Almost 18 months after my family first became convinced of my onsetting senility and talking about buying an MR2 track car, the thing has arrived at its new home. I am sure for the past 18 months, and for the past 6 months in particular, they were convinced that this car was a total figment of my imagination as I bored them endlessly talking about "my MR2" and they saw me become addicted to various MR2 Boards and websites, both locally and internationally.
Well, it is now in Bowral, within an hours drive of both the MDTC and Wakefield Park.
After looking at a number of NA and Turbo options, I purchased the car, minus motor and gearbox, from Cindy O'Beirne at Road and Track in Queensland. They informed me that the car started life as a 1990 Japanese import, turbo model, brought in for racing so no compliance. It was built up in Sydney for GT Production class racing (near standard spec, same as Osborne racing). A lot of the original work was done by Ric Shaw and Neil Bates . As part of this work, it was converted from turbo spec to NA, F&R suspension changed to post 94 type with different length arms. According to the CAMS logbook, it was originally campaigned by Nicholas Lucas, prior to Cindy's ownership.
Then the decision was made to do the 2 GR conversion with an engine package from a wrecked 2GR, "Gouky's" engine mount and header kit from the USA and a few other pieces sourced from England and the USA.
Road and Track did the engine conversion and wiring and fitted a rebuilt E153 turbo box with a TRD plate type LSD. Exotic Exhausts built the custom stainless exhaust from the headers back.They look pretty and have a nice subdued V6 note (more befitting ths status of its elderly driver).
Track testing at Queensland Raceway (Cindy driving) on November 27 went well until the car lost all drive. Turned out that the fingers had been cleanly sheared off one of the plates in the TRD LSD. Repair kits were hard to locate and a decision was made to replace the diff with a Quaife LSD unit which was sourced via New Zealand and arrived from England in less than a week. The diff was installed and the car picked up and trailered to Sydney
It has had a little bit of dressing up already (Vinyl is cheaper than paint) and the grandchildren love it.
I'll have my first drive in the car at Wakefield laer this week, finally happy to be an MR2 owner rather than just a forum lurker.
Some pics available via photobucket.
http://s1020.beta.photobu...pg.html?sort=3&o=2 http://s1020.beta.photobu...pg.html?sort=3&o=0 http://s1020.beta.photobu...pg.html?sort=3&o=1