It's finally arrived.Highlanders 2GR SW20

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

Haha, "Ka-chow"!
Very nice, sure it will be worth the wait.
 

Ah, I saw them loading this up on the weekend, obviously headed your direction.

MRTurbo

Congrats Peter!
2GR + Quaife ...you're not mucking about! :)

If you are going to waste money, you may as well waste it properly. Quaife was based on economics and ready availability. TRD epair kit from Japan was a minimum of two weeks. Exchange rate with English pound is pretty good at the moment.

Congrates on finally getting there Pete. Sounds great and looks great too.
1:17 is a nice start to its life as a V6 in Sydney.
The decals are fantastic! You will be at every charity event within 50km of Bowral.
See you on Sunday
 

MR PLOW

Haha, "Ka-chow"!
Very nice, sure it will be worth the wait.

Now I know why the kids in the Territory at the service station were yelling out "Ka-chow" when I was filling it up with fuel.
 
Photo day at the preschool today for those who are good. The teachers tell me that the boys are being particularly well behaved today so they dont miss out

Looks and sounds great mate, exotic are 2 for 2 mine sounds almost identical. 
I know your pain with the tacho, I still havnt got mine sorted yet either. 

I'm still fairly new to MR2 ownership but learning fast. Wasn't happy with brakes at the MR2 Challenge as they were inconsistent. Pulled down the master cylinder and found it full of a rubbery like substance. Best guess was that brake fluids had been mixed but unlikely as previous owner was Road and Track for over 10 years. Nonetheless, bit the bullet and decided on Lexus/Skyline/Mazda RX8 Delta V brake upgrade. Rebuilt Skyline 4 pot calipers, Rebuilt 22v MR2 rear calipers, rebuilt brake master cylinder and new braided lines. Brake lines were filled with Nulon brakeclean and then purged with compressed air in case there was more of the rubbery substance in the brake lines.
 
When refitting the rear calipers with the car sitting on jack stands, I decided to run a spanner over every bolt I could see just as a bit of general maintenance. I have only done 325 track kilometres since picking it up in December 2012. To my surprise the two large bolts in the RHS of the cross member were finger tight. A bit scary as he car has seen 170-180kph quite a few times. Is this a normal trait that these bolts work loose on SW20s. Bolts on the LHS of the cross member were tight and correctly tensioned?
 
I will definitely be keeping a close eye on them in future