MR2 AW11 build thread

[flohtingPoint]

Update 11Feb10. Build so far:-Motor is out and being rebuilt-Koni Yellow shocks-Ground Control coilovers-Ground Control camber plates (rear)-Cusco camber plates (front)-Rotora front rotors-Sparco seat-Momo steering wheel-TRD short shifter-AC components removed-Prothane bushings



About a month ago I picked up an 85 MR2 (first year available in the states) and have been sitting on it while I decided what to do with it. As much as I f*ck around in life and get drunk all the time, building cars is about the only thing I do with a purpose in mind and the purpose for the MR2 hit me last weekend.

My AW11 is going to be built for the STS category of SCCA. After reviewing the rules (both while intoxicated and while not), I began making a list (a long list) of things that need to be done to the car to prep it for STS by Feb of next year. This is going to be a no-f*cking around build, as time is short and money will have to be stretched...

Total cost for the project is estimated to be around 6-9k, depending on how the body work goes on the car. My poor vehicle has a good bit of rust.





The 4ag that sits in the car is 25 years old and will require a full rebuild.



Anyway, today I kick-started the process by ordering the first batch of parts to go on the car:-Sparco seat/bracket/hardware-Momo wheel/boss kit-Rotora front rotors-Suspension Techniques front and rear sway bars-Prothane bushing kit

The race to have the car built by February of next year is on.

Modified by flohtingPoint at 11:02 PM 2/11/2010
Modified by flohtingPoint at 6:29 AM 2/13/2010

[Mr1der]

game on son!

[flohtingPoint]

Ok, some stuff arrived today =)

One of my swaybars

My boss kit and momo wheel and a card for one of the folks at Pole Position hand signed and a 20 buck off next purchase over 100 bucks cert. I have to call them tomorrow though as they forgot a piece of my hub and I cannot mount my horn button now =(





My Sparco seat

It was getting dark, so the only thing I put on today was my steering wheel. I still have to wait for my seat brackets to come in for the Sparco and I wont do the sway bars until they both come in and after I get shocks/springs and better end-links.

[breadbox]

I know you are gonna do that 4AG justice.

How common were SC'd aw11s?

[flohtingPoint]

I know you are gonna do that 4AG justice.

How common were SC'd aw11s?

Sadly, all I can really do is rebuild it, give it a light tune and change the induction filter. SCCA rules for the class I'm building the car for.

My year is the first years that MR2's were introduced. In 87, the SC'ed models were available.

[flohtingPoint]

A tour of the garage I house and build my MR2 in:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AGYAPCPf7U

[PEZi]

where's the sway bar?

looks like it should be a fun project man... maybe i'll see ya at nationals in 2 years... (don't think mine will be ready by next year yet)

[r34 gtr]

Your garage seems cramped.

[flohtingPoint]

where's the sway bar?

looks like it should be a fun project man... maybe i'll see ya at nationals in 2 years... (don't think mine will be ready by next year yet)

That rear sway bar is really thin, no doubt about that... It's hardly thicker than the hanger on the ground next to it.

We're running into issues with acquiring some of the gear we need to finish the car, so it may not be nationals ready. We're pushing hard and destroying our "fun money" sections of our bank accounts so hopefully it all comes to fruition.

Your garage seems cramped.

It's extremely cramped, but it's well worth it. The Austin Healey folks that make up the majority of the population there are wizards with the wrench and have done every type of restoration needed for an archaic vehicle. If, by chance, they dont have an answer, the guy in the back of the garage building a Lotus Europa from scratch (seriously, it's just a frame right now, not even in shell stage) will know. Basically, there are always brains to pick.

While I await all the rest of the suspension gear to show up before I crack a wrench on that stage of the project, something quick showed up this weekend for an easy install. My TRD short shifter.





Quick shot of the Mister 2 next to my other Toyota.

[breadbox]

Wow, lot of topless roadsters in that garage. Done anything with the motor yet?

[flohtingPoint]

Wow, lot of topless roadsters in that garage. Done anything with the motor yet?

Motor is out and being rebuilt. Thats all I'm allowed to do to it due to class restrictions.

Interior of the car is all done. All that I'm allowed to do has been finished (steering wheel, seat, seatbelt, shortshifter. Nothing else can be touched.

