Recommendations for AW11 MR parts suppliers?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 11, 2010 6:05 p.m. BoxheadTim Dork
Someone not too far from here is selling a one-owner AW11 MR2 that's supposedly in really nice condition - story is it was grandma's car, she had it from new it and it was her baby. Unfortunately grandma passed away and it's now for sale, which is where I might come in...

However a quick google suggests that there aren't that many purveyors of fine AW11 aftermarket parts, does anybody have any recommendations? Given that the car would see the occasional HPDE, the plan for upgrading it looked something like this:
- uprated radiator
- uprated brakes (but that's probably just stainless brake hoses and better pads; I've found both)
- suspension, at least better shocks (found adjustable Konis), maybe coilovers
- 15" wheels with stickier tires
- potentially a harness bar if someone makes such a thing as I'd like to have the option of putting racing seats in it
Nov. 11, 2010 6:41 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

I sold my MR2 SC about 4 years ago but back then www.mr2oc.com was epicenter of all thing MR2. It does require registration to enter but it is safe and easy.
Nov. 11, 2010 7:27 p.m. Tyler H Dork

In reply to BoxheadTim:

Forget the radiator. These things have an over-engineered cooling system, including a marine-style oil cooler, stock.

87+ brakes are a little bigger. Direct bolt-on for earlier cars. Good pads and fluids are all it takes.

If you just want harnesses, the firewall is plenty thick enough to mount your shoulder harness, and you can put it in the perfect place. Bolt-in and weld-in prefab cages are available.

You really just need to replace the ball-joints and maybe replace the steering rack bushings, other than shocks and struts. The stock suspension bushings hold up pretty well in my experience.

Great cars, especially if they aren't rusty.
Nov. 11, 2010 7:42 p.m. pimpm3 New Reader

The cars are super easy to work on and do well on the track. I road raced one for 4 years when they ran in ITA. As far as the items you mentioned, I never had any problems with the stock radiator and I did 1.5 hour enduro races in Florida.

Get a set of hawk pads from Tirerack.com for the front and good fluid with stainless brake lines and you will have no problem with the brakes. I ran rear pads from the local autoparts store and the car always braked well. Mine was a 1985 but I ran 1987 up brakes.

As far as suspension goes I ran Tokico's and Ground control's with Suspension techniques sway bars.

A set of 15x7's with 205/45/15 Toyo's will do wonders for the handling.

You don't need a harness bar. Under the plastic trim behind the drivers seat there is a good sized threaded bolt hole. I can't remember what was attached there originally (but you can bolt a harness to it). I would also wear the factory seat belt as well since I am unsure what was in the bolt hole originally if anything.

You won't regret buying the car. I am kind of regretting selling mine ;(
Nov. 11, 2010 7:51 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

pimpm3 wrote: Under the plastic trim behind the drivers seat there is a good sized threaded bolt hole. I can't remember what was attached there originally (but you can bolt a harness to it). I would also wear the factory seat belt as well since I am unsure what was in the bolt hole originally if anything.

It is largely regarded that the theaded hole you speak of is not nearly strong enough to mount a harness.
With complete knowledge of this advice, I too still mounted my autocross 4 point harness there.
Originally, this hole held a coat hook (which was largely useless.)
These rims are 14x6 Mazda MX3 rims. These were a set of street rims that I had on my '90 Miata. My point being that the MR2 shares the same bolt patern and center bore size with the Miata.

Later, I picked up these inexpensive 15x7 Konig rims with 195/50/15 Kumhos
Tokico adjustables on stock ride height springs (for stock class)
Porterfield Brake Pads R4S
What a great car!!!
Nov. 11, 2010 8:01 p.m. pimpm3 New Reader

Mine had a roll cage. I mounted my harness to that.

For autocross I would have no problem mounting a harness to the bolt hole on the fire wall. Come to think of it I have mounted an autocross harness to flimsyer, dumber things then that in the past, but If he wants to do a track day he should wear the factory seatbelt as well for "extra insurance"