Donato's Track Rev3

[Donato]

How she currently stands:

[Donato]

Well, after owning the car for 6 glorious months and some slight progress, i thought i'd update you lot now that it is getting somewhere.

My dad's had a few MR2's and a few high powered cars, which has always made me one to get an MR2. I had had my mind set and now that i work for Toyota, it was meant to be! It had to be a red rev3+ import with t-bars. So i began looking at insurance quotes and it wasn't looking possible. So, fast forward a year and i purchase exactly what i wanted. My original plan is to keep it the engine as standard as possible for that reliability, but turn it into a weekend fast road car.

So I found one up for sale about 3 miles away at a good price. Too good to be true this! So i went down with a mechanic from work to have a look. Ended up buying her, but bought it knowing that the wheels needed to go, desperado! So i had a friend do me a swap for the original wheels.





And that's how it stayed for a couple of months. Absolutely in love with her

It then started to develop a knocking noise from all four corners. (Did some serious mileage on pointless drives to no-where!) So i went to visit Peter @ sBits who sorted me out with a couple of things; rear polyurathane ARB bushes, front polyurathane ARB bushes, a thicker front ARB and gear shift bearings. What a difference! However, didn't cure my knocking







So i've purchased new drop links as well. Still no luck with this knocking noise. So i've narrowed it down to either the top mounts or the bushes in the lower arms.

[Donato]

So, fast forward roughly a month and my exhaust starts to blow, quite badly too!
At least it means i have an excuse to change it now!

Purchased a Fujitsubo Legalis R at a price i couldn't refuse. Exhaust is designed for a turbo, so won't be as easy as bolting it on. A trip to my local-ish exhaust place TopGear Exhausts and they managed to fit it for me with a custom de-cat.









And a couple of videos for good measure! Now with this exhaust designed for a turbo, it is kinda load on my NA

[Donato]

As a few of my friends are petrol heads as well, between us we managed to organise a rolling road day at EFI Parts in Warrington. Pretty well know for it's reputation. So of course i had to have a few rolls



and a couple of on the day;





It ran a healthy 171.9bhp and 144.7lbs. 3 consistent smooth runs! Happy me!

[Donato]

Now that winter is approaching it was time to make the car winter proof. Full service courtesy of Toyota then some eccentric T-Bar guides and some black sealant to make it water tight.





Another thing on the to-do-list was to change the engine mounts for some up-rated ones. After doing a bit of research, i settled on the Kirkasauras engine mount inserts from the USA, which just clamp around the standard ones. Well, after a 3 week wait, they arrived. But the wrong sizes.
Now after taking my mount off and discovering this, i was in desperate need of some mounts!





So, with ALOT of messing around and waiting, i have 1 front mount that fits and is on. However it has made a massive difference. I've given up hope on the inserts and will be getting full Powerflex ones pretty soon.

[Peter Gidden]

Donato

Nice write up.

Any use:

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=167979

[kayjay0_7]

Mmm a custom legalis decat pipe, I'm looking for the exact same thing to fit a legalis to my v6

[Driftlimits Performance]

? that's what all NA mounts look like. nothing wrong.

Only the turbos are solid one piece.

[Donato]

Mmm a custom legalis decat pipe, I'm looking for the exact same thing to fit a legalis to my v6

One of the best exhausts I've heard on an NA. Shame it's that little bit loud!

? that's what all NA mounts look like. nothing wrong.

Only the turbos are solid one piece.

Yea, a bit of a weird one. I was confused when i first saw it too.

[Donato]

So, I've had my eyes on a set of HSD Coilovers for a while. These ones to be specifc;

HSD MonoPro Coilovers

http://www.driftworks.com/hsd-hr-coilov ... -sw20.html



Over the Christmas period they had a 10% sale. So i had to bite the bullet and get them

Well, they arrived. Just can't wait until i get them on to see how they actually perform!







