Getting ready for my next project and toying with the idea of building a mid engined car. Really basic question is which donor seems to be the one to go for. Another really basic question that has me wondering is how do you sort out the handbrake, obviously rear calipers off something, are some rears interchangeable with the fronts or does it need serious modification?
MR2?
rotten ones go pretty cheap nowadays...
I say go with a car you're familiar with
quote:
Originally posted by jabs
which donor seems to be the one to go for.
Good mechanical skills from the university of life, will tackle about anything, pretty good at welding. Good with fibreglass. have build a locost, a kaig (one of the few ever to get through a sva), complete rebuild of a dutton s3 and a karma dino (www.hbpsystemsplc.co.uk/karma.htm). Have most of the workshop gear i think i'll ever need. As always want to cost as little possible - well thats what the misses tells me anyway. Hope that helps.
Thought of using a mid engined donor never crossed my mind, was thinking fwd to rwd. Has anyone built a mid engined car using the mr2 as a donor?
Yes..
look at the sylva mojo, riot and gtm libra etc for inspiration and maybe a few ideas 
I've just uploaded a few pictures of my middy project to my profile - might be the sort of thing you're considering. Behold, I give you
Project Cinq!!!
All the measuring, calculating, cutting, jigging and "working out how to" bits are done, just a bit of welding and coat of paint n
she's good to go! well, nearly...
BTW the subframe and suspension set up you see in the back is from an Alfa 164, which will be joined by the 3.0 V6 engine & box from the same.
I'm using Mr2 front struts n uprights.
An MR2 probably would be a good donar but is 130ish BHP enough if you're going to go to all the hassle of building something around it?
I thought about going bike engined but decided to go for a big V6 mainly becuase they're dead cheap, tonnes of torque and lots of tunbing
potential. Turbos???
I'm still at the scribbling on bits of paper stage, but I think I will be looking for an Audi 80 2.8 E, seems to have every thing I will need.
Audi 80 could be a good one. Was working on a Renault 21 the other day which is a similar layout - front transaxle. Apparently have quite a
following as they are cheap as chips and turbo boost can easily be turned up, I'm told 300Bhp is fairly easy to get.
Had a quick measure while I was under it as it happens, roughly 600mm from front of engine to centreline of axle. Very quick measure as thats the
only one I got!!
Gearbox hangs quite a way back over the axle line though so would need a shell with some overhang at the back. Ruled it out when looking for a donar
engine/box for the cinquecento for that reason.
Theres also the renualt 25 if you fancy a V6...
r25 v6 turbo is one rare mo fo!
Inspired by the meerkat, well done alan. Will consider mk1 mr2 as my donor, looking forward to starting project but will not be until next year as have to move house and then sell current project - dutton pheaton s3 rebuild, just needs paint and a new windscreen which shattered on M1 doing 60mph on way Donnington :-(
I'm using the MR2 Mk1 as the basis for the production version of my car, Furore F1. The MR2 is a superb donor - dirt cheap & bits you
don't need saleable on ebay. All the parts are typical Toyota quality ie excellent. Even the cable gearshift lends itself to modification as does
the handbrake.
If there is anything specific you want to know just ask.