[Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Posts about anything do to with modifying your car such as fitting aftermarket parts, bodykit, or tuning the engine for more performance.

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niks
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:59 am

[Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by niks »

A mate and I have decided to compete in the 2010 hill climb championship (in malta), four weeks before the start of the championship! There were two options for us, to enter the 2.0 litre n/a class, or the 2.0 litre turbo class. We could clearly see that entering the turbo class would be suicide as we'd be against a gang of scoobies and evos ranging from 300-600bhp, so the n/a class looked like the sensible option .

The initial plans to just strip out and race the car relatively standard went out of the window about a week in when we discovered our competition would include a mk 1 escort and caterham armed with a modified zetec engine.

Current plans are to get the car running as light as possible but not substituting any panels for fibreglass, as that would put us in a higher group, putting some poly windows, and getting some gd power on the go We have recently purchased a beams black top which we are hoping will give us the power we need (for now :mrgreen: ). The car will also be running kei office coilovers, and hopefully sticky slicks! Serious thought will be put into suspension set up. Pics of the whole build to present can be found on our facebook group...

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2 ... 187&ref=nf

Feel free to join the group and express yourself :) This group is updated daily, and the next 2 weeks are going to be busy to say the least, so keep an eye out :)
RobPhoboS
Posts: 412
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:25 am
Location: Farnham, Surrey

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by RobPhoboS »

Will keep an eye on this !
:thumleft:

PM me if you sell the black top \:D/
niks
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:59 am

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by niks »

A While later, but completed! Here's a vid of it in its first hillclimb...

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php ... 1&comments

Current issues:

gear linkages
gear ratios
Traction
niks
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:59 am

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by niks »

Comments welcome!
Rogue
Posts: 4672
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:02 pm

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by Rogue »

Black top BEAMS... Very nice. :clap:
ashley
Posts: 7628
Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 8:08 pm

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by ashley »

Did you have to modify the suspension turret to fit the engine, I've heard that there are clearance issues with the exhaust camshaft housing on the black tops?

Very nice project :thumleft:
Quigonjay
Posts: 11294
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:43 pm
Location: Blackburn

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by Quigonjay »

can you put it on youtube mate? dont really do facebook
niks
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:59 am

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by niks »

Will try to get the videos onto youtube at some point today :mrgreen:

Didn't have to touch the suspension turret, just mounted the engine on nylon mounts cancel out any movement.

So to expand on the issues...

Firstly, I didn't really feel that the beams engine was as pokey as it should have been, but I'm thinking it could partly be down to the gearing. I'm currently using the box out of the st202 celica superstrut with 4.2/4.3 FD, which will be changing to 4.7/4.9 (forgot exact figures!) Furthermore I m looking at installing ITB's to help the situation and get it re-mapped at a more reliable source.

Gear changes are far from crisp due to the long throw and very sloppy selection. Plans are to flip the selector shaft round and have the original gear cables again. I'm also wondering how effective these aftermarket quick shift levers are, any feedback?

Last but not least is the grip level. That hill climb was notorious for being slippery, but when looking at spectator footage I can't help think that the mr2 lacked a fair bit! Here's some footage...

I'm thinking this is partly due to the fact that I'm running 185 width tyres all round. Looking around the 'paddock', most of the other competitors (escorts and exiges) are running very wide rear tyres, which might be a clue! Now my dilemma is whether to increase just to rear, to say 225, or increase the rear, and increase the front also (keeping the same ratio of rear being larger ofcourse). Ideas? :-k

Not to make it look like it was just the car, I think my driving still had a lot to be desired... Due to the oversteer ( alot more evident in previous runs which i ll get uploaded) confidence was lacking and I didn't barrel enough speed into the corners or use the brakes hard enough as I felt that it would just swap ends on me. Also my throttle pick up may have been alittle aggressive hehe!

