Time for this weeks update.
Thankyou for your kind replies. I'm looking forward to taking Cerberus to a few shows next year. But there's so much to do before then.
I've looked into lengthening the arms on my suspension and it would be a total nightmare to get it correct. At the moment everything is perfectly square and true being a factory Toyota chassis. If I modify it for a wider track I run the high risk of messing up the tracking, camber, everything. The car could crab like a early mini which is not good.
So I'm leaving it well alone. As I'm not going to be driving thousands of miles in her I'm advised not to worry.
If a bearing goes then it's easily replaced. The spacers will be fine with the mr2's standard power output but if I was to ramp up the power then I would need to change the wheels to deep dish split rims so that the wheels bolt directly to the discs. Removing the spacers. I could then add as much power as I wanted.
I have made my final decision on the engine. I'm sticking with the 4 cylinder turbo lump. Why?
I have been in touch with Rogue Motorsport in Coventry. I have chatted about my engine options. If I was to bung in a v6. Apparently they have a over heating problem. But I'm limited to its basic power and that's it.
If I stick with the turbo engine i can tune to my hearts content depending on budget.
They have built mr2 turbos chucking out over 700 BHP
. F in hell. 700 bhp that's more than the real murcie.
Not sure how the extreme chassis modifications and body would cope with that kind of power. It would probably fall apart.
They have recommended around 350 bhp is a nice power
this would accelerate Cerberus 0-60 around the 5 second mark.
All this tuning is a lot later on but they sky's the limit.
I've got a lot to do before anything like that gets done.
Anyway.
So the door cards have now gone away for recovering in leather with orange stitching.
I have completely stripped the interior again to get it ready for the re upholstering.
I have decided that I'm doing half the upholstering myself and all the leather work is being done by a profeshional.
All the edges and curves are to be covered in fine black carpet. All the big areas are to be covered in black real leather with orange stitching. No vinyl anywhere.
I've decided to do it this way because transporting Cerberus is a nightmare. So she's staying put.
It won't fit in any trailer and to truck it is to expensive. So my upholsterer is coming here.
I'm keeping the interior MR2 because everything fits so well.
So a few jobs to do to get the interior ready for covering.
My first job is to fit the interior light. I spent ages looking for a suitable interior light and the best is the original MR2 light. It took me a while to find a black one on flee bay.
The mr2 interior light is sunk into the ceiling but it's the correct size for the lambo. Just above the interior rear view mirror is the perfect place.
I make a template out of cardboard to mark out the area to be cut. I then transfer it to the ceiling of the car.
I used my buzz saw to cut out the square. Fortunately I just missed the steel bar that runs along inside the ceiling.
Perfect.
I then run a wire along and down inside ready to power the light.
My next job is to modify the rear storage cupboards.
I made a mistake and built them up to high. This stopped the seats fully reclining. So I have to remove the wood work.
I have now refitted the covers so they are now mounted directly to the origional mr2 metalwork. I have made 2 simple lids so you can now use these little cubby holes for storage.
To get them ready for covering I give them a good coat of black paint so they look tidy.
They won't block the seats now and you have some extra storage.
The standard mr2 had a subwoofer mounted in one of these cubby holes. But I will keep them just for storage.
So now everything is ready for covering.
I have just placed my order on the front air suspension. I have decided to go for a pair of air cups by stance parts.
These cups will fit over my origional coil over struts. They will lift the nose around 4 inches. Ideal for extra clearance.
Then return to normal by a flick of a switch.
There website here:
http://www.stanceparts.comI did look at full air struts but they are to expensive for what they are.
It's full systems go for the interior next week so more then.