Partial transplant?

[dbcat1]

Hello kit car community! Yes I am new. I tried to pose a question in an MR2 forum, which was not particularly well-received I don't think. However, after reading some of y'alls posts,, and since you seem to be real kit car enthusiasts, I have a feeling you may have some interesting responses to what I'm thinking about.

I recently bought a 1986 Toyota MR2, and what I'd like to do is to modernize it by transplanting a lot of systems from a modern car to make the MR2 an essentially modern car. This including engine transmission diff, engine management system, Plus all the modern Power Equipment such as, body computer, GPS system, HVAC, backup camera, push button start, Dash console and gauges, and many of the modern sensors that come with a modern car and put those into my MR2.

My question is this: if I transplant the systems that I want, but don't transplant some of the other systems on Modern cars, what are the computers likely to do? For instance, I don't want any of the myriad driver assistance package systems that come with newer cars, such as blind spot monitoring, forward Collision warnings, and I certainly don't want it to parallel park itself. I wouldn't want a Christmas tree lighting up on the dash console with a computer saying something's wrong, and I certainly don't want it to end up in some safety mode and just limp along like I've heard some ECUs behave when it senses something is wrong.

Am I nuts? My entrepreneurial imagination tends to operate on the margins, but then again, it's kind of like it a kit car in a way, sort of. Any thoughts?

 

[Ross]

Well you are opening a can of worms. Are you any good at using an oscilloscope to monitor the working car, then writing code in a microcontroller like an arduino to emulate the missing computer systems?

 

[dbcat1]

I think you might have lost me already Ross. The computer in the 86 MR2 isn't up to any tasks except some basic engine management for the 4age. Would the donor car ECU and BCM work normally after transplanting, or am I not understanding some basic functions? Sorry, don't mean to sound like a noob.

 

[k.rollin]

At this point, I think that your project goals are a bit too vague for anyone to be able to provide you with any concrete answers.

Have you identified any potential donors to support this endeavor? It sounds like, to me, that your intent is to gut an MR2 and incorporate its shell with the mechanical/electrical bits of a different, newer car, not unlike what Chris of BIFB did by putting a 240Z body over a frame with the bits from an E60 M5.

 

[dbcat1]

Exactly! Glad to know I'm not crazy and that someone else has actually done this. Is there a thread on the Forum on this?

Okay so I'm looking at at Volkswagen, 2.0 ea888. So I guess that means I'm looking at GTI, Cc, or something similar, because it's front-wheel drive (transverse), diff plus the manual transmission that would make everything so much easier given that the MR2 is Mid Engine. The later the donor model the better because then I could transplant OBD2.

I guess the MR2 folks poo pooed the idea because they're committed to their Marquis and want to preserve it to the best of their ability, and I respect that. We really don't need thousands, or even hundreds, of perfectly preserved MR2 Mark 1, 2 or 3s for that matter, IMO.

Maybe I am speaking like a noob again when I assume that what I'm looking at is a proper transplant, Plus custom axles, and keeping the MR2 suspension and hubs, hopefully with Improvement, and see how much of the rest I can move over. I was just wondering if I could pull out the guage display Christmas tree lights and silence the alarms for all the systems that I wouldn't be moving over and it would still run.... this is still my question. I am, however, willing to admit that I'm nuts if I actually am. Anyone else think this is crazy?

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

The VW computer doesn't accept much reprogramming and there are only a few shops that have the expertise to do it correctly - APR, HPA as examples. The inputs to the computer are looking for very specific signals that match up to the myriad of sensors on a VW. If these sensors are not carried over to your MR2, you will have the Christmas tree lights you are dreading. Many of the cars using the VW as a donor - Nemesis for example - uses a stand alone engine control system that doesn't interface with the rest of the cars sensors. Obviously this could be an option for you to pursue if you are wish to use the VW donor.

Since you wandered into our forum, maybe by chance or by purpose, may you consider using a Cobalt as your basis for the swap? They are more 'modern' than the late 80s technology in the MR2, but not so much that the computer and sensor inputs cannot be used, replicated, or bypassed easy enough to allow for a great running car without the Christmas tree lights. You could go with a naturally aspirated donor - 2.2 at 150hp or 2.4 at 175hp - or SC supercharged - 2.0 at 205hp - or even a TC turbocharged - 2.0 at 260hp. Granted any donor you are interested in will require a fair amount of fabrication to make it work, but the experience with the Cobalt donors with the Goblin family would be a great resource to help you with your project if you were to go with a Cobalt donor.

OR, you could contact someone near you and go for a ride in a Goblin. I'm pretty sure may change your mind on the MR2 adventure. I was pilled back from wanting to pursue a 69 Camaro build with a ride in RichRich Goblin. There is nothing like this car, period, especially a TC car. Where are you located, if you think you may be interested in this option? I'm sure someone on the forum is likely close enough and would love to offer you a ride.

 

[dbcat1]

HA! Completely overlooked the Cobalt. I think it's because I was looking at the Ecotec because I thought it was such a spectacular engine, forged crankshaft, forged connecting rods. I just wasn't able to find a suitable donor car, late model, with front-wheel drive, manual transmission, etc., etc.

1.8 liters is plenty I think for the MR2. I'm not necessarily committed to N/A or boosted. It does seem to me that something around 240 HP would be nice though. I have this love affair with the MR2. I've owned all three versions. But really, to be honest, I just have these ideas, like this Franken2, sometimes crazy, but feel this urge to see them through. BTW, would LOVE a ride in a Goblin! I'm in Bowie Maryland.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

There are at least 2-3 Goblin owners near you in Maryland - Baltimorehokie, Ecotecnation. Hopefully they will see this thread and reply. I would also recommend contacting Adam or Lonnie at DF if you have any questions.

I'm telling you, once you get a ride in a Goblin, especially a TC, you may likely change your mind on what you would like to do for a project. With stock 260hp and a 1500lb car to push around, the Goblin is in supercar territory with acceleration, turning and braking. I would invite you to check out some of the videos on uTube, search under DF Goblin, and check out some of the experiences filmed about the car.