I attend this year.... That'll be none!

I'll upload some pictures when I have some decent wifi!

[1979scotte]

You poor sod.
Niether of us are having much luck with our cars are we.

I would have a full rebuild on your current engine otherwise you could find youreslf in the same place in a few months time. If you can't afford it now be patient save your pennies it will all work out in the end.

[Anonymous]

Scotte it was a honour to share half my 2zz miles with you  s:D s:D

I'll be deciding which way to go over the next days/weeks, it depends mostly on cost

[mr-ed_smt]

Gutted for you Mark - what a horrible turn of events. Why not pop a cheap 1zz back whilst you get the 2zz rebuilt, so you can at least enjoy the car? You've put so much time money and effort in it to date that it would be daft (and a waste) to give up now.

[Anonymous]

Gutted for you Mark - what a horrible turn of events. Why not pop a cheap 1zz back whilst you get the 2zz rebuilt, so you can at least enjoy the car? You've put so much time money and effort in it to date that it would be daft (and a waste) to give up now.

It is an options, one which I did consider, but that would mean undoing all the work (read Money) which has gone into the 2zz, and writing off that cash. For me, that isn't an option now. I would resent the car after throwing that much money for nothing. Plus I've sold the old engine so it would mean buying one, and I'd rather put that money toward getting a 2zz running.

Basically, I'm too far down the line to turn back! FML!

[mr-ed_smt]

Better break out the plastic - you only live once;)!

[justinread72]

That is so sad all that effort been following you build , If I had the money after reading that status I would get you a kick ass cosworth 2zz.

If it was me I think I would go see if I could find a cheap donor car just so you. Get it going.

[men3cac]

Sorry to hear that, must be pretty soul destroying.

If I was you, assuming you can find the cash to do it, I'd be buying a cheap 190 Celica/Corolla and pulling the engine out of that, at least you can test drive it. Sell off what you don't need (which would be a lot as you already have most of it) and try to make as much money back as possible.

[tomaky]

Is the 1zz bottom end the same as a 2zz?

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that, must be pretty soul destroying.

If I was you, assuming you can find the cash to do it, I'd be buying a cheap 190 Celica/Corolla and pulling the engine out of that, at least you can test drive it. Sell off what you don't need (which would be a lot as you already have most of it) and try to make as much money back as possible.

Thanks. That is a viable option. My reservation is that old saying, Once bitten, twice shy.

My current engine was driven when in the Celica and was deemed good. The rocker cover was removed and everything inspected,all looked good. It was driven in the roadster and seemed ok.

What I'm saying is I could be in the situation again, it is another gamble doing that.

[Anonymous]

Is the 1zz bottom end the same as a 2zz?

I have nothing to base this on but I highly doubt it

[tomaky]

Ali suspect there different if there not there's one here for you there's also a decent 1ZZ that could be rebuilt if needed.

[1979scotte]

You said it yourself once bitten twice shy.

I don't know what your better half is like but mine would write off the first engine without too much fuss. Sh it happens.
If i bought another 2zz and that failed on me i don't think my life would be worth living.

[1979scotte]

Ali suspect there different if there not there's one here for you there's also a decent 1ZZ that could be rebuilt if needed.

Hey you stop giving engines away. You might owe me a new one. Tomaky Turbo Totaller!!!  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:   s;) s;)

[andyroo104]

So sorry to be reading this Mark,saw your car looking sad and sorry for itself at Patrick's on Monday,absolutely gutted for you mate,hope you get things sorted.
Andy.

[tomaky]

My turbo's running ace it's got fresh Mot aswell  s:) s:)  well I'm going to have three engines in bits so no worries

[jonty]

Gutted for you Mark  s:( s:(

If it was me I would get a replacement stock 2zz with good compression numbers and throw that at it asap. Normally I'm an advocate of being sensible with money, but if I were you I would get a credit card warmed up and slap the work on that, then sort out the finances later on.

I mothballed my car in April 2013 with a blown engine... I regret not getting the car back on the road right away and instead waiting to do things when "the timing is right". In fact - given that I have had a pretty cushy life - it's probably one of my biggest regrets. A friend of mine said to me a few weeks ago "life is too short to drive rubbish cars" and I can't agree more. I see my colleagues coming to work on motorbikes or in a nice Elise, Impreza, s2000, and I realise I just missed out on 30mins of enjoying life...

[StuC]

Awww man, this seriously sucks.
I feel your pain Mark.  s:-( :-( s:-(  

You have done the right thing in getting the problem diagnosed properly. Has Patrick been able to validate the quality of the rest of the engine? Block etc
If the rest of that is still good, then I'd be inclined to pursue the road you are already on with a replacement crank and bottom end rebuild. I know it means cash and/or waiting but it will deliver the car you wanted with the reliability you expected.

I hope that your comeback on the engine supplier gives you something positive. That should help to lessen the pain some.
Lastly, something we can give in abundance is plenty of listening, opinions (when asked for  s;-) ;-) s;-)  ) and most of all lots of encouragement!  s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:  Chin up fella.  s:-D :-D s:-D

[Mark A]

Really sorry to hear this, anything i can do to help just give me a shout. I'd look on Copart for a damaged 2zz car.

[Dasilva]

Mark, just found your post. I can imagine that sinking sick feeling, when spent a lot of money and time then spend couple of hundred miles on the road to all end up going south.

It was always a concern in my mind every time I heard something I thought  sshit shit sshit !

Having spent 5 months on my project the longer you leave it the bigger the risk real world events "life" will slow down its resurrection.

I'll add Celia 190 to my eBay alerts and let know when I find a car  s;) s;)  
Don't suppose you want to drive the k20 to perk your spirist up?

[Anonymous]

Mark if the 1zz crank are the same as the 2zz then I got one you can have. I know the block is different extra oil ways and larger bore.