Still awaiting coilovers from ground control.

[flohtingPoint]

So my "engrish" pillow-ball uppermounts showed up, so work on putting together the front coilovers could start.



I got a crack out of this in the instructions from Cusco.

Assembly of the rear coilovers with Koni Yellow shocks, Ground Control coilovers and Ground Control camber plates.









Playing with rear camber.



Assembly of the front coilovers with Koni Yellow, GC coilovers and Cusco camber plates.

Installed today, this is where the snow tapers off near my shop after the DC blizzard.

Car is getting a little cluttered...

[Veriest1]

Sadly, all I can really do is rebuild it, give it a light tune and change the induction filter. SCCA rules for the class I'm building the car for.

My year is the first years that MR2's were introduced. In 87, the SC'ed models were available.

Have you thought about trying the new STR class? IIRC you can do a bit more there. Forced induction isn't allowed there so no worries about that but, even so, I'm not sure a 1st gen would be competitive.

the guy in the back of the garage building a Lotus Europa from scratch

Ballsy.

[flohtingPoint]

My Corolla is already a money-pit, so I'm trying to keep the MR2 relatively low key in terms of it's build. I'm also pouring more cash into fortifying the Corolla for hill climbs this year, so a cage is in the works, extinguisher system, new harness (as mine is outdated), etc.

[Veriest1]

budget

STR is pretty low key, they allow the addition of a header, minor ecu tuning, and a bit more suspension work. And tires are restricted to 245's with higher tread wear rating IIRC. On the other hand you'd be stuck running against the S2000, NC Miata, MR2 Spyder, and Z4.

the Corolla for hill climbs

That's going to be pimptastic. Keep us updated.


Modified by Veriest1 at 4:07 PM 2/9/2010

[flohtingPoint]

STR is pretty low key, they allow the addition of a header, minor ecu tuning, and a bit more suspension work. And tires are restricted to 245's with higher tread wear rating IIRC. On the other hand you'd be stuck running against the S2000, NC Miata, MR2 Spyder, and Z4.



That's going to be pimptastic. Keep us updated.

Modified by Veriest1 at 4:07 PM 2/9/2010

Headers are allowed in STS. Section D of the Street Touring states "Exhaust manifolds and headers may be replaced with alternate units which are emissions-legal." I have TRD headers.

Minor fuel management is allowed too, under section F of Engine and such from Street Touring, "Electronic components may be installed in-line between an engine’s sensors and ECU. These components may alter the signal coming from the sensor in order to affect the ECU’s operation of engine management system. Example: fuel controllers that modify the signal coming from an airflow sensor." The way I read that is that I could use something like an SAFC or anything else that keeps the standard ECU.

I dunno if I want to mess with S2k's or an MR-S. STS is hard enough as MR2's are the bottom barrel there, bumping up might make the whole project moot.

Will update my Corolla thread when the cage is finally built and put in. I usually update that thread with autox stuff too, vids from events and what not.

[flohtingPoint]

Just got home from installing the Prothane bushings on the MR2.

[flohtingPoint]

Just ordered:
-Front endlinks
-Replacement OEM flywheel/clutch
-Hawk HP Plus brake pads (front)
-Axxis Ultimate (rear, no Hawk available)
-Replacement plug wires
-K&N Air filter
-Rotora rear brakes

I also found a replacement transmission from a fellow STS MR2 driver, should be picking it up next week.

With this latest shipment, all that really needs to be done is get wheels/tires and the car will be ready for SCCA STS. The car came together longer than expected, but at least it'll see track time this year. There is still more that needs to be done but it can at least get running after the above is installed.

[flohtingPoint]

Still awaiting clutch/flywheel/pilot bearing. Will be taking off the transmission probably this weekend and get half the job done. Everything else will go on and I'll be able to put on the front swaybar now that I have the required endlinks.

[flohtingPoint]

Quick update on this; I'm still awaiting a transmission for this. Once the transmission gets put in place, we just need wheels/tires and then to reg the car, and it'll be STS ready. It wont be a total competitor, but it'll be something to drive while the Corolla is experiencing downtime.

[Mr1der]

it's a little different too. I'd like to get my hands on one...and get made every time I gotta climb in the mail slot to work on it.