98tadriver

Hey guys, this project started about 1 month ago. I posted about it on the MR2 forums, but figured some of you would be interested in this project, so I figured I would share it with you.


Long story short, I picked up a LNF swap from a 2008 cobalt SS. Eventually I found a $500 1988 Toyota MR2 (supercharged) roller to put this in. I've been working on it, and I'm full of ideas lol, but as far as the professional fabrication stuff goes, I left that up to my friends at Fusion Fab here in NJ.

We're about 20hrs into it with mounting the motor. Things got cut out and Custom mounts had to be made (that's a given) This wasn't exactly a mint condition car, so I didn't mind making room and shaving weight. I'll tell you what, I bet you this motor can be removed in 1 hour once we're done with everything lol.

Here are a few pics of the car before. I'll post some more after work tomorrow









rusty trunk? no big deal. It's all getting cut out anyway

This is just the beginning of operation sawzall

send in the plasma cutter!

It sits in there quite nicely, and lower than the stock powerplant.

originally, we cut out that section of frame to clear the turbo manifold. I ended up saying "hey, lets cut the rest out and we'll make our own suspension pieces and bracketry

Stay tuned for more pics tomorrow

andrewcarr1993

iTrader: (5)

Nice, but with all the wiring on these motors I don't think it'd be doable in an hour.

footballplaya3k

iTrader: (1)

Sub'd

08baltls

iTrader: (3)

2500lbs, rear engine, RWD, 260HP car? Sounds like its gonna be a blast to drive! Lucky SOB! You planning on any performance mods to get more power out of it? What about cutting weight you mentioned? How much do you think you can remove? Either way, sounds like you're gonna have one fun ass little car when you're all done. Cant wait to see it done.

alerosaint

In for the unique awesomness

riceburner

iTrader: (66)

Niice!! i like these old mr2s!

alerosaint

And old mr2s like you rice lol

98tadriver

Thanks guys! Ideally I'd like to get the car down to 2000lb without me in it. We weighed the motor/trans swap and it tipped the scales at 501lb O_o lol.

Realistically, if I can get the car down to 2100-2200 w/o me in it, I'll be pretty happy. Power wise, I will be running the stock turbo, with and intake, exhaust & tune for the time being.

From what I've gathered, the stock supercharged motor/trans weighs 450-500 but I haven't been able to confirm that. And the curbweight for a S/c'd mr2 is around 2450. Once again, I haven't seen that specific car on the scale for myself, but my information comes from a reliable source and owner of 3 mk1's.

I have a weight reduction list at my house. I've been doing my best to jot down what I've removed/replaced and the weight savings. I will definately be getting the car to a scale once completed.

bmartz1991

iTrader: (35)

Different for sure.

SalvageBaltSS

iTrader: (13)

Looks like it'll be a awesome build! Goodluck OP

08baltls

iTrader: (3)

From what I have seen, the SC'd MR2s are like 100 lbs heavier than the NA version, so theres a possibility that the old engine weighs close to the same as the new engine. Im not entirely sure what can be done as far as weight reduction but getting it close to 2000 lbs with 260HP would put it in the same league as the Lotus Elise S as far as power to weight ratio goes. Later on, if you decide to up the HP, you're gonna have a monster of a car! Im a little jealous to be completely honest! haha. Im definitely in for results!

Canadia

Wow that's awesome, can't say I'm a fan of that style mr2 but I'd rock that all day long. Keep up the work! Couple of bolt ons and a tune, that car will be a destroyer of worlds.
Subbed

royce777

iTrader: (29)

different and unique. subd to see progress n such

LNFTX

I love the idea but how are you going to work out the electronics ie. Ecm/bcm

06' SS2SS

What year MR2 is that? I had an 88 MR2 when I lived in Japan. Fun little car!

Edit: Just read your whole post. 88 was a good year MR2.

08baltls

iTrader: (3)

Looks like either an '87 or '88.

I was thinking about the electronics issue too. Would he have to run a stand alone, or could they just use the factory harness and tune out all of the sensors they dont need?

LNFTX

Cant remember specifically but I thought the ecm wouldnt function without the bcm
Some guy put an lnf in an airboat dont remember how but I think trifecta did something with the computer

MastaShaKe_88

iTrader: (5)

I was lookin at doin this a couple yrs ago,(but with a fiero ) Trifecta was the way I was gonna go..

OP if you poke around on ******************* and the HPtuners forum, you can find everything to get you goin... I never found a 'local' shop that seemed trustworthy enough, or could fab me up some part without givin me ridiculous quotes($3000 for 1 engine mount?? ya **** that noise..)

Definitely doable project tho, an it'll be a blast for sure

MastaShaKe_88

iTrader: (5)

wait, WHAT? GM sports compact . net is banned here or somethin? I tried to go to the site but it says "Account suspended" :\ thats 2 bad.. there was tons of useful goodness over there

Dart_SI

iTrader: (1)

subd

98tadriver

I have a complete turnkey motor with engine harness,pcm and bcm. I do my own tuning with HPT and have tuned a lot of Gen 3 LSX motors ;-) I'll
have that stuff covered

northvibe

iTrader: (1)

lame my work blocks the pics, but thats a cool swap! I love the mr2.

98tadriver

Thanks, and I guess you'll have to check out the pics when you get home lol. I'm going to add a few more. Btw, that's a funny sig pic you have there lol

98tadriver

Mo' pics

Lower front trans mount


Same mount/bracket without the motor in there


All kinds of room. We will be adding a few more chromoly pieces in there to tie in the suspension brackets and lower rear trans mount


underside of the motor


plenty of room for the custom exhaust setup to go in

sLAsh

iTrader: (2)

You might want to check out coppertops fieron build(lsj from ion redline into a fiero) I don't think he has finished yet but you might be able to get some valuable info from him.
Coppertop Autosports