Just bought a 92' MR2 NA. I've owned a couple of 240sx's and I have to say, MR2's are just as good as far as I can tell. I do have a few questions I was hoping some of you could answer. I've done searches but some of the results are too spread out and I don't have all the time in the world so I would appreciate it if you guys could share your knowledge.
1. I want to invest in some new wheels and tires and was wondering if it would be better to put 16's or 17's on. What wheel, tire, and offset sizes will I need?
2. What would it take to put a turbo on my NA? How much $ and labor are we talking about here?
3. Around 80 mph my steering wheel starts to shake quite bad, but only at high speeds. I've considered the possibility of the wheels being out of balance or I've even heard that it could be the calipers doing it (???).
4. What kind of mods can I do to the NA engine to make it a little quicker? Exhaust, headers, maybe a different cam??
Lastly, anyone got some good URL's to some MR2 videos? I've seen a few.
1. 16's are better for overall ride quality, while 17's and 18's are better for looks.
2. You can turbo the 5S quite easily without an intercooler, under low boost (5-7psi), and retarded timing. If you can source a 3S-GTE exhaust manifold and CT26 turbo, then you have the one of the most expensive components of the setup. Tuning is the only way to keep your 5S from blowing itself up, and there's no such thing as "cheap" turbocharging. Expect to pay good $$$.
3. First, are you on aftermarket wheels? If not, then check your outer tie rods. If you are on aftermarket wheels, you need to see if you have hubcentric rings for proper rim fitment on the hubs. Also, your steering rack could also be the cause of the vibration if all else fails. Now, if the wheels aren't zeroed out on a balance machine, then they aren't balanced. Have that checked. Your calipers won't cause wheel shimmy, but warped rotors can. If you feel abnormal (by abnormal, I mean not caused by ABS, if equipped) pedal pulsation, then your rotors are most likely warped. Out of round tires may also cause vibration/wheel shimmy.
4. The 5S responds well to headers since the stock exhaust manifold flows like shit. Streetable cams, like 264 duration on both intake and exhaust cams, will also improve overall performance with some good fuel tuning. You can also lean out the fuel mixture to gain some performance. Head work will also give the 5S some modest gains in performance. Many people are running 125-135rwhp or about 150-160 crank hp with mid-high 14s quarter miles.
91MR2quickNA - Thanks for taking time to respond. In the last few days I've found some really good information about the MR2 (Erik's Half Ass MKII MR2 FAQ, for instance). Question, how do you lean out the fuel mixture on the MR2 (I need to get a manual)? I've done it on my motorcycle and my RC cars but I'm just learning about the MR2. My car runs pretty good except it feels like it's lagging between 2nd-3rd gear until I really get on it and jump the RPM's up. I would just like that mid range to be a little better. Thanks again for all your help. Thanks to andyb16 too. I think I might go 17's: 17x7 in the front, 17x8 in the rear.
You can control the air/fuel ratio with something like a S-AFC from Apexi. I don't think wiring it is too difficult.
And remember, the more rotational mass you have on your hubs, the more parasitic loss you'll have. Upgrading your wheels will make you lose horsepower, so keeping them lightweight should be a priority. 17x8's are great for the rear, as are 17x7's for the front, IMO. If the engine had more power, I would recommend fender work, wheel spacers, and 17x11's.
The 2nd to 3rd gear lag is just the gap and RPM drop from the transmission. Not much else can be done about that other than a custom gear set or by changing the final drive to something shorter. Revving at 5000rpm on the freeway and having a top speed of 105mph ... no thanks. 4000rpm at 80mph is bad enough ... .
Hi mate, I went with 18 alloys on my car and don't have any probs with the handeling. The ride is a bit hard but not unbearable.
If you are considering putting a turbo on it would be better to go ahead with the full 3sg-te engine conversion. There are some impressive power gains to be made from these engines. I looked @ getting a turbo engine conversion done to my 2 but a friend of mine told me about the 1mz-fe V6 camry engine conversion that had been done in America. He sent me his info and research and I was hooked. Went ahead and got the conversion done, never regreted it.
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Forum for every generation Toyota MR2. Including the AW11 and SW20.
but I'm just learning about the MR2. My car runs pretty good except it feels like it's lagging between 2nd-3rd gear until I really get on it and jump the RPM's up. I would just like that mid range to be a little better. Thanks again for all your help. Thanks to andyb16 too. I think I might go 17's: 17x7 in the front, 17x8 in the rear.
4000rpm at 80mph is bad enough ... 
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