Because i've just spent so much, i don't want to have them fitted during winter with all the salt/grit/dirt on the roads. But, because i'm so inpatient i want them fitted.
I've been speaking to a friend who is pretty good at sewing, and shes agreed to make me up some coilover covers so i can fit them now
Ideas that i've got are something like this;





But probably out of neoprane (wet suit) material to add that waterproof and durability to them.

[Donato]

And just a couple of how she currently stands;





His + Hers

[Donato]

Just an update so you know where i am.

I've managed to book a stand pass for Japfest 2013, so I've got a couple of things that need doing for then.

1. Fit HSD MonoPro Coilovers (Fitting this weekend)
2. Fit PowerFlex Engine Mounts (Fitting this weekend)
3. Fit Rev5 Wheels + Powdercoat (Purchased, need powdercoating)

Then in July I'll be going on a road trip to the south of Italy with my girlfriend So I'll need to have the car fully prepared for that one!

Fresh MOT
New OEM Clutch
Goodridge Braided Clutch Line (Purchased)
OEM Discs & Ferodo DS2500 Pads
Full Geometry Setup @ Nigel Langs in Bolton
New Accelerator Cable
Exhaust Silencer


So, a fair bit of work to be done! I'll be dreading those cobbled roads though

[Magic Beans]

Clean, so very clean

What do you think of the poly engine mounts? Personally I've found they make a great difference but they rattle your teeth out sometimes.

[Donato]

Clean, so very clean

What do you think of the poly engine mounts? Personally I've found they make a great difference but they rattle your teeth out sometimes.

It looks alright in photos. But so many flaws in the flesh

TBH I only have the front one fitted, but OH MY what a difference it makes. Definately rattles a few teeth and sparks up some new rattles in the cockpit

[marshiboi]

I've been toying with the idea of getting some SuperPro uprated bushes as I dread to think what all originals look like but I'm not a very experienced tinkerer so the thoughts always intimidated me, however by the sounds of it, it may be a worthwhile effort!

Car looks ace!

[Donato]

I've been toying with the idea of getting some SuperPro uprated bushes as I dread to think what all originals look like but I'm not a very experienced tinkerer so the thoughts always intimidated me, however by the sounds of it, it may be a worthwhile effort!

Car looks ace!

I'd definitely go for some uprated bushings. I'm not too sure which i'll be going for yet. I don't really mind a stiff ride though. With this car being my daily, i can't be with out it. So I'm probably going to get some second hand arms and fit the bushes myself ready to just swap over.
No doubt you'll find out how i get on with it

[Donato]

I've just ordered a few bits and bobs to help me this weekend. I've just got some Swarfega Duck Oil to help lubricate bits off (miles better than WD-40), some new M16x1.5 nyloc nuts as well as some suspension bolts (just in case), new working gloves, hacksaw for the corroded bolts and some loctite black sealant to smear on the top mount to insulate it a little bit. I've also got some coilover covers being made as we speak, should be ready for the weekend for fitting of the HSD's

[Donato]

So, fitting of the coilovers went quite smoothly. It took me about a full day to fit them. First side took me about three hours to install, but once i figured out what i was doing, it was straight forward from there.

How it started in the garage:



A comparison shot of the rear suspension:



One done:



And another:





And one of the fronts:




Whilst in the process i've copper greased all the used threads, for easy adjustment later on. Top mounts have been oilied and also the naked threads have had Duck Oil sprayed until the covers are fitted.

Mighty impressed with the coilovers! Once fitted, i had a quick blast up to the Cat & Fiddle in Macclesfield and it's just on a completely different level to how it handled previously My only slight complaint is that the rear 10K springs are a tad stiff, but i think i've set the preload completely wrong

However, It's cured a knocking noise which i thought was my lower arm bush

I just need to set aside a couple of days where i can set the ride height up and ARB bracket as well as damping to my needs then have it all aligned professionally.

But happy days they are on!

[Magic Beans]

Nice work

Can I ask how much you paid for them, roughly?

[Donato]

Nice work

Can I ask how much you paid for them, roughly?

I managed to get them in the sale, so instead of the current price of £770 i bought them at £690 - Including a free MAOAM sweet