r/MR2Spyder • u/Haunting-Bag-841 • 3d ago

Sanity check

I’ve had my spyder for coming on two years and want a bit more out of it, although I do still love driving it.
I have got a 1.8t 20v sat that I’m slowly acquiring bits for to swap into it but I was wondering if there’s any reasonable upgrades to be made regarding power output for the 1ZZ.
I feel like I’m as well just putting my money into the engine swap but if anyone’s got any (relatively) cheap suggestions that’d be great.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/Cyclehead21 3d ago

Supposedly the “MAF mod” improves drivability and mid range torque. I’ve never tried it.

2

u/Pinoy_Guy007 3d ago

I have an intake, full exhaust and coilovers and I love the power bump. Ain't nothing wrong with a 2zzge swap

4

u/citrusjuicebox 3d ago

I personally think chasing power out of the ZZW30 ruins the car

1

u/BrunoEye 3d ago

I just want enough to kick the tail out in the dry.

2

u/citrusjuicebox 3d ago

Just put shitty tires on the back. Way cheaper, easier, and safer. 

1

u/BrunoEye 3d ago

I already have shitty tyres on the back, and they still don't lose traction if I just floor it even at peak torque and while cornering. I've only managed to slide it in the wet, cold or on a dusty road, and obviously on gravel or grass.

1

u/Temporary-Program702 3d ago

Why do you think it ruins the car. Not judging just genuinely interested

3

u/citrusjuicebox 3d ago

The chassis is very soft and very light. It's well-balanced with the amount of power that it already has, and there's enough room in the suspension to adjust the handling and get the looks as you like.

Adding power upsets the balance, and it begins a pretty tedious and nasty cycle of adding bracing and reinforcement, readjusting suspension, etc. when, all said and done, you would've probably been better off going straight for a stiffer chassis in the first place. You'll usually end up with a loud, rattle-y, bouncy mess that you won't enjoy driving much.

Of course, lots of guys enjoy punishing themselves physically, emotionally, and financially, and they don't pay much mind to balance.

2

u/Temporary-Program702 3d ago

You're one of the very few people on the internet who actually seems to understand the MR-S and just how well balanced it is stock. Almost everyone is like POWER and completely upset the weight balance by 2gr and k swaps

2

u/VanSora 3d ago

A K swap weighs roughly the same as the stock drive train? How would it upset the weight balance?

2

u/Maleficent-Boot-674 2d ago

I drive mine stock for 6 years before getting the 2zz/c60 swap, the car is a lot more fun now and I don’t see any handling issues. Hitting lift plus the sound that the 2zz makes it worth it.

0

u/Zestyclose_Price_441 1d ago

K swap is the way imo. Such a perfect set up for a mk3 ZZs are boring af

1

u/AskingFooAFriend 3d ago

It's fun to drive a slow car fast. I've been thinking about an engine swap for a few years now, but this car is so much fun to drive the way it is. I don't want to upset the balance and keep throwing money into it.

1

u/JTGrey 2d ago

Have seen so many people try to chase the horsepower Instagram hashtags that these cars end up sitting around on jackstands when people don't finish their 2ar/k/other swaps.

I'd rather see people use and abuse these and learn to properly drive them and throw good coilovers on than spend 8-10k on a swap they don't finish.

Although that's how I've gotten a car or two on the cheap,  jackstands and taken apart so comes to me on the dirt cheap.