Warren Douglas's mk1.5

History:
This car is my “race-car”. Not really a race car, I drive it at Portland International Raceway on local car club track days. My goal is to make it as fast as possible on road courses. I also want to keep the car street legal so it can be driven to the race track and not have to be hauled on a trailer. It is not my daily-driver so I don’t care how rough the ride is. Speed is the goal.

I acquired this car in May of 1999 for $650.00 and so began the never-ending project to make this car fast and fun. My intention was to attempt to swap a 3S-GTE into the car, instead of trying to build-up a 4A-G(Z)E. The 3S-GTE has much greater power potential than the 4A-G(Z)E and at less cost per HP. Luckily, I found a wrecked ’91 Turbo MR2 in the local area which I purchased for $1500. This car had an upgraded Turbo and Nology plug wires on it.

The engine swap was done the way it was because I wanted to keep the body (engine mounts) intact so that the original 4A-GE engine could be easily re-installed (if necessary). The left and right motor mounts on the 3S-GTE do not line up with the frame tabs on the MKI.
 

The modifications to date are as follows:
- Stripped interior carpet and most of the sound insulation.
- Removed dashboard, heater core, heater blower, ducting, etc.
- Autopower bolt-in roll cage with door bars.
- USRP aluminum -or- Recaro Pro Racer 99 (fiberglass) race seat.
- Intrax 2” lowering springs.
- Anti-sway bars (really stiff!!!), Front bar: modified front ’84 Cressida, Rear bar: rear ’91 MR2 Turbo.
- Negative camber: -2.6 degrees front, -1.5 degrees rear
- TSW VX-1 15”x7” wheels.
- Yokohama A032R 205/50-15 tires.
- TRD braided stainless steel brake lines.
- Hawk “Black” racing brake pads.
- Motul 600 brake fluid.
- 3” aluminum brake cooling ducts (dryer duct).
- Fiberglass T-top inserts (Carbon Fiber inserts are being constructed soon).
- Carbon fiber wing end plates.
- Carbon fiber instrument panel.
- Auto Meter gauges, SunPro Mini Tach.
- MSD SCI-L ignition, MSD Blaster SS Coil.
- Nology Hot Wires.
- Upgraded CT-26 Turbo (MR2 Performance Products upgrade, trim unknown).
- HKS manual boost controller.
- K&N air filter (RD-1450).
- Airflow through the radiator re-routed up through the hood, instead of under the car (in progress, much left to do).