Project mr2
 

It's been a while, but I am finally in the midst of a new project car. I picked up a mr2 that has a locked up engine and will (as of this initial post) likely see a swapped v6 tossed in. This will be anywhere from a 225-325whp car depending on which motor I end up going with.

Will add more to this when I get time, but figure I'd toss a few pics up to start it off.

Re: Project mr2
 

No LS Swap?

Re: Project mr2
 

Very cool. Congrats! I've always liked this generation mr2.

Why a v6 though? I'm assuming people do this? K series Honda motor an option?

Re: Project mr2
 

The primary role for this car will be seat time. I'm still toying with the idea of a k swap. Though stay with a NA v6 would give me a nice and steady power band, good torque, and let me really focus on driving vs dealing with anything boosted. The car is made up of the engine/drive train/suspension of this car:

http://www.mr2oc.com/45-auto-x/33045...sm2-turbo.html

That was swapped into the chassis I have by Full Blown and there is a new fuel setup in the truck that utilizes the stock tank.

So far I've got the back half of the exhaust off, all the IC and Intake off, plugs pulled, and the oil drained. Lots of green in the oil and plugs dirty brown. Goal is to get a hoist and some help for Friday night and get the motor out and see what's what.

I've got a lot posted on FB under 'Find the Line Auto Sports' already if anyone wants to check more pics out.

Re: Project mr2
 

I've seen a few of these swapped with the Camry V6 motor, tranny bolts right up apparently. Basically a cheap Lotus Evora, I've thought about building one of these myself. I friend of mine had a NT one back when I bought my first DSM in 1997.

Re: Project mr2
 

Nice! Go with a 2grfe! It's lighter than the 3sgte. 1mz or 3mz is disappointing. The S54 tranny will bolt up to the 2gr but you will need to tap 1 hole on the block.

Re: Project mr2
 

^THat's the man right there!

K swap and run it NA still capable of 300whp, then you can DD it and get over 30mpg.

Re: Project mr2
 

That's kinda what I had in mind. An NA build that isn't on the wild side, which should be reliable and still make good whp.

Re: Project mr2
 

I can get similar with th 2gr-fe v6 as well with cams and it's less money to do the swap from what I've seen. One motor mount and bolts up to the current transmission. I have some options and we will see what I can get a motor for...

Re: Project mr2
 

Good point. Simplicity is good. And costs could be better with a motor that has less demand in the used market.

Re: Project mr2
 

A running 2gr, can be found locally for $1100 to $2000 all day long it seems. There are a lot out there that seem to come out of Rav4s with lower mileage.

Re: Project mr2
 

Get a 2gr that has the oil cooler. Can be found in the Sienna and Rav4 with the tow package.

Re: Project mr2
 

Funny how the engine from a mundane boring vehicle can become a great powerplant in the right setup!

Re: Project mr2
 

True that... with this, I'd say having at least 250whp with nearly the same torque in a car that weights 2500-2700 lbs should be a nice starting point.

I plan on getting one off a tow package car. The only thing I'm still trying to figure out is the whole ECU/Wiring harness/Immobilizer shit.

I'd love to have this be as clean and simple as possible in the engine bay. It also will have AC, this would be be driven on the Mitsu Cruise next Spring! ;)

Re: Project mr2
 

One of my buddy is in the process of putting a 2gr in his mr2. He's going with the megasquirt to bypass the immobilizer. He's also running a mustang throttle body so he can use the stock gas pedal instead of the electric stuff. Otherwise some early 2gr came with no immobilizer ecu which will be hard to find. I believe Gouky just found a way to bypass ecu with immobilizer and change the rev limiter.

Re: Project mr2
 

yeah, those are good options as well. I'll make my decision once I get this motor out, apart, and see if it makes sense to just have it repaired or not. I do have a spare set of rods and a spare crank as well that came with the car so it could be just machine work and assembly to get it going again at the current power levels of between 300 and 400 depending on fuel and tune. If I stay with boost... decisions decisions...

Re: Project mr2
 

Is it a factory turbo car?

Re: Project mr2
 

Gonna be a fun project! Get cookin on it!

Re: Project mr2
 

The chassis, no. Here is the actual car for sale I have before the change of engine and and such.

https://forums.mnautox.com/forum/mar...-mr2-the-zebra

From what I see I have a turbo trans for the setup in the car now and the spare trans from the motor that was in it. So much spares... ha!

Re: Project mr2
 

I've decided to keep the turbo setup in the car an rebuild the motor if it can be saved. It's the cheapest way to get it going again at the end of the day and I should be anywhere between 300 to 500 whp by the time it's all said and done, depending on the motor build aspect. Hope to have the motor out this fall yet and the car running sometime early spring.