MRS-2GR conversion underway

we have just started our first such conversion on a MRS. we will write up an article and put it on our web site in the next month or so. Interested parties can phone.
 
engine & box now sitting in donor shell. no particular problems with this but it is a very tight squeeze. we have modified the alloy end cover on the gearbox to get more chassis clearance but suspect some minor chassis mods will be needed in finished job, to give 'real-world" clearances. changing the front bank of spark plugs is impossible without either removing the engine or cutting an inspection hole in the rear body work, where the soft-top folds down.
 
custom mounts being made. at this stage we are keeping the MRS rubber mounts in all locations and changing the metal brackets
 
exhaust is under consideration. it looks like the easiest route is to use the headers designed for the SW20 conversion and notch the front crossmember to give sensible clearances around the flange.
 
wiring.. no particular problem but days of work
 
rear crossmember needs to be radically modified. prototype in progress. 

Does this mean I should be getting excited

sounds like that'd be a heap of fun to drive.
 
one of the worst decisions (for what ever reason) made was putting the stock rolla 1zz into the mr-s.

Highlander

Does this mean I should be getting excited

now I think that was you I met on the Sat near the track at WTAC...
edit: haha yeah it was you! but for some reason I thought you had an SDub.

Mine is an SDUB. Just means that mine is finally getting close to happening

Highlander

Mine is an SDUB. Just means that mine is finally getting close to happening

 
When is yours scheduled to be finished?

Now this is something worth watching intently...

I'll update this as we go along. we also have another SW20 to convert.

Plenty of tips on www.twobrutal.co.uk if your looking for info on this conversion Terry, Paul can probably save you the effort of reinventing the wheel in a few areas.

Also im doing an aw11 soon. :>

^As someone once said "you plan on taking flying lessons?"

from what i read, it seems the only going cars have either used the Lotus Evora 6 speed box or the NA MR2 S code box. I've corresponded with 2 owners, both of whom have some "issues" with the job done on their car.
 
Both of these boxes are quite different to the E code (turbo) box we use. the 6 speed would be nice but horribly expensive and there are already reports of failures in Lotuses (or is it Loti??). The S code box is definitely not up to vigorous use behind a turbo motor so I am doubtful over its life behind a hard-use V6.
 
I have tried emailing Paul Wood from Woodsport in the past and never got a reply. I guess he is up to his neck in conversions as the UK is a different market , and it seems with a lot more money floating around for "toys".
 
I'm doing this as an internal developement exercise so i dont mind spending some time to get it properly sorted. Once this one is done, I can offer realistic prices to customers. I dont expect many, as the conversion with be a significant % of the cars current value, so i expect it will only be a handful of enthusiasts who want a porsche beater like this.
 
I am making the exhausts and mounts myself, not using the US stuff. 

Apparently the 6 speed in the Evora (EA60?) shares the same as the UK Toyota Avensis Diesel which are dime an a dozen in the UK (cheap source but shipping?). It would be awesome to have a 6 speed but yeh money talks and there's still quite a bit of modding to the Avensis box to suit MRS

Looking forward to your take on the conversion tez