Just an update, for anyone in the future that might be looking at this old thread :)
-Got the full poly bushings installed, helped handling a bit but nothing amazing. Had them installed quite a few months ago and no noise issues so far, at least!
-Whiteline sway bar front and rear: not a huge improvement either, and looking back at it, I probably wouldn't have bought it if I knew. Front sway bar to the stiffest did improve turn in a bit but ended up being too stiff for the car, so switched it back to mid (rear set to softest) for a slightly improved turn in but not so stiff as to raise the front wheel off the ground in hard cornering. Installing the sway bars seems to have cause some clunking to now happen during hard braking and bumps.
-Rear strut brace made no difference as far as I could tell.
-Koni shock inserts: hard to tell the difference considering the stock shocks were shot before, but they do handle well, and the adjustability is an added bonus :)
-Waiting to receive a front strut brace, so we'll see if that does anything...
Previous owner said the springs were some sort of lowering springs, but found out that they are stock. I might look at upgrading them in the future (maybe).
 
The biggest handling improvement, by far, was going from 18" non staggered wheels to 16" 7" and 8" staggered setup.

Ah yeah, I forgot about these :)
My front engine mount was in pretty bad shape, replacing both this one and the rear engine mounts helped quite a bit during shifting, the car feels more stable (before that, it felt like there was lots of weight transfer when depressing the clutch pedal and again after engaging a gear) and the shifting more instantaneous.
Still a worthwhile upgrade, imo.

Okay I am going to chime in on this thread as i also live in Canberra area like Alex   and no use repeating it all
 
I am at a cross roads as to what to do to my car  which some of you may know is this one from a former member
 
http://www.mr2australia.c./mr2play/tm.aspx?m=52700
 
but it was abused by the guy that bought it from him as he is a numpty  .......... ( never mind I got it real cheap so what he is doesnt matter )
 
anyway
 
Will the BC coil overs fit my car with the following wheel and tyre set up  I believe they will due to the offset not being the regular +35
 
Wheels/Tyres:
- Racing Hart CP-F Rims: F: 7.5" x 17" +27 – 215/40/17, R: 8.5" x 17" +30 – 245/40/17
 
Currently I have n the car
 
- Koni adjustable shocks
- Lowered King Springs
- Whiteline adjustable swaybars - front & rear
 
rear sway bar has adjustable end links
- Front swaybar reinforcement plates
 
 
I have just ordered the full set of bushes for the car and will look at replacing the tie rod ends and ball joints should it be needed/required
 
The koni are set up half way in stiffness front and rear
swaybars set up mid stiffness as well
 
car has a tendency to understeer  in really tight corners
 
what pisses me off is that though the "look " of the car is nice with the lowered king springs they are just too low and every dip or hole in the road causes the tyres to rub on the inner guard - obviously the king springs suck
 
now if I get some new eibach they are basically $400 delivered or 1/3 third the cost of BC coil overs
add some camber pins in for another $80  and then the labour to take out the struts change springs over etc redo alignment blah blah blah   works out to be  about 50% of the cost of coil overs
 
seems easier to just get Coil-overs and sell off the konis and kings
 
Does anyone know the legalities of coil-over struts in NSW ?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Alex did u install reinforcements plates for the rear sway bar when you did the install?

Oh yeh my bad the fronts.
Where did you pick them up from?
Overseas?

Hi  MR2EVO.
Have a look at DELTA V gear.  Its all well made right here in Aus. and will be delivered in just a couple of days.

I just spoke to my engineer today who is doing my bike
 
This is in NSW
 
He advised me that the adjustable coil overs are okay if they are made for that model car and that they can meet the manufacturers minimum recommended height level between center of wheel to top of wheel lip arch apex
 
so for example if in the Mr2 it is a factory distance of 355mm standard and they say it should not go lower than 330 that means the coil overs must be able to be set at a height of 330 -- they can be able to be set lower for racing but then the onus is on you to raise it up for street level
 
adjustable tops are not an issue
 
this is my bike it has no rear suspension
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
ADR’s and Suspension Modification
This information has been extracted from the NSW RTA Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Modifications. Lovells Copy No. 753 - issued 1996. Requirements vary from state to state.
2.4.1. Precedence of ADRs and manufacturer's guidelines
It is important to note that the requirements of the ADRs and the original manufacturer's modification guidelines take precedence over the Code of Practice. Persons modifying or certifying modifications to light vehicles must ensure that any relevant manufacturer's recommendations are complied with and that no ADR compliance is invalidated, even as an unintended result of complying with the Code of Practice.
Vehicles Manufactured:

• 1934 - 31/12/1960:
  • These vehicles are not covered by regulation.
• 1/1/1961 - to introduction of ADR 13 - Introduced 1973 - 9/1991
  • Minimum Head Light Height: 600 mm.
  • Maximum Head Light Height: 1400 mm
• 10/91 - to date:
  • Minimum Head Light Height: 500 mm
  • Maximum Head Light Height: 1200 mm

***Measurements taken from the ground to the centre of the headlight***
3.5.2 Certification of suspension modifications
Certification of suspension modifications shall be treated as follows:
Minor modifications can be treated as owner certified. These are modifications which do not affect the basic geometry or load carrying members of the suspension. Examples are:

• additional or uprated anti roll bars;
• uprated shock absorbers and/or springs;
• altered vehicle ride height by no more than one third of the manufacturers suspension travel in the direction of the ride height change; fitting of suspension assemblies which were options from the original manufacturer for the particular make/model.

Major modifications are to be certified by an engineering signatory. These are modifications to suspension components, systems or installations which affect the major load carrying components of the suspension and which were not options available from the original manufacturer for the particular make/model, Examples are:

• replacement of the original suspension (front or rear) with a system of a different design eg: from another model vehicle;
• changes to suspension components such as changing the front cross member to accommodate an engine change;
• substantially altering the mass of the vehicle.

3.5.3 Australian Design Rules
While no ADR is involved directly with suspension systems, the following are examples of ADRs which may be affected indirectly by a suspension modification:

• ADR 7/- Brake hoses
• ADR 13/- Installation of lighting devices - eg: height
• ADR 14/- Rear vision mirrors - eg: altitude change
• ADR 31/- Brake systems - eg: partial failure
• ADR 43/- Vehicle configuration and dimensions

3.5.4.11 Changes to ride height
Changes to ride height are limited to one third of the working travel of the suspension from kerb mass height to metal to metal bump or rebound positions as specified by the manufacturer. Such modifications must comply with the following:

• altered spring free lengths are acceptable providing the spring seat load is maintained at full rebound and material stresses are not exceeded;
• the use of extended spring shackle plates is not permitted;
• the suspension ride height of a coil spring suspension shall not be lowered by cutting off a section of the spring coils. New coil springs with increased spring rate specifications to provide for the reduced travel of the suspension shall be fitted.

3.5.5 Road testing
The completed vehicle must be evaluated under a range of road operating conditions to establish that ride, handling and steering characteristics are appropriate for the vehicle character and proposed type of operation. While some of these aspects are subjective, the vehicle must not behave in an unpredictable manner under any circumstances and its general behaviour must not be significantly different from the majority of vehicles available at the time of road test. The vehicle must be suitable for subsequent sale to persons of average driving ability.