1985 Restored Red Mk1a MR2 (now with pics)

[seankenyon]

You seem to have a nice empty garage to keep the car in Sean

My car has had to stand outside summer & winter for 15 years

Hasn't done the old girl a power of good I think

Your bodywork & wheels look good. Quite a bit of offset iit seems

I have roadster wheels on mine, which I like

Peter

Cheers Peter, yeah it gets covered up to, only use it when the weather is dry.

I like the roadster wheels too but I've owned TSW Stealths before on a red 80's car so thought this would work just as well and really chuffed with how it looks, I'm a pain for wanting to fill the wheel arches and wanted avoid buying spacers.

I figured it would be best to put the Paradas on the rear as they are newer and have less tread cuts than the A539's

Cannot wait to get the other upgrades fitted and drive it

[elbon50]

What offset are the Stealths Sean ?

Peter

[seankenyon]

25mm offset Peter

[seankenyon]

Peter, the offset is actually 15mm, dont know why i said 25mm sorry!

They were off a Nissan Pulsar GTiR, the centre bore on the Nissan is 59.1mm

[brawr]

I usually don't like soft-spoke 5's, especially on boxy cars, but you seem to have pulled it off... I quite like that, haha. Nice work, tidy motor.

[seankenyon]

I usually don't like soft-spoke 5's, especially on boxy cars, but you seem to have pulled it off... I quite like that, haha. Nice work, tidy motor.

Thanks Maybe its because the TSW's are concave, this is something ive always liked on various BMW's

[brawr]

I think that's it, they remind me of Escort Cosworth alloys actually. The flush fit definitely helps as well.

Any progress with an uprated rear ARB? I've got a mk2 tubby one to go on mine but haven't gotten around to doing it yet.

[seankenyon]

Flush fit is a must in my book but definitely helps

Yeah waiting for a mk2 ARB to be delivered, sourced some mk1b front ARB brackets too, will do it in January, what's the details on the one you've got?

[brawr]

I picked up a 19mm one with polybushes included for peanuts on ebay. I've got some new drop-links sitting around somewhere to go on at the same time too...
Still need to look in to getting some front brackets to get it mounted. Any idea if the 19mm fits with those brackets? I know the 18mm does, but I'm not sure if the bush is a different shape, or just has a wider I.D...

Hmm, will hunt for an answer now actually and get back, unless someone beats me to it Looking forward to getting it sorted and dialing out some of that washy understeer...

What spec is yours?

Any other plans in the pipeline? (Did you get the Fensport springs sorted?)

[seankenyon]

Having read the thread it doesn't mention 19mm, mines definitely a Rev 1 so should be 18mm, did you find out if yours will work?

Im doing the brake upgrade, springs, geometry, and Jimi bracket some time in January.

I've had to buy some spigot rings for the wheels as the TSW bore is 72mm, sorted some that will do that and the 54.1mm of the MR2 for £11 with delivery

Also got a mk1b steering wheel for my mk1a so it's less like driving a bus.

That's as far as I'm going with modifications, its all I need for the use it gets and not veering away from standard too much...

[elbon50]

This is how my 1b T-bar looks with roadster 15" wheels & 30 mill lowering springs



Excuse the blue tarp please

Still havn't completely cured the water ingress problems

Peter

[seankenyon]

looks good Peter

In your opinion would you say the 30mm drop is more biased towards the front end? Because the Fensport springs may be a 35mm drop and I was told 15mm, if it is the former then I may have wheel arch clearance probs when the springs compress under load with the offset I have, however if it's 15mm I'll be ok, if not I may need some spring bump stops

[seankenyon]

Infact I've just measured the gap between the tyres and arches and its 5cm at the front and 6cm at the rear with a standard setup! Ive got some spring clamps that raise or lower suspension, I could use those at the front

[elbon50]

looks good Peter

In your opinion would you say the 30mm drop is more biased towards the front end? Because the Fensport springs may be a 35mm drop and I was told 15mm, if it is the former then I may have wheel arch clearance probs when the springs compress under load with the offset I have, however if it's 15mm I'll be ok, if not I may need some spring bump stops

Yes the drop is slightly front biassed Sean

Not a big gap between tyre & top of arches now as you see

Will measure the gap tomorrow & post here

Peter

[elbon50]

Tried to do some measurements today Sean

The tops of the front tyres are just about level with the tops of the arches

However, the wheels are inset far enough to keep them clear of the wings

At the rear there is around a 30 mill gap between top of tyre & arch

Peter

[seankenyon]

Thanks for the info. Peter, because of the offset wheels I've got the clearance issues will be trial and error, I bought the Fensport Springs off NeilTurbo and the pic below is with the springs fitted to standard shocks with 14" wheels and 185/60/14's, although Fensport list them as a 35mm drop its only about 15mm

[elbon50]

My roadster wheels have 185/55/15s front & 205/50/15s rear Sean

I checked & the diameter seems almost the same as the 185/60/14s on my "pepperpot" wheels (slightly surprisingly)

My struts & shocks are standard at the mo

Looking at the pic of Neil's car there seems to be more of a gap between top of tyre & arch both front & rear than mine

Peter

PS nice to see that pic of Neil's very nice car

What do you think to the vent in the rear wing ?

[seankenyon]

Yeah my new wheels are 195/50/15's and the diameter is slightly less but not that noticable when stacked against the standard 14's, but im certain it must be making the difference on the wheel arch gaps when you think about it im runing 10mm or 1cm less diameter than you

Neil is running about 350bhp or more i think so he can justify the vent on the rear wing, i thought about putting one on the engine bay lid (in Red) right on the current grill slots, but making a custom air box for the K&N that also sits right underneath, just to improve cold air feed




Im removing the old airbox even though ive re-sprayed it since...

[pk_090]

aww sean it was you who got them springs. Gutted i was after those! Your motor looks top notch and loving the wheels!
Im looking forward to the new year ive got lots of goodies to get in and fitted when the engine is fixed!
Alex

[seankenyon]

Sorry Alex

Thanks I Love the wheels too, so happy with them!

Im going to be busy fitting stuff in the new year too, cant wait!

The Rev1 Mk2 Turbo Rear ARB arrived this week, need to prep and spray it first, will post a pic up in the New Year, which is when ill also be getting the front ARB Brackets too, then ive got everything ready to go on