MR2 Only gets a project mk1

[Steve@mr2only.com]

Probably gonna regret this but MR2 Only Magazine are now the proud owners of an 87 mk1 MR2, needs a little TLC, but we are hoping to make it good for track days, and plan to follow the progress of the work carried out in each issue of MR2 Only Magazine, keep watching for progress, might well be on here for advice, as our knowedge is more mk2 based!

[PHOENIX]

we demand pictures!

[Steve@mr2only.com]

Indeed, photos of her current sorry state will follow over the weekend on www.mr2only.com

[N8s93turbo]

great work, cant wait to follow the build.

[CpuZapper]

Let me know if you have questions. I think I have the MK1 EPC and service manuals memorized by now This is the right place for good MK1 info. There are enough of us here who know all the good go-fast kit for these cars that we should have answers for all your questions.

[Mister2.2]

Sounds cool, what are your exact plans for it? I can't wait to own an MK1 again.

[Steve@mr2only.com]

Thanks guys, great to know we can get some sound advice, think we will be needing it!

There is some pics here, until I have time to put some on www.mr2only.com

http://www.mr2oc.co.uk/index.php?nam...wtopic&t=53064

The plan is, once we've trailered it to our lock up from Yorkshire, its an unfinished project, it needs complete brakes, discs and pads, its all stripped and prepared for welding, so thats the main job, get the rear arches done, I dont know about over there, but here in our wet climate they rot like hell!!

The plan is with the help from skinthespin our new tech guy is to prepare and set the car up for track days and to take to shows running the 1.6, following each step in MR2 Only mag, then late next year we are considering doing an engine swap in conjunction with TWOBRUTAL, either V6 or 3S-GTE, watch this space! all suggestions and advice are greatly received guys!!

[CpuZapper]

Are you planning on going for an aftermarket brake setup, swapping parts from other Toyotas (You guys have stuff that fits over there), or just maximizing the stock brake setup? Since it's an '87 it should already have the larger brake discs, but it might be worth it to measure them. I'll get the specs for the late model brakes and post em here so you can compare. I'll look through my stuff here and see if I can come up with other upgrade options.

[Steve@mr2only.com]

that would be excellent, thanks! and at the moment its a good time to decide, the guy we bought the car from has all the parts to rebuild the car, but the brakes were stripped off and disregarded because they were seized, new set up should be ideally suited for track

[CpuZapper]

Aha! I found it. Thanks to Paul Woods for doing all the grunt work in testing all this out. It's a great setup, and if I can ever find the parts I'll be doing it with a few changes.

The Short Version:
Fronts:
Get calipers and rotors from ST205 Celica GT-4 (Aluminum 4 Pot). Remove old crappy MK1 brakes and brake shields. Drill out mounting holes in calipers to 14mm. Run an M14 tap through the caliper mounting holes on the MK1 hubs. Put 2mm washers over the bolts between the caliper and the hub and bolt on. The next part requires a machinist. Take the ST205 rotors and turn them down to 300mm. Drill the 4x100 (pcd 100) bolt holes into the rotor - one of the holes is already in the correct place, and the other 3 are drilled in the spaces between existing holes. Bore the center hole out 3mm, then get a 4mm spacer ring to fit in the middle (The MK1 rotor is only 1mm smaller center diameter, and they don't make 1mm spacers). Bolt them on, and either detach the stock hose from the strut or get ST205 hoses, and you're done... with the fronts!

You'll also need 16" or bigger wheels to fit. I run 16" and I like them, but I imagine you can get better track wheels in 15" that should clear them.

Rears:
Get yourself some Revision 2 (93+) MK2 rear calipers, and the front rotors from a 1989 VW Corrado G60. The rears are a little more tricky. The calipers need to be mounted further out from the hub. To do this, cut the mounting tabs off of the MK1 calipers, and cut notches (where the bolt holes are) on the MK2 caliper. Tack weld the tabs in with the bolt holes exactly 131mm apart, and test fit it. You'll have to mess with the spacing some to get the pads and caliper exactly centered, then weld the MK1 tabs in. Plumb it all in, and re-connect the stock e-brake cables, and you're golden!

Since I only want the credit for sharing this here is a link to the original page:
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/Bigbrakes.html

[Steve@mr2only.com]

Hey thanks for finding this if this is the route we take, and its highly likely we will be sure to credit you in the article!!

Ah ha! the legendary Paul Woods, from Woodsport and TWOBRUTAL who are now official contributors to MR2 Only Magazine, our tech guy skinthespin also used a similar front brake set up on his mk2 track car, the article was in issue one of MR2 Only, Ive been looking at wheels over the last few days, we want to keep the budget low on this project, as we will be following each step in the magazine, and its about demonstrating preparing a track car doing it yourself on a low budget.

I cant wait to collect the car now! hopefully end of next week and bring it back to MR2 Only HQ and start stripping it.

First job will be to get the engine running, up until a few months ago the guy was turning it over every few weeks but the battery finall gave up, so its not run for around 3 months I guess

This is what Garrick from www.mr2mk1club.com advised me:-
Be carefull with an engine that has stood a long time without turning over. The oil seals, dizzy seal and sometimes the sump seals can give. before just changing the seals, put the car on ramps or jack the rear up (on axle stands with front wheels chocked - all secure as the engine will have a fair bit of movement and could unsettle the car) and "drive" the nuts off it - you'll soon see if you have a problem or not

Thanks for the advice, any ideas for a perfect track set up on a budget is gladly received, and anything skinthespin comes up with I will post here

[Xhermes]

I also found a 4 pot brake setup on ebay a while back. Wasn't that expensive either with discs and all. I'll see if I can eve find it back. I should find it somewhere. BTW if you need any exposure in the Netherlands send me an e-mail and send me some stickers I still have a side window that could use it

[Steve@mr2only.com]

Any info on the brakes would be cool!, thanks!

PM me your address Ive only got a few stickers left until we get another batch done

[Steve@mr2only.com]

Well thanks to Hawk Trailer Hire and our Uncle Terry in his Nissan Patrol 4x4 we now have the MR2 Only Project Mark One safely home!

http://www.mr2only.com/projectmk1.html?f=144.

[Hiighboost2]

Cant wait to see what you do with it!

[Steve@mr2only.com]

quick update on the progress with our project mk1, nothing has been done as such to print in our next issue of MR2 Only Magazine, we've been prodding at it, and gathering parts, good news is a supplier came forward and has supplied us with two new sill skin panels to replace the corroded ones, and we have another mk1, a t/bar also in red to break for parts that we need, which inclue pretty much the whole front end, nosecone to replace the butchered white mk1a one that is incorrectly on there, and the front valance, and two pop-ups to replace our damaged ones.

Also have a supplier to do us a deal on either Hi-spec Billet 4 big brake kit or a celica st185 big brake set up.

Hopefully in March's issue of MR2 Only Magazine we will have some progress to feature, pesky UK winter!!!

www.mr2only.com

[PHOENIX]

Can't wait to see the outcome! (if you ever reach one )

[Steve@mr2only.com]

Little update can be found on our photo diary below of our Mk1 project progress, we have been busy collecting bits, we have another mk1 donor car for some much needed parts, we have replacement sill skins, and a big brake upgrade from a celica ST185, see photos here:-

http://www.mr2only.com/projectmk1.html?f=144.

[Hiighboost2]

lookin good!

[GaToy]

I like how it's pimp'n the SC rim in the back. Whats the deal with the White MKI?

~C.C.~