2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (Ryan888K)

Tue, 09 Sep 2014 15:13:21 GMT

Thanks a bunch for the feedback guys. From the sounds of things, even if I figure out the correct combination, it is still gonna cost a mint to get what I have sorted out to suit. I don't really 'need' any more power, it just would have been bloody nice to do it if it was easy " />

Realistically, keeping the thing as-is should ensure that it remains reliable as a daily driver, so I have decided to just enjoy the car and leave it alone.

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (Road and Track)

Sat, 06 Sep 2014 20:36:10 GMT

There is not much point in asking other people if I'll help, best to talk directly

your location is not a problem to me., i get cars sent to me from all over australia because its generally cheaper for an owner to pay $750-$1000 in freight than burn up twice that with someone who is experimenting with a conversion or something really unusual.

i have not done a 2ZZ SMT because no-one (with money) has ever asked, and i never saw a market for it. In fact, i think the 1ZZ SMT car is a good combo if you like how the trans/clutch works. For someone with deep pockets, i cannot see why it could not be made to work properly, but it would entail a lot of custom programming and study. Sending a car out like you seem to have with an 80% job, is just asking for trouble, and I'll bet whomever did it, regrets taking it on.

In thinking about this, please consider toyota probably spent many man-years on the software, yet some people think guys like us can sort it out from scratch in a few days. not credible if you really stop and think

The Vipec per se is probably not your problem, but rather the 2 way data comms between the VIPEC and the SMT computer.

[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.8"]Your 192 HP does not surprise me at all. a dead stock 2ZZ puts out about 145-150hp at wheels if everything is just spot-on. anyone who tells you a lot more is dreaming or using[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.8"] an uncalibrated dyno. With restrictive intake and exhaust, I've seen them down at 125hp. Thats not to say you cant get more, but it will depend on the set up.

[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.8"]finally, be aware the 2ZZ is a very unusual engine with very narrow power band and badly considered cams from factory. Thats why many turbo conversions on them dont work very well, or they become "flat-out" engines only. The "lift" was just a gimmick to go head to head with Honda. The SMT was an even more stupid gimmick that never took off, and causes no end of grief once they are aged, so putting them together is less than clever IMHO .

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (Tree)

Thu, 04 Sep 2014 12:53:40 GMT

Maybe shoot Monkey Wrench racing an email, they have much (if not the most) extensive tuning investment as far as 2ZZ are concerned. Based in the US.
Once this car gets sorted out and enters 2015 MTC, sorry Steve (B24) maybe better luck next year hahah

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (kiwi)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 19:01:57 GMT

Changing to a manual might not fix the issues as the entire car has to be wired up differently.

Dumb question thou, did the mechanic add the 3 extra wires for the 2zz? 1 for the vvtL oil pressure sensor and 2 for the vvtL control module. If none of those were done then the ECU will never engage lift
Also can the current ECU even activate Toyota's lift function? From what I was told when looking for a piggyback ECU was most support Honda's VTEC but were unsure if they were compatible with Toyota's VVTL-i.
This is also another reason people go for the powerFC as you can get one designed to run a 2zz-ge

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (-Totenkopf-)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 17:38:39 GMT

A 2zz without the lift function enabled is severely handicapped.

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (Mrskylighter)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 16:01:35 GMT

Terry has manual conversion kits from time to time. Would changing it to a regular manual gearbox solve your problem?

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (Ryan888K)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 15:02:49 GMT

Thanks heaps for all the help guys! Would Terry be willing to help even though I can't get him to do the work?

FYI, this is the facebook page for the guy from Canberra who installed the engine; https://www.facebook.com/canberramobilemechanical?fref=ts. He has been kind enough to agree to act as a consultant on the work that has already been done should I ever need his help, but I really want to find someone who has nailed it before I start messing with what already works. He told me to remind anyone else considering the build to set aside about $25k before you start.

I have applied for permission to join the MR2 Spyder page so hopefully I will be able to see any other replies that arise. The car is exciting enough as it is, but if I can get this right, the car is going to be bloody amazing.

