Bite Size Updates — Apex Attack

Hello fellow attackers!

Since I'm not getting any better at these updates, and we're actually getting into my busy time of year, I'm going to try a different approach here. Smaller, but more frequent updates. As always, follow my shameless IG plug for MUCH more frequent happenings: apex.attack) I know you loved setting aside a weekend for digging into those brutally long posts with a pot of coffee and notepad in hand, but this will be easier for myself to produce, and you to digest. So, lots has happened since early September.

The car was finally close to running where I wanted it all summer. Lot's of little issues have added up to a not so ideal summer with an engine I thought was rock solid. Then one day I opened the garage, and see the oozing green hue of coolant dripping off the splitter.

Insert audible expletives here. One thing after another! And to boot, the biggest MR2 meet in the PNW, 2 The Beach, was coming up soon.

From above and under the car, the problem wasn't very definitive. Hoses and clamps looked good, nothing obvious. Let's pull the radiator completely.

Well, there's your answer! The endtanks were simply coming apart. Things happen to a car that's 24 years old. It was slightly relieving to know it wasn't my splitter that somehow caused it.

Since the meet was coming up quick, I didn't really have time to ship a new radiator. Luckily a local MR2 buddy had a spare on one of his never-ending project cars he said I could borrow as long as I needed it. He was out of town so I had to go pull it myself. Which turned into a trip down memory lane.

Thomas has a 2gr swapped 94, and he also has this SW20 shell, which used to be king of Race Wars (lots of bonded on vents, Playstations where they shouldn't be, and underglow), and is undergoing a long term restoration. He also bought a TON of parts from my old car as I parted out what we left of her. You remember my first SW20, don't you?

Those doors and whale tail look familiar? (the hood, too)

Seeing the dash brought back all the feels. :'(

Since Thomas had the front bumper off, I was able to yank his turbo radiator in about 20 minutes.

Back home, the re-install was painless. It helps not having a condensor in there.

If you don't have one of these no spill funnels, go get one. They're $20 on Amazon (here), and worth every penny burping our coolant system.

So, the cooling system was now leak free. But I still had a few other goodies before the meet. Remember my RacerX interaction? Basically, I had a problem with their oil catch can being too restrictive, which they promptly got back to me with a great solution, and then even offered to have me help develop their prototype parts. Pretty stoked on that! Jeff at RacerX sent me a little goodie package to get started.

First, here are the stainless filters RacerX sent to replace the sintered filter. I had removed the sintered filters completely to resolve the blowby issues I had all summer. I chose the coarse filter on the intake, and the finer filter on the exhaust.

The billet oil cap, some bling bling for the bay! Very nice piece replacing my ahem fake ahem TRD oil cap. But that wasn't all.

They also sent an air intake kit! Really stoked to try this out. The typical cone and pipe intake kits you see on 95% of MR2s works, but if could work better. Utilizing a velocity stack to help channel air more efficiently into the turbo, RacerX found 8 whp over the typical K&N cone and tube style intake (more if you use a drop-in K&N RX-7 filter). Not to mention, the intake moves the filter to a much cooler location closer to the driver side vent.

Installation was simple, and everything fit very well. Probably an hour if you're enjoying yourself with some mechanic lubrication. In fact, I helped RacerX out by writing the install instructions found here, check them out!

Not to mention, it looks the part of a real race intake. All business.

With all that in the car, it was time for a test drive.

Seat of the pants, the car did feel peppier than before. Response and high end have improved with the intake. The best part... the sound! The turbo now howls as boost builds, and off throttle flutter is incredible. After a hard drive, the aluminum intake was cool to the touch, definitely noticeable over my old EMS Powered intake.

The best part, RacerX is about to have their annual Black Friday Sale, so seriously, go support a USA made and developed parts. The quality is insane, OEM fitment, and made in the USA. I know I'm biased, but you pay for what you get with car parts, buy it right the first time, or buy it twice.

We still have a few tricks up our sleeve before 2 The Beach, stay tuned for another update this week!

Since you made it this far... wanna buy some awesome parts this week at great prices? Here's some Apex Attack favorites hosting Black Friday deals.

RacerX - great deals on limited quantities of MR2 goods, from intake manifolds to oil caps: http://racerxfabrication.com/

Wilhelm Raceworks - Sweet deals on their Suspension Geometry Kit and Big Brake Kit: http://wilhelmraceworks.com/black-friday-2017

Rat2 Motorsports - Big deals all over the site, from 2GR swaps to rod bearing kits: https://www.rat2motorsports.com/collections/black-friday-2017-sale