This simple mod gave us 5 horsepower for free

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Update by J.G. Pasterjak to the Toyota MR2 Turbo project car
Sep 19, 2023 | Toyota, MR2, Toyota MR2 Turbo, 2GR-FE, Frankenstein Motorworks

The 3.5-liter 2GR-FE V6 that will soon find a home in our 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo (which will, of course, no longer be a turbo, but we’ll probably leave the badge on just the same) is a fairly high-spec powerplant as delivered from the factory.

[What does it take to swap a V6 into a Toyota MR2? | …

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David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/19/23 9:08 a.m.

I recently had a talk with Ed Senf, tuner to the stars, about some head porting–specifically involving a Miata.

His answer was something like: "Yeah, I don't know what kind of voodoo they performed over there, but the dyno numbers looked just amazing."

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/19/23 9:12 a.m.

Polishing the intake tract is more likely to hurt than help on any random engine, polishing tends to help more on the exhaust side.

calteg
calteg SuperDork
1/19/23 9:40 a.m.

Following this closely. I feel like every V6 swap blows up the minute it hits the track

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter)
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
1/19/23 12:29 p.m.

Those bumps look a lot like the ones in the exhaust ports of the last generation small block Ford pushrod V8. They were also a low hanging fruit for a little port work. 
 

I have to wonder, after looking at the title for an easy 5 hp, who else thought this would be the recommendation?

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/19/23 1:03 p.m.
calteg said:

Following this closely. I feel like every V6 swap blows up the minute it hits the track

There may still be some PTSD over at GRM HQ about the Camry experiment.

Duke
Duke MegaDork
1/19/23 1:17 p.m.

#4 will astound you.

 

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
1/19/23 1:31 p.m.

This is worth an easy 23 kilowatts.

 

rssmithiq
rssmithiq New Reader
1/19/23 1:38 p.m.

In reply to GameboyRMH :  We used to do port work on our 2-stroke motocross bikes and finished by polishing the exhaust side and bead blasting the intake side to create a slightly rough surface. We got serious HP boosts. 

ShawnG
ShawnG MegaDork
1/19/23 2:36 p.m.

You forgot to add: "and you won't believe what happens next!"

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
1/19/23 3:54 p.m.
Keith Tanner said:
calteg said:

Following this closely. I feel like every V6 swap blows up the minute it hits the track

There may still be some PTSD over at GRM HQ about the Camry experiment.

That was a different V6, and supposedly the 2GR FE solves a lot of the issues that one did. It was actually so sensitive to starvations that it once wiped a bearing while being jacked up.

Even so, we're taking a lot of extra precautions, like baffling, an oil drainback from the PCV and a Moroso pressure acuumulator, whch I think just arrived on the UPS truck. Gotta run out to the street and see. Be right back.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/19/23 4:11 p.m.

In reply to JG Pasterjak :

So, anything good from the brown truck? 

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/19/23 4:41 p.m.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

I think he's run away from home 

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
1/19/23 4:44 p.m.

Nice big box from Moroso. Very pleased.

Toebra
Toebra Dork
1/19/23 4:56 p.m.
rssmithiq said:

In reply to GameboyRMH :  We used to do port work on our 2-stroke motocross bikes and finished by polishing the exhaust side and bead blasting the intake side to create a slightly rough surface. We got serious HP boosts. 

Turbulent flow on the intake tract improves fuel atomization, or that is what my geeky friends who understand this stuff say.

CrustyRedXpress
CrustyRedXpress GRM+ Memberand Dork
1/19/23 9:13 p.m.
Keith Tanner said:
calteg said:

Following this closely. I feel like every V6 swap blows up the minute it hits the track

There may still be some PTSD over at GRM HQ about the Camry experiment.

I feel this build is the redemption arc that the v6 camry swap needs.

CrustyRedXpress
CrustyRedXpress GRM+ Memberand Dork
1/19/23 9:13 p.m.
Keith Tanner said:
calteg said:

Following this closely. I feel like every V6 swap blows up the minute it hits the track

There may still be some PTSD over at GRM HQ about the Camry experiment.

I feel this build is the redemption arc that the v6 camry swap needs.

EvoFire
EvoFire
2/21/23 2:39 p.m.

In reply to CrustyRedXpress :

Then they need to swap a 2gr into a gen 3/4 Camry and wipe the floor on track 

maschinenbau
maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand UberDork
9/20/23 10:53 a.m.

Bookmarked and added to the to-do list for the Free Europa.

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