1000 (ish) milies, 3 Countries, 16 counties, 1997 Mk2 Rev 5 G-limited Beams

[jmvail]

Hi everyone,

I have owned anything from a Peugeot 205 GLX 1.4 to one of my current pride and joy’s a 1997 Rover 218vvc Coupe. I currently drive a Golf v5, nice by not quite quick enough for my tastes. I had in the past owned a canary yellow G-limited, l which was kindly written of by a lady reversing into the side of me in Bridgend Tesco. I had always wanted a quick Mr2 but had suppressed the desire deep down until now.

It was when smoking a cigarette I was walking down the street in Cardiff and saw a rev5 nasp, not in the greatest condition but it was enough to spark my interest in owning one of these great cars again.

For months I spent hours scouting Autotrader, Ebay, and of course IMOC for my perfect Mr2, I had originally been looking for a tubby but synXero’s
Beams in Edinburgh kept appearing on my page for no apart reason It looked perfect, specialist edition, reasonably modern, approaching 200bhp, and in the most ridiculously nice colour, and with the supercharger kit, potential to turn it into something truly unique. It got to the point I couldn’t wait any longer or I knew it would be in someone else’s, so I reorganised my finances and got in contact with synXero via PM.

Having arranged everything with synXero, who I have to say is a first class guy, I started by 1000ish mile round trip Saturday morning. The first
challenge I encountered was Cardiff airport security/police who wanted to know why I was carrying a large amount of cash on me, an embarrassing experience being asked to go into an interview room with a couple of hundred onlookers lol. Then after the plane turned up (1 hr late!) I was sat next to a guy was at best pi$$ed, at worst a full on mentalist! As one might imagine this made the plane journey testing to say the least

Having arrived at Edinburgh an hour later than planned, I met synXero and we immediately went to the vehicle, and there it was in all it’s glory,
looking spectacular even in the Scottish gloom. synXero has done an amazing job with this car, it has been incredibly well looked after. Having
concluded the formalities I finally got the chance to drive the beast.

As I set off on my 7hr journey home the weather started to pick up, torrential rain, hail, and at one point snow!! The weather was atrocious but the car was handling everything nature could throw at it with aplomb. It was superb over standing water, something I would not expect from an Mr2. By the time I got to Southwaite Services I had been unable to unleash any of the engine’s undoubted potential but it had allowed by to appreciate the gorgeous hallow of the exhaust and the ridiculous fuel economy travelling 150 miles and using only ¼ tank of petrol.

After Leaving the services and heading towards Preston the rain cleared up and I was able to enjoy a small amount of power running as I was now starting to clatter along, this was short lived however once I saw how active the police are in these parts, I saw at least 2 drivers getting accosted, I decided to take the sensible route and drive for my licence at this stage. I carried on like this past Birmingham, until I was able to turn off onto the M50 Wales and Ross-on-Wye, what a road this is, nice fast flowing corners that just keep on going forever! Here the car really came alive, loving the dry running. It was however the round about at Ross-on-Wye I fully appreciated the majesty of the car, here I was able to give the beast here first proper long pull in 2nd, It pulled all the way through and then towards the top of the gear the most incredible sound of the exhaust whooshing, it was enough to stir the emotions, so I bang it into 3rd revving it all the way through the gear to hear the same whooshing sound. This car had truly stolen my heart at this stage. It was eating the road up whilst making fun of the twisty’s. I was finding myself giving a Jeremy Classon-esk talk on the car whilst putting the Welsh roads to the sword. It was wonderful!!

Unfortunately I then hit Newport and like so much other aspects of one’s life Newport was the end of the fun as the speed restrictions tempered my driving, but I did allow myself to indulge in a 2nd gear pull in the Bringlass Tunnels, the exhaust sounded lush!

By the time I got home I didn’t really want to get out of the car it was that good and I still felt reasonably fresh even having driven the best part of the length of the UK in one day. What a CAR!!!

My future plans are to dry store it in the garage and decide the best way to get the supercharger on the beams any ideas as of best route?

The car is everything I hope for and more, the Beams engine is truly special and doesn’t miss a beat.

As this is my first post I imagine I don’t meet the necessary post limit to post pics and it has been raining all week so I don’t have any stunning photo’s yet, but you can see various pics in the links from synXero’s for sale and build threads. He has done an amazing job with this car and I fully intend to take the baton on turning it into a masterpiece.

[markstevieandmads]

great write up.....im interested to see where this "project" goes!

[Ryan S]

awesome man, i think the whole forum is waiting on the supercharger getting attached to this thing!!!

[Ben]

Glad to hear the car's staying in the fold, so to speak. You've got a cracker there

[craig]

Certainly looked a sweet motor from the pics. Sounds like you have a fantastic car there! Enjoy it, and welcome to IMOC.

[glen n]

It's a really nice car,and very well looked after, you got a cracking deal. Good luck with your plans in the future, can't wait too see it super charged

[synXero]

I'm flattered mate! The car couldn't have gone to a better buyer.

