| Monkeywrench Racing Features: Vagelis Panou's 2ZZ MR2 Spyder |
| |
As you can see, this is a highly modified MR2 Spyder, with widebody kit and a factory hardtop |
|
|
Under all that Plumbing, bracing and turbo equipment, there is one serious 2ZZ |
|
| |
| |
John Mattis provided expert machining services that enabled this monster 2ZZ to come together
Here is is putting some final touches on the assembled motor. |
|
| |
You cannot succeed in a build like this one without very reliable tuning services.
Plex Tuning was able to dial this beast in for Vagelis, and as you can see, with very good results |
|
| |
Vagelis is not afraid to let everyone know who did the tuning. |
|
| |
Believe it or not, this is a street driven car |
|
| |
These Photos are from an outing with the Greek MR2 Club, enjoying the sights around Monemvasia. |
|
| |
Here are some of the members of the club, Vagelis is in the blue windbreaker,
Katerina in front. She has the very important job of coordinating everything with
Monkeywrench (she speaks perfect english) |
|
| |
Vagelis' MR2 Shines as a show car, dominates on the dyno and
carves on the curves, but after all, this is a REAL Race Car! |
|
| |
Not only does Vagelis race with this car, but he wins with it.
Here he is accepting the first place trophy for a local time-attack style race |
|
|
Katerina (The one with the perfect English) was kind enough to provide some details about
the history of the car, and here they are: |
| |
The Car was bought the December of 2001. At that point its color was yellow.
From the beginning Vagelis wanted to improve the car and with the 1zz engine that was on the car at that time started his effort.
Due to lack of experience –not only Vagelis but also the mechanics- they’ve worked to the car for about one year and a half and when it reach 300hpw it broke.
Then, in the middle 2003 he bought a used 2zz engine and painted the car blue. It didn’t have Darton Sleeves and its turbo was a GT3071. This engine when it reached 24psi unfortunately broke.
At that point (middle of 2005) a new 2zz engine was installed in the car, still with no sleeves in, and he rebuilt the car reaching 350hpw. The car run at that stage for about a year.
At 2006 he visited your web site and after gathering all the information needed he decided to change the whole engine so as to produce more power. (I think you don’t mind telling that you are the reason that we see the engine in our sleep!!!!!)
It was then when he adjusted the Monocraft Body Kit and the car took the shape that you now see.
Almost two years later the car changed once more its color to white, has reach a level of 451hpw at 1.4bar (See dyno Sheet) and now its preparing for 700+ at 33psi!
Here follows the list of all the things Vagelis put in the car : |
ENGINE:
1) 2ZZ STROKER
2) DARTON SLEEVES
3) 82.0MM BORE
4) JE PISTONS
5) ARROW CONECTING RODS
6) MWR VALVES
7) MWR VALVES SPRINGS
8) PIPER 2ND STAGE
9) ALL BOLTS ARP
10) CLUTCH MASTER 700FX
11) MWR OIL PAN
12) MWR CWX OIL PUMP GEARS
13) CUSTOM GEAR BOX
14) GARRETT GT 40-88R
15) CUSTOM CHARGER COOLER FOR 800HP
16) TURBONETICS GODZILLA BLOW OFF
17) TURBOSMART FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR
18) TIAL 60mm WASTEGATE
19) GOODRIDGE BRAKE LINES
20) RACE FUEL TANK |
Car:
1) ZEAL SUSPENSION SUPER FUCTION R (CUSTOM)
2) C-ONE STRUT BRACE REAR
3) C-ONE FRONT STRUT BRACE
4) CUSCO FRONT LOWER ARM BAR
5) AP BRAKES
6) CUSCO ROLL CAGE
7) DEFI GAUGES
8) C-ONE SWAY BAR
9) WORK WHEELS 17” 255/40/17 205/45/17 TOYO TIRES |
| |
|
All this time the car has been presented to Fairs and shows as Athens Tuning Show, magazines like Max Power and generally is a car that gathers a lot of attention. The races he attends is like Time Attacks ones.
From the beginning till now with all the adjustments and rebuilding the car has cost around 130,000 Euros.
Today Vagelis has bought all the Wurth mechanical equipment so as to be able to fix the car at home and currently (I think permanently) the garage has been partially transformed to a car-shop!
Finally, we would really like to thank John Mattis, John Andianakis, Monkey Wrench Racing for your guidance and help to his attempt. And least but not last Kostas Chronis who is the car mechanic during the last two years. |
|
