00 mr2 spyder commute attack car

Hello all! I figure the best way to introduce myself is to show you the car I threw together for my wife to use for summer driving as well as to us to do some autox and trackdays in. This car came into my care in need of repair (blowed up and in general disrepair, inside/outside, covered in graffiti, rough), but at some point had been treated to some nice parts. I rebuilt the car from the ground up with the idea that a bare minimum of car would be best for maximizing both the driving experience as well as performance potential of the car. <img src="#//s1148.photobucket.com/user/thehumanrace/media/IMG_3643.jpg.html][/URL]" />

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I removed all components that I deemed unnecessary and the car got better and better, nvh even got quieter somehow. (maybe less stuff to rattle/resonate?) I fabricated a small wing to balance the car aesthetically and hopefully add some psychosomatic rear downforce

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I rebuilt the motor, with some upgrades in the interest of reliability and thermal management. Oh and I forgot to mention, the gt28rs (disco potato) turbocharger pushing 7psi [URL=http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/thehumanrace/media/IMG_3618.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/thehumanrace/media/IMG_3610.jpg.html][/URL]

I upgraded the clutch and flywheel

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And put it back where it belongs with a six speed tranny swap for good measure.

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And needless to say the wife likes it pretty well.[URL=http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/thehumanrace/media/stinkybuttmanda138.jpg.html][/URL] The car runs great, puts down 212whp on a dynodynamics dyno, and turned ftd at our last autox as well as currently 2nd fastest time of the year, missed it by .04 (at limerock park). Hope you all enjoyed my little story and hopefully there will be many more to come.

Welcome aboard.....

Thanks JoeyM! I found another picture, I need to do a decent photo shoot with the car but haven't gottten around to it just yet. [URL=http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/thehumanrace/media/iphone2022.jpg.html][/URL]

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Wow...gorgeous car and a very cool build! Welcome!

Cool! I was just thinking about Spyders earlier today... Yours is very nice indeed!

more to come

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Thanks for the kind words. If spiders are on your mind, get one. Its like a cheap elise. This one still gets 30mpg avg driving it hard. It has been relentlessly reliable despite doubling the factory power (did blow up an exedy clutch though) They are not a car you learn in an afternoon, you build a relationship with these cars, it's what makes them special. Once you learn the way they need to be driven, they flow beautifully.

Wow. That is a nice result. We need more spyders around here, so welcome!

I really need to go work on the aw11...

That car is painfully good.

There are not enough MRS builds out there - yours is primo. Thanks for sharing!

This thing is sahweeeeeeeet

Nice.

Now do one about the FJ.

Uh, yeeeeaaaaaaaahhhh, if you could just give that to me now, that'd be grrrreeeaaattt, yeeeeaaahhhh. K? Thanks!

I hate Toyotas. This fixes that.

Thanks everyone! Sorry but the Fj build blog will have to wait until its worthy of one. The plan is, a spring over axle conversion or linksetup, an aluminum body painted lexus bamboo green pearl, and a light pressure turbo (so I can tow a race trailer with it). It's coming along but slowly, and the PO did work his magic on it (see that awesome homebrew liftkit?, nothin a shackle reversal and spring over can't fix but wow) <img src="#//s1148.photobucket.com/user/thehumanrace/media/IMG_3529.png.html][/URL]" />[URL=http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/thehumanrace/media/IMG_3324.jpg.html][/URL]. A long way to go though!

Anyone know why some of my photobucket links are just ? marks?

carbon wrote: Thanks everyone! Sorry but the Fj build blog will have to wait until its worthy of one. The plan is, a spring over axle conversion or linksetup, an aluminum body painted lexus bamboo green pearl, and a light pressure turbo (so I can tow a race trailer with it). It's coming along but slowly, and the PO did work his magic on it (see that awesome homebrew liftkit?, nothin a shackle reversal and spring over can't fix but wow) <img src="#//s1148.photobucket.com/user/thehumanrace/media/IMG_3529.png.html][/URL]" />[URL=http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/thehumanrace/media/IMG_3324.jpg.html][/URL]. A long way to go though!

What engine does the FJ have in it? Love these things! I assume it has a 4-cylinder diesel if it's still fairly original?

Very nice? What kind of gold thermal wrap is that on the intercooler pipes?

The engine in the FJ is a Man-a-fre 2f 4.2l crate motor. To my knowledge they are all 6 cyls gas or diesel. My buddy has a grey import auzzie fj45 pickup and its a N/A diesel 6cyl. The turbo I have waiting for it is td04, it should be quite responsive, I'm not looking for big power, just quick spool and increased torque.

The wrap is from dei, it is adhesive on the inside, good stuff.

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So I saw a Yamaha head... what's going on with the 2zz?

Getting built for boost, then all hell breaks loose.

Nice builds! My neighbor has an FJ that I drool over often........

Though really, get yourself some nice magnetic numbers for autocross, lol!

Lol, yup the makeshift #s were pretty great. I have a friend with a signshop that has promised to make some magnetic placards like this. <img src="" />