Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (MCT_MR2)

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:37:12 GMT

MR2QIK

This whole concept of "building it right" can get you in a lot of trouble. It's kind of a false illusion IMO since modified cars will never match Toyota factory reliability (not talking power of course).

My proposal.....fit the Beams with a manual tranny (good start...lol), Haltech ECU with flex sensor, injectors, pump, intake headers & exhaust & get a good tuner involved. I see no reason it won't hold up & it should provide lotsa fun. Bit of a Honda hunter....

I agreewith MR2QIK, you will see far more bang for buck with bolt on work. These engines are pretty restrained tune wise, and just getting them to breath better can be very rewarding.

I don't agree about a race motor beams does not require to retain VVT. BTCC cars, TRD touge cars, and some of the most powerful beams motors in the country including the winner of this years under 2 litre sport sedan all retain the VVT (in reduced cam throw) to help iron out any dips in the power delivery.

Unless your trying to build your engine to this kind of level, i wouldn't bother touching the internals.

When you get the upper end for n/a beams the power, even the diameter can effect power delivery, these three runs were just adjusting the diameter of the secondaries by 1/8th of an inch at a time.

Long story short, your best doing basics and tuning the engine to get the most out of it, it will be more reliable, better bang for buck, and will make the engine still suitable for street use.

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (surok)

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 15:18:53 GMT

thats ben with the 1:10..

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (voodoo)

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 14:22:37 GMT

Wow thanks for all the info everyone, the car isn't being turned into a complete track car , it will be my weekend car which Id like to track as often as I can,
With what I've read so far I think I'll just stick to what vie got and go down the path of bolt ons , ecu, and weight reduction.

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (Road and Track)

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 08:44:07 GMT

i have forged hi-comp pistons for NA engines. Have done Haltec & Motec on BEAMS engines and lots of internal mods.
For dedicated race use , most engine builders will tell you the VVT is not really needed, and I'm inclined to agreed.
On nearly every NA race engine, the route to power is very high compression , agressive cams and multiple intakes. A proper programmable ECU is essential and pay as much as you can afford for that item
The stock Toyota engines are built very well and will handle the odd track day. If however, you are going to open it up, then do it properly using well thought-out program of mods using quality parts.
Forget these old wives tales about jsut throw in some cams or drop in forgies. No single item will make it a race engine. Changing head thicknesses is another dubious suggestion. Either its a proper race engine with really high comp, or grannies shopping car. The change in head gasket thickness wont change it form one to another.

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (Tree)

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 04:02:11 GMT

Link to the 1:10 SW20 NA guy:
http://www.86forums.com.a...351-my-previous-rides/
I even joined up just to ask him about it lmaooo x100 the desperate-ness...

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (kameleon)

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:55:55 GMT

Hey Tree who is running that time at Wakefield?

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (just_ace)

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 11:41:34 GMT

all this conjecture about what to dowith his engine is pointless unless we know the purpose it's for.

if eh's doing serious track work and he wants to stay in the under 2L NA class, i see no reason why he would rebuild the engine to compete for race purposes. it's a moot point about engine life span it's going to be driven hard, but at the same time it will be fully rebuilt.

if he's just doing a swap into a weekend car, then if he has the money to rebuild it an squeeze a bit more out then why not?

same if it's a daily, but possibly not worth it. i suppose it depends how much he wants t get out of it and the condition of the motor he picked up in the firt place.

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (Tree)

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 02:37:16 GMT

lol I had a feeling mister2 was going to chime in
Fastest NA I've seen does 1:10 at Wakefield, fully stripped and race prepped. It was a Gen 3 NA running aftermarket ECU and only a handful of mods. It was mostly weight reduction that made it quick. With a track dedicated Beams it's possible to dip below 1:10 with a good steerer hehe.
That being said turbo still rulez imo but there is something to be said for a high revving Beams as some of us here would know ;)
But yeh check out that other recent thread on "mods vs engine life"
good luck

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (Knightrous)

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:30:57 GMT

Gatesys SW20
Also knightrous has a 80 odd kw aw doing about the same kind of lap times and he gives a lot of the turbos a good run :)

I'm only in the 1.16's at Wakefield, but I can keep up with a FT86!

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (MR2QIK)

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:03:37 GMT

This whole concept of "building it right" can get you in a lot of trouble. It's kind of a false illusion IMO since modified cars will never match Toyota factory reliability (not talking power of course).

My proposal.....fit the Beams with a manual tranny (good start...lol), Haltech ECU with flex sensor, injectors, pump, intake headers & exhaust & get a good tuner involved. I see no reason it won't hold up & it should provide lotsa fun. Bit of a Honda hunter....

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (Dudeman)

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:49:31 GMT

MR2QIK

Save yourself mate. Don't open it up yet. Just get it in, aftermarket ecu with intake, headers & zorst & enjoy it for years without hassle.

If you wanted to do all that, might aswell have done a high comp original Gen2 with cams, ECU & E85. The Beams is a great reliable factory motor, don't fix what isn't broke. Leaves too much room for error.

I'd go with J-Bo on this one. Like he says, if it aint broke, don't fix it.

You got it, if it runs no problems go with it and enjoy the new higher revs. Jaemus may throw his two cents in, his car has been running the red top for a while now.

Run it until it begins to die, then spend. But like that young bloke in QLD - he spent a lot of money for.....
Someone mentioned earlier in this thread how little returns you get when trying to squeeze more out of n/a.

I put a greddy intercooler and berk dump on my turbo - the instant jump in power for $ spend was pretty satisfying.

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (MR2QIK)

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:04:21 GMT

Save yourself mate. Don't open it up yet. Just get it in, aftermarket ecu with intake, headers & zorst & enjoy it for years without hassle.

If you wanted to do all that, might aswell have done a high comp original Gen2 with cams, ECU & E85. The Beams is a great reliable factory motor, don't fix what isn't broke. Leaves too much room for error.

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (Gatesys SW20)

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:12:31 GMT

Oh yeah of course but just saying for reference,

But I agree there are great things for turbo and Na
I plan on having a turbo for track and street use and an Na for I'm not to sure yet either keep it if I can afford to or sell it
Ashame I've spend quite a lot on my Na and its very clean
:) see what happens
Although I think voodoo is on the money can't go wrong
Check out the car senol was/is selling that's a great track weapon.

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (just_ace)

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:06:39 GMT

Turbo would be in a different class to na.

If hes racing in a class he will be up against other under 2l cars any way no?

But if its not for competitive racing, then it doesnt matter if your the fastest or not.

Re:Red Top Beams Piston Upgrade (track_mr2)

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:02:52 GMT

Gatesys SW20
I think the Na would be a great track car you can't go wrong like that in terms of reliabikty and ease to tune and work on :)

I definately agree with the N/A being a good option for reliability and fun. Turbo's can give a lot of headaches and obviously require more maintenance. On the flip side though, I used to have a G-Limted MR2 around 6 or 7 years ago and it did blow an engine.
I went turbo for a track car this time becuase of the potential and the ease to increase power when you want to. That and it was cheap lol.