Less compost = quicker lap times!

Quick update: ran a solid PB late on the Tuesday of MTC, 1:13.45 (previously 1:14.60) and on only 14 psi boost. Very happy with the Nittos and overall balance of the car. Can't wait to try the planned 19psi with some more practice.
 
Big thank-you to Paul Brell and Geoff Fear who were they looking after everyone (and gave me some special attention as a regular) - they seriously know what they're doing with track cars generally and MR2s specifically. Just google Boss Tuning in Sydney.
 
I think my overboosting (hence bypassing the boost control and resorting to wastegate pressure) was due to a hose leak to the boost gauge. ECU logs showed it hitting about 26psi at various points so I guess the engine is solid. Will look to get that sorted in the next few weeks and hopefully hit the track more regularly in 2016. Some decent heat tape around the intercooler core might be on the cards also.

Picked up the car on Thursday, now fitted with AW11 adjustable castor rods to give some clearance in the wheel well - so nice to be able to put some decent lock on! Also the water pump for the W2A intercooler had failed, so Paul has fitted a new (used) pump along with some clear tube to get a visual on the flow. It looks like a science experiment in the engine bay, but everything is working a treat. Tracked the car at SMSP (GP circuit, my 2nd time) on Friday, and knocked my PB from 2:02 down to 1:58.17 in session 1. I'm not sure if I did better later, my phone GPS was playing up so I didn't get lap times. Plenty of improvement to be had if I showed some balls at turn 1 (also 3, 4,5 and 7 I'd say!)  

Attached log shows how the intercooler performed. Ambient air temp was about 23, max air intake was just shy of 40, on close to 1.5bar of boost (this is 21-22 psi, the MBC was too high, I only really want 1.3bar/19psi). Anyhow, very pleased with how everything held together, and a side scoop might help lower this even further. I think the car is almost worthy of a respray and fitment of the big GT wing!

I've put a concise summary of the car on page 1 for anyone who's watching - it's been a long road over the last nearly 4 years of MR2 ownership!

Its great to see you are getting such a solid run with the car. As its coming into Winter (winter is coming..) is it making a difference with the intercooling as its water to air?
Have you been checking tyre pressures (at the track) for the Nittos?
 

Hey Steve, I'll know more on the first point on the 9th of June :-) but I think it will tend to plateau at some margin above ambient, approx 15 degrees above. Not sure if intake temps of 30 or 45 degrees make much difference?
 
Tyres I've been going out 27-28 psi and coming in 32 hot, they seem pretty hot and sticky to me but you know I don't push as hard as some ;-)

MR PLOW
Hey Steve, I'll know more on the first point on the 9th of June :-) but I think it will tend to plateau at some margin above ambient, approx 15 degrees above. Not sure if intake temps of 30 or 45 degrees make much difference?
 
Tyres I've been going out 27-28 psi and coming in 32 hot, they seem pretty hot and sticky to me but you know I don't push as hard as some ;-)

I think the lower the temp the better for insurance and performance. I think the 3SGTE cannot manage the higher temps as well as other engines due to design but don't quote me on that one.
As for tyres, push till they turn to mush!!

Just a few updates. Had another trackday at SMSP (GP circuit) in September, knocked the PB down to 1;55.31.
November: New windscreen, wheel bearings, rotors machined and project mu 800 pads up front.
Took the car down to Wakefield last week, had a great day with nice weather, only 30 cars max, so got in a whopping 84 laps and smashed my PB from 1:13.45 down to 1:11.05!
Might have had better still in me for the late, cooler session except the intercooler cracked a weld open so had to call it for the day. Apart from that the car has been really solid and well balanced, no psycho rear end antics like the early days.

Awesome! Great results!