Thanks for the Landcruiser link too Nik_Lee. I will look into it.

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (Nik_Lee)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:37:49 GMT

I am not sure if they would be able to help but it also may be worth giving wholesale transmissions in Melbourne a call, they have a great transmission controller that they developed for controlling the electronic landcruiser transmission.

http://www.automatictransmission.com.au/release.asp?NewsId=41076

maybe this could be configured to control the SMT, possibly a long shot but you never know.

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (Knightrous)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:45:47 GMT

Considering the SMT in the ZZW30 is just a C56 manual gearbox with automated shifting attached to it (not based on an automatic transmission) I'm surprised no one has developed an aftermarket computer for it.

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (kiwi)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 11:23:17 GMT

That was the issue that little rocket and oil field trash had when they tried a 2zz/SMT combo was the transmission ECU "forgetting" it could go over the normal 7k redline.
I have always wanted to try my hand at a 2zz on a SMT but always thought it was possible but also very hard to overcome certain limitations that a SMT spyder has.
All you can do is try terry as he is the one everyone recommends for 2zz swaps and SMT to MT swaps.

On a different note, if the only real limitation is the TCU forgetting every time you restart, could one maybe have it wired up to a motorcycle battery that will allow it to retain its memory and get recharged via the alternator whilst the car is getting driven? Or would the TCU just use to much power?

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (aussiespyder)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:37:55 GMT

I put the question up on facebook mr2 spyder page, quote from a guy was "I built a na 2zz smt. I piggybacked a pfc to the stock 1zz ecu. Only thing i couldnt get 100% was i had to keep the smt ecu on all the time to prevent a relearn past the 1zz rev limit."

Maybe that's why it's rev limited was because of the smt's ne if you can only rev so far the lift wouldn't work.
Maybe previous owner never had "fun" with car!

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (sweeetpete)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:07:47 GMT

Terry has not done this but he is the most knowledgable here in Oz on swaps. Like said though even in States where swaps and cars are common this is rare and not had good results. I would get a manual gearbox and get a Lot better results.

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (Ryan888K)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 08:34:27 GMT

Yeah, it's only 192hp and I feel that it is low also. The Vipec ecu is also piggy-backed to the 1ZZ computer, but the dyno sheet the car came with shows a flat spot at 4000 rpm where the computers conflict with each other.

If you guys know of anyone else who has successfully done one of these, I would be over the moon to hear from them.

Sorry I missed your post before sweetpete, but has "Terry at road and track Ipswich QLD" done this? I'm in Wollongong, so it wouldn't really be feasible to get out there :(

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (kiwi)

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 08:11:31 GMT

The apexi powerFC is what is used 99% of the time for people who swap the 2zz in and use a replacement aftermarket ecu. There was once a custom made wire harness called a boomslang(?) harness that allowed SMT users to wire up a powerFC into a sort of piggyback application thou that was for a 1zz but someone correct me if I'm wrong but a 2zz harness in a manual spyder is just the OEM one with 3 wires added?

Is that 192 ponies in HP or kW? I'm assuming HP and if so that's very low considering a stock 2zz has 190 HP at the flywheel and with a turbo strapped to your one it should be a lot higher.

Also I remember the pair who got a 2zz SMT spyder to kinda work went via the tags "little rocket" and " oil trash field" they used a PowerFC in a piggy back application also as the stock 1zz ECU is needed for the SMT to work. He stated "its as fast as any manual 2zz" so I'm guessing his lift system worked

Re: 2002 MR2 Spyder w/ 2ZZ-GE Turbo (Ryan888K)

Tue, 02 Sep 2014 21:22:38 GMT

Yeah. I spoke to the the mechanic who put it in today and apparently it cost a mint just to make it work to the extent that it does now.

He reckoned it might have been the only one in Australia, but I was hoping things might have changed since then.

It still pushes 192 ponys @ the rear wheels as is, but it would be great to get the tune 'right'. I spoke to a tunehouse in Sydney and they reckon they wouldn't even know where to start.

Has the apexi worked before?