I received your PM as well and will sort out the extra bits that I must've forgotten to pile into the boot.

Can't wait to see any photographs you've taken of the car - I told you it'd steal your heart on the twisty roads. It is just awesome. I think the tyre and suspension set up on the car is awesome, it's a shame they rub now and then but just another thing for you to enjoy sorting out eh

Keep in touch!

[jmvail]

Hi Everyone,

Car is awesome, totally in love with it and thank you for your kind comments.

The rubbing can be slightly annoying, and going to get the arches rolled to see if this fixes the challenge.

However need some advice/opinions please...

The plan is to supercharge the girl, but as ever cost does have it’s part to play. I’m looking to run the supercharger on stock internals at circa 5psi which I’m hoping would add roughly 30-40odd bhp

As some will be aware the Mandalay’s (Via synXero) supercharger ‘kit’ comes with a PWR Charge cooler. Now from reading on the forums here as I understand if I was going to go down the charge cooling route I would lose my air con due to space in the front of the car. Something I’m not keen on losing.

Is it better/possible then to look at side mounted intercoolers? Such as a Greddy intercooler.

Thought would be greatly appreciated.

[matt-mr2]

If the cc rad you have won't work with your air con rad you could get a radtech rad as that fits to the ac rad (in front of the ac rad but on it brackets ) and you can keep your air con

[pistol pete]

Awesome write up

Glad you like it
Never been in a beams and most definitely the best mk2 colour

[aussieGT]

Hi Everyone,

As some will be aware the Mandalay’s (Via synXero) supercharger ‘kit’ comes with a PWR Charge cooler. Now from reading on the forums here as I understand if I was going to go down the charge cooling route I would lose my air con due to space in the front of the car. Something I’m not keen on losing.

Is it better/possible then to look at side mounted intercoolers? Such as a Greddy intercooler.

Thought would be greatly appreciated.

It wouldn't be a bad thing if we could somehow tempt mandalay to post here. He's pretty forthright in his opinion when it comes to rotrex, he seems to prefer the US forum these days.

If anyone knows how/where/why to mount this kit its him.

[SrSilkie]

Welcome

That was a great read, thanks!

You have a lovely car there, I look forward to some pics and keeping up with your plans

[jmvail]

If the cc rad you have won't work with your air con rad you could get a radtech rad as that fits to the ac rad (in front of the ac rad but on it brackets ) and you can keep your air con

That would be an ideal solution.

I know the radtech are the high end option, would I still get the same effect with an AVT from chargecooler.co.uk?

[jmvail]

Welcome

That was a great read, thanks!

You have a lovely car there, I look forward to some pics and keeping up with your plans

Thank you,

She truly is a beauty

Just got to wait for the never ending rain to stop then I will get her shining for pics.

Once I start the build of the supercharger (part collecting atm) I will update every detail to help others. I have to say this forum is just superb for the information it provides

[MANDALAY]

Im here Any help required just ask.

DO NOT GET RID of the air con. My heat exchanger is up front and actually i bought it from England. As suggested in the previous post. Man it was dear but that was because of the exchange rate at the time.

I can go thru all the process if you like BUT first above all you need to work out what ECU you will run.

Im no expert here, whether the factory ECU can manage even a little PSI as there is no documentation but you could always ask Rogue M.

[MANDALAY]

What ever reason its saying i have to post more before i can post a URL ?

Once i can ill post a few pictures

[MANDALAY]

FYI the Rotrex SC is of my car.

There were numerous reasons why i went the SC route and especially the Rotrex.

The Beams engine loves to rev and by design the SC is belt driven and the more you rev the more the power.

Its very linear so absolutely behaves like a N/A engine. Awsome throttle response. No lag and doesnt drink petrol.

Im not against Turbos , but i just dont like them.

It will kill me IF Ferrari introduces a Turbo to gain more power.

All in all one needs to have a drive of a Rotrexed car to understand what im talking about.

[MANDALAY]

Ok now back to the intercooler set up.

I bought one of the radiators from Rogue, it was dear at the time but mainly due to the AUD. I turned it around as the A/C pipes are different over here and made a few custom bits for the mounting.

THE BRACKETS


BUMPER OFF SHOWING THE AIR CONDITIONER RADIATOR


CLOSE UP WHERE THE BRACKET WILL BE.
See those 2 little screws , they hold the guts of the radiator and go all the way through . In actual fact they have still about 5 mm of travel on the back My brackets are 4 mm thick with the section where the screw is rebated down to 2 mm


BRACKET IN PLACE


BRACKET IN PLACE OTHER SIDE


A/W RADIATOR IN PLACE MINUS THE HORNS


DONE Now have to wait till new year so as i can get some hoses made

[MANDALAY]

Personally i hate seeing hoses that just dont look like factory in the pumper, solution get my own reinforced hoses made.

I made one jig but its actually 2 hoses in and out of the radiator to save money.