00 mr2 spyder commute attack car

Picked this up this weekend… <img src="" /> I am sitting in the second place qualifying position for the axis series .11 sec behind an 09 viper acr.

So hear is what's rolling around in my head lately….

I've been thinking hard about ways to shave weight and was thinking that the top was a fair amount of weight that's mounted high and to the rear, so I thought in the future the top will go away and be replaced with a hardtop on days that it will surely rain and on other days a temporary top will save the day if a freak storm catches us out. Something like this..

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The next step if all goes as planned will be more weight reduction by way of a/c removal, some fabrication of components using lighter materials and the use of some exotic fasteners (non essential in aluminum and important stuff in ti). I would do some carbon panels (frunk lid and engine cover) but the stuff that's readily available is not optimized for weight to strength ratio (copies of original panels instead of using the inherent strengths of the composite in the design) and it's tough to get excited about spending $1200 to loose 14lbs. Not to mention there are fitment issues and the added expense of prep and paint.

The end goal is to loose another 100-150lbs.

some action shots

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swmbo chasing me while I rip around in the support vehicle <img src="" />

I always forget what a great rig that IS300 is, that thing is fun as hell on the track, just so calm at big slip angles and so predictable. It's way more neutral than it has any right to be with that 2jz hanging out front. The P-zero rossos are damned sticky for a street tire too ( I run 225/45/17s all around). It's got brembo rotors with hawk pads a k&n panel filter in a modded air box a figs cddd and an n/a supra clutch, slave and flywheel (the oe setup is dual mass and wicked heavy). Next time out I'm going to do some timed laps in the lexus too.

I went to the AXIS finals at limerock with the old girl this weekend and finished 3rd overall. The cars that beat me were 1st a formula ford (thats what he called it but it was honda powered) that beat me by .5 sec and 2nd a REALLLLLLLY nicely built nb style miata that was piloted by my friend Quinn (on slicks). His car has a built motor with ITBs and is just gorgeous and really sorted, also he's no slouch behind the wheel. I think I could have beaten him if I was on race rubber (because the mr2 is lighter, has more power and the engine is in the right place ) but it wasn't in the budget this year. I think I hurt the motor as it began to evacuate coolant toward the end of the day, maybe it's finally time to swap in the elise 2zzge I have out in the garage. I don't know if the 2zz is as well suited to the tracks we run as the power will be delivered in the upper rpm range but it will be killer on the street with the extra power and revs.

The car went into storage for the winter tonight and I have big plans for the next season. Stay tuned!

Heh I follow Quinn's build threads too!

Yup, Quinn makes me up my game, that's what friends are for!

Here's some footage……Enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsQTp1biseo

So it's time trial on a oval with no helmets?

Usually its on the full kart corse but this year at the last min they changed it to this weird oval portion with two chicaines at the last minute. No idea why. We were all kinda pissed about the configuration. They don't require helmets at any of the "autox" events or at AXIS. It was berking cold, like 32f.

I never really cared for the 3rd gen MR2s until I just read this thread. I love your MR2. Well, make that all your vehicles.

Thanks man! The whole fleet would be cool if I wasn't always broke!

I love this MR2, I had to reread the whole thread to remind me why. Did you ever do the underbody aero? What's up with the LSD? Was it available from the factory?

trd made one and there was an option on jdm/european models. The car is really predictable and puts power down quite well even with an open diff, it always drifts predictably and only spins the inside wheel on long sweeping turns. I don't think that there would be an improvement on the street with an lsd but on track it costs a little time, and a little is a big deal.

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Haven't gone as crazy as I'd hoped this year due to time/ money constraints but it's coming. This car is an evolutionary process and I've found that evolution can take a long time. I'm devided between several pretty extreme projects at the moment, I'm building the fj40 shown earlier in this thread and an IS300 sportcross that has a thread coming in the near future.

More to come..

Petrolburner wrote: I love this MR2, I had to reread the whole thread to remind me why. Did you ever do the underbody aero? What's up with the LSD? Was it available from the factory?

04-05 had a diff from factory in the US.

I keep wondering why they call what they do at Lime Rock autocross as it doesn't sound like autocross at all.

Harvey wrote: I keep wondering why they call what they do at Lime Rock autocross as it doesn't sound like autocross at all.

Or feel like autox. It's like a short road course lapping day with some time attack in the middle. Axis finals are next weekend. Competition has gotten pretty fierce in the last couple years, the time that won the championship 3 years ago wouldn't be a top 10 time this year.

Added some negative camber front and rear via some whiteline eccentric bolts. It worked very well at axis. Competition was rediculous this year, some well driven, really wicked cars and a formula ford/honda that dominated. We finished 3rd of the non-formula cars and first car not on slicks. Super fun day. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yRIliyQ3PGw

Yeesh, they are really taking a risk having this thing this late in the season. Lucky it was 50 yesterday.

I need to sell my Corvette this spring and I'm pretty sure I'll be replacing it with an MR2 Spyder.

I'm interested in a Corvette and have an Mr2 spyder! Too bad I'm on the opposite end of the country.

I've still got a 2zzge to put in the spyder, so if you end up with one, I'll sell you my turbo setup cheap.

Good to know. I have a couple of other variables right now, may or may not have to sell the Corvette. I really, really like it. For the amount I have in it, nothing else even comes close.

The 2zzgte swap has begun! After lots of planning and procrastinating, the universe has guided my hand by way of a ruptured turbo oil feed line on track last weekend. A (very minor) fire and lost oil pressure to the 1zz means it's time to up my game. The series that I've been running has become increasingly competitive and I need a bit more power to be competitive anyway so the timing is right anyway. Some of the cars I'm classed with are mclaren 12cs, a new acr extreme, and new gt3rs so I've got my work cut out for me. The target is somewhere around 350 whp. Great times we're living in that that sounds like so little even in a <2000lb car.

As part of this upgrade I'm changing out the piggyback (greddy emanage blue) for a standalone (apexi powerfc with dataloggit). I've also upgraded the boost control setup to a innovate scg1 wideband/ boost controller/ guage/ failsafe setup.

The headights were yellowing and had crazing in the lenses so they've been swapped out for new factory ones.

I swapped out the hood for a seibon carbon fiber one. More composite stuff is coming as are other weight saving measures. I really want to get this car in the 18xxlb range, I know it's a stretch but I'm going to be taking some pretty extreme measures.

I upgraded the oil pan on the 2zzge with a moroso one to ensure good oil control on track with sticky rubber.

Speaking of sticky rubber, I've been running bf rival s in 225/45/15 all around (square setup) lately, they're very sticky but dont last as long as the ra1s. Might try re71rs next.

I had someone inquire about my mirror mounts. They are custom ones that I fabbed from aluminum sheet.

Pics to come soon.

Sorry to hear about the fire but looking forward to more about the new engine.

Yea, sometimes a fire makes room for new growth in the forest