My Aw11 project

Hi everyone, thought I would share a project I have just started with my 1989 NA Aw11 Mr2.
I have had the car for a fair few years and I have kept it relatively stock except for a cheap ebay steering wheel. It runs fine and the motor has held up pretty well for its age. The engine is a 1.6l N/A 4age 4 cylinder with a manual transmission. Fairly gutless but it likes to rev and is plenty fun through the tight bits although whilst at the track gets overtaken by pretty much everyone lol.

My plans for the car is to get it on club reg through the MR2 Owners Club of Victoria and keep it as a weekender and occasional track car.
 
A couple of days a go a white Mr2 was listed on Gumtree and I had to have a look. The owner was selling a 89 white mr2 unregistered with a few goodies.
Those goodies are
BC coilovers
A set of SSR rims, I think they are 14" or 15?
Detachable steering wheel with what i was told a pretty good boss kit.
Decent stereo head unit (not really important)
Lukey exhaust
And the prize a working (just, needs work) 20v Silvertop engine.





At the moment my plans are to use this car as a donor car for my current road registered MR2 and eventially swap the engine into it, maybe with a turbo connected to it :)
Let me know what you think and I will keep you guys posted on the progress and hopefully this terrible weather we have been having drys up so I can work on the damn thing lol.

I rebuilt and installed a 20v in one of my aw11's, as at the time even now some people seem to rave about them. .i was very disappointed with the power output (totally stock mind u). Not to mention the most expensive 4age rebuild I've done yet 😕.
hopefully you don't find the same as i did.

Nice clean looking ride u got there too.

Yeah, the SSR MKII's are nice period cool. Let me know if you want to part ways with them :)

Carmikey
I rebuilt and installed a 20v in one of my aw11's, as at the time even now some people seem to rave about them. .i was very disappointed with the power output (totally stock mind u). Not to mention the most expensive 4age rebuild I've done yet 😕.
hopefully you don't find the same as i did.

Nice clean looking ride u got there too.

I am in two minds on what I want to do with the engine. I know it runs which is a plus, but i will probably take it out and give it a rebuild and either go down the mild cam or turbocharged route. Both have their own pro's and con's. Ultimately I want something reliable with a bit of a kick but not looking for huge power as it will overwhelm the car I think. 
 
I have read that the silvertops are good with a little bit of boost (strong rods I think). If I go the boost path I will probably be running around 6-10psi something quick spooling and mate it to a water to air intercooler.    

Not sure about silvertops having strong rods.... Blacktop rods are the skinniest of the bunch, and silvertops might well be in the same boat. I'd be cautious of boosting a 20v bottom end.

barry
I suggest you put a 2zz into it. 12years more modern and not too hard to install into the aw11. You could get it completely installed for under 4 grand.

A 2zz would be an awesome motor in these cars, I have not seen much written up on the subject tho.
 

MCT_MR2
Silvertops, smallports and late gze all have the same rods, so they are fine for boost. The comp is why you cant get away with running much boost.

This is what I have heard as well. I think if I was to be serious about boosting the motor id drop the compression and get better pistons with an aftermarket ECU to save on hassles down the track.