Let the work begin!! \:D/
bobhatton
Posts: 3351
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:34 pm
Location: Bodmin Cornwall

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by bobhatton »

My son and I have been sprinting last year and this year in our Turbos

Its great fun and we are only in the road going class but not much can keep up.


http://www.youtube.com/user/hattoni
Designer for turbo set ups on F1 cars, and Nitrous Oxide Systems of the USA in the 80s
Rogue
Posts: 4672
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:02 pm

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by Rogue »

niks wrote:Gear changes are far from crisp due to the long throw and very sloppy selection. Plans are to flip the selector shaft round and have the original gear cables again. I'm also wondering how effective these aftermarket quick shift levers are, any feedback?


I thought the throw looked exceptionally long. Why not switch back to an MR2 box and reinstate all of the original mechanism? In my experience, aftermarket quickshifts just end up mashing your synchros. Aim for a TRD one if you decide to try one.

niks wrote:I'm thinking this is partly due to the fact that I'm running 185 width tyres all round. Looking around the 'paddock', most of the other competitors (escorts and exiges) are running very wide rear tyres, which might be a clue! Now my dilemma is whether to increase just to rear, to say 225, or increase the rear, and increase the front also (keeping the same ratio of rear being larger ofcourse). Ideas? :-k


Without doubt, you need wider tyres! If you're running slicks and you keep the fronts where they are then I'd suggest at least 205 on the rear. Preferably beef both up on the width but the important thing is to ensure that the rears are wider than the front. Wheel widths and offsets are also going to be important and don't forget that you'll want a wider rim for slicks. On my V6 Roadster I run the following:

Slicks
Front 200/580/16
Rear 235/610/17

R888s
Front 225/45/16
Rear 245/40/17

Wheels
Front 16x7.5 (16x8 would be optimal, but not available in my chosen rim)
Rear 17x9

My car is primarily focused on circuit racing (particularly endurance) but I do sprint it occasionally:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9hoGgnN9HM

Nice to see another one of our roll cages racing abroad!
niks
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:59 am

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by niks »

Bobhatton, what set up are you running?

Rogue, thanks for the info, and forgot to mention, great cage! Would seriously recommend this cage to anyone looking to cage their mr2, great fit and doesn't hinder head movement etc etc.

I'm running dunlop cr311 moulded slicks, but not sure what width to go for, what would you suggest? I m running on tein superstreet and for that hillclimb i had both ARB s disconnected...

Very nice footage btw :)
niks
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:59 am

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by niks »

p.s. Quite a coincidence, was at rockingham last tuesday and wednesday (British F3 test day) :D
niks
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:59 am

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by niks »

Re. gearbox, I'm hoping that switching round the selector shaft will mean retaining original mr2 gear cable lengths etc etc and going back to original throw distance and feel. The ratios of this box are supposed to be particularly better, and having the 4.9 FD to hand could be profitable.

I'm also thinking of fitting ITB's, but just having a look around for my options, more power is always welcome hehehe :D As Clarkson would say POWER.
Slarty
Posts: 4224
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:52 pm
Location: Barking, Essex

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by Slarty »



Some nice footage there, good to see a great mix of cars!

You could hear the Mini screaming its boobs off from miles away :lol:

I take it that yours was the Black N/A? Nice bit of tail out ;)
RobPhoboS
Posts: 412
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:25 am
Location: Farnham, Surrey

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by RobPhoboS »

Rogue:
What wheels are you using ?
Rogue
Posts: 4672
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:02 pm

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by Rogue »

RobPhoboS wrote:Rogue:
What wheels are you using ?


Rota Grids. My circumstances are a little bit different to most since I have a four stud fitment at the front and five stud at the rear.
RobPhoboS
Posts: 412
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:25 am
Location: Farnham, Surrey

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by RobPhoboS »

Rogue wrote:
RobPhoboS wrote:Rogue:
What wheels are you using ?


Rota Grids. My circumstances are a little bit different to most since I have a four stud fitment at the front and five stud at the rear.


Ah right, thanks for that, sorry just sent another PM before seeing this, doh.
niks
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:59 am

Re: [Mk2] [NA] hillclimb/sprint prep'd MR2 in progress

Post by niks »

Some quick pics of yesterday's event, some footage to come...

https://picasaweb.google.com/1107347548 ... 3618022962
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