MR-S Turbo
 

I finally bought the 2004 MR2 Spyder. I've been wanting one for a while. Honestly all facts said that the Miata is better in every aspect. Buuuut at the end of the day I still wanted one. So I bought one and absolutely love it.

I'll be keeping the 1ZZ engine. You can swap in a 2ZZ but from what I hear even though it makes more power, it's a lot more peaky and has no low end. Not to mention the swap will cost quite a bit of $.

All in all I decided to freshen up the stock engine, put a turbo on it, and call it a day. Should be a fairly easy 250whp when it's all said and done.

Here is a picture of the MR2 the day I got it:

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/7264/img0647hw.jpg


Of course can't own a convertible without a roll bar... so my first purchase was:

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/7701/img0655v.jpg

I have all my gauges already. I'll be going with AEM digital gauges. Currently have WBo2, Oil Pressure and Boost/Vac.

Saving up for the turbo stuff and supporting mods right now, but currently working on the Miata project as well. I'll be finishing the Miata first, then using that as my daily until the MR2 is done.

I love that car. There was one at the Lansdale dyno last week sitting in the parking lot, same color. If I had one, it would get a Honda K20 swap and I'd leave it NA.
In fact, if I didn't have a Miata...that's most likely what I'd own.

Looking forward to what you do with this, should be a fun car. Sort of a poor-man's Elise (in a good way).

Thread title.
 

What the hell is an "MR-S"? Is it a car for the wife? MR-S_FRT?

I just helped a buddy replace a blown engine in an early n/a second-gen. The PO had run it until way beyond overheating. The rod in cylinder one disconnected from the piston and now you can see pretty clearly all the way though the block. The flailing rod also took out the A/C compressor. Found a replacement block from a Camry, and bolted everything up to it and stuck it in there. Fired right up! My only gripe is the fact that the engine had to come out the bottom instead of the top.

MR-S is what the car is called. Well in the US MR2 Spyder. But spyder just sounds kinda homo.

The roll bar install should be an adventure. You have to cut into the body and remove the gas tank. Oh joy.

Though about doing the k20 swap, but dunno. I'll have to see what it would end up costing.

At this point I'm really up for anything, just seems like a turbo will be the least expensive per whp gain.

The only thing I'm stuck on is if I will run an IC or not. If not WI will be used for sure. I just don't know if it's worth running one with the mid engine setup.

Looking like I'll be using a GT28 at around 9psi. Soooo input?

Hahah yea honestly that is basically dead on.

Nice car. Actually lighter than the miata stock. My old stripper neighbor had one with the license plate "NAWTGRL"

Why would you get a GT28 to run 9psi? Why not just a GT2554R?

That's what I was thinking. 9 psi is kind of a waste considering the amount of boost it's capable of. Then again at 9 psi it should make more than a 2554 would on let's say 12 psi.

He should really aim for a power goal instead of a psi goal...

The 2554 would make 230whp, a 2560 at least 280... More lag + Less power = Huh?

my buddy had a hass turbo kit on his MRS a few years back. The thing was awesome

Room to move up. Plus when 10psi does this:
http://www.monkeywrenchracing.com/im...o1zzt10psi.jpg

The reason why I said 9psi was because that is what others are doing safely and making good power. No need to break the barrier on this one. Learned my lesson once.

I'm considering that one too, they just came out with a new one. No IC and water injection.

Room to move up is exactly the issue. If you oversize your turbo for your goals, you'll think "Hey, I just turn up the boost a little... build the engine a touch... ect." :P

Judging by the dyno plot I really don't think this turbo is over sized. Would something smaller be a bit more responsive? Sure probably. 2554 would be under sized no doubt about that. Maybe a 2560. We shall see.

Mmhmm. I'd definitely go 2560 with that. The spool is good, but I'd be worried about transitional repsonse, to be honest. Every little bit helps, after all.

full boost by 3000RPM!!!!


(I think they meant 4000)

Does your MR-S have a LSD?

I agree. Get this turbo so you have room to move up:

GT60

I'm not flaming so please don't get your panties in a bunch, but:

have you ever driven a larger turbo miata? (or other cars for that matter)

You're constantly knocking big turbos and suggesting everyone and their mother go with a 2560, I'm just curious if you've even driven a large turbo miata to be so confident about response and spool, etc.

There's a reason more and more big turbo miatas are popping up on here.

Dude... I don't know why you are running that huge turbo for the power you are making. All of us have been told 1000 times by someone that a 2560 is good for 350whp.:jerkit:

lol

But seriously, I'd like to hear his reasoning. I had a 2860 sized turbo on my 1st setup, and after a while I hated it. Switched to a larger turbo and couldn't be happier.

He hasn't experienced it yet. It is like you thiink you can go your whole life not drinking until you try it. You think that you can stay from sex til you are married until get your first handy or boobs. Next think you know, you end up an alcoholic manwhore with a murdered out girly car dreaming of big turbos.

:laugh:

I owned a bigger turbo Miata. Hated it. Absolutely hated it.

So then of course, we all will.

I get it, it's your opinion, you didn't like it. That is fine, I respect that.

The GT28 is what is recommended by the guys making the kit, so I'm going with it.

If I don't like it then I'll do what most people end up doing, part out and start over.

As much as I'd like to say this is it, I'm gonna do this and be done, I know better by now. It's a never ending story.

Yes sir. Helical LSD or some shit I believe.

I gave a valid, scientifically provable reason for my recommendation. Take it or don't, I really couldn't care less. A bigger turbo will respond slower. If that doesn't matter to you, that's fine. Have fun, however you do it.

Link to build thread? I looked through "haraises build" or whatever and didn't see anything about a big turbo setup, and none of your other threads talk about a big turbo setup.

I wanna know specifics, because everyone that has ridden in/driven my car and other large turbo cars has NEVER complained of lagginess. Even at low rpm the 5-7psi the turbo is pushing makes for more than enough grunt down low.

And I provided a dyno plot with said turbo producing a nice torque curve and steady build of HP.

This is NOT a miata engine ;)

This was before I came here. I'm building up my second turbo Miata right now. My fourth Miata total... My current build is about trying to do everything right this time.

And yeah, that's fine. For what you do, 18psi, I'm sure it's fine. Bigger turbos will give you more low end torque, after all. They still flow more, no matter if a smaller turbo has spooled or not.

The T3 I had before was a killer in autocross, just wanted to spin all the time from the rapid torque onset. I didn't realize at the time that having a turbo with a relatively narrow map would lead to a car that would be severely upset mid/late corner. I couldn't even have real fun on twisty roads because of that.

But if you have a built engine and racelands, you have a different priority set than me, so like I said before, do what is fun for you.

I was talking about transitional response rather than spool. Spool looks good as far as the smooth curve goes, but the delay in throttle response/the need to feed in throttle to have the turbo spooled at the end of the corner annoys me. Maybe much more than it would you.

More details on the turbo and boost level? How much power did you end up with?

It was a journal bearing T3 .60/.60 I think. Low boost. 250whp. All in all, a superbly crappy setup. Log manifold, crappy ECU, 2.5" exhaust, all that.

Hmm my 3071r at 9psi and 200hp wasn't that bad. Boost didn't exactly hit hard but it was still pretty fun. It didn't get awesome until 17+psi.

If I stayed with 200-250hp i would probably get a teensy turbo and boost the shit out of with water injection for safety.

That 'hitting hard' torque spike that makes the car fun on the interstate/straight line is what made me hate it in the turns. Different priorities....

Great buy. You'll enjoy the car stock or turbo'd, but I'd look into the 2GR 3.5L
V6 (268 HP/245 TQ!). I've seen a few 2GR MR2's completed lately. 05+ Avalon/Camry/RAV4 V6's aren't
expensive or difficult swaps and weigh about the same as a 3S-GTE. Handling wouldn't be effected much.

I couldn't find great vids but here's a 250 hp class race. The red/white MR-S has a 2GR V6. (skip to 3:32)

Actually right now, my car is lots of fun in the twisties. If I stay above boost threshold (4000RPM) then power is there when I want it. I stay in the same gears as I did when I was unboosted since I wanted to keep the RPMs up then too. Of course the big difference is that I can't have a binary right foot. More throttle = more power and for me that is fun.

Different tastes.

TRD Spoiler came in...

yay.

man you're moving right along ordering parts for it.

me likey:)

Let me just say... actually getting to drive the MR2 while it's completely stock is amazingly satisfying. Didn't get to do that with the Miata. Only drove it non-turbo once before I turboed it.

So I've been thinking... I'm trying to save a bit... but I won't deny it I'm addicted to working on my car.

This car will probably never be a track car, mostly just street fun.

I've been thinking... do I really need it to be thaaaaat fast. I'm thinking no. A turbo would be nice, but reallllllllllllly do I need it for the street. I say yes... but maybe not for a couple years. If I just do small stuff, like maybe something once a month, I can avoid spending 5k on parts in 2 weeks, and manage to actually save money like I should be.

I can't really just buy 1 thing a month turbo wise. I mean I could... but I want to install one thing a month. So I will probably just start with suspension. Get it set up how I want it, and then go from there.

I need to make more money.

I think you need to STFU and apply MOAR BOOOST!!!!

lars plz PP me $5k kthxbai

Last night was not worth $5k, sorryz.

When's your re-up window coming up? ;)

if we won our sc2 games this morning i would have.

In it.... and not doing it hahaha.

prove it.

That's not what you said last night.

well you gotta win 3 games with me.

Awww yea hard dog bitches!

You have to drop the gas tank to install it. 5 mounting points per side. FML all day.


http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/1...3532611177.jpg

And put in my harnesses.

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/6...9532511177.jpg

Someone backed into me today :(

Going to need a new front bumper.

They really do drive a lot like an Elise.