MX5 mk1 tuning
Discussion
Assuming a mint rust free MX5 mk1 1.8 can be found, please list the best mods which can be added to it. This would be for fast road use, over bumpy UK country roads, plus motorway trips. Things like super badgers (auto correct changed that from supercharger 
), decent dampers etc. List up your top spec component wish list...
), decent dampers etc. List up your top spec component wish list...I tend to look at modifying cars in the following order:
Service the car, get it running right.
Brakes, whether it's improved pads/disc or a BBK.
Wheels & tyres, get it on good rubber with wider wheels.
Suspension, whether it's coilovers or spring damper combo.
then look at anything else that needs doing, like steering racks/wheels.
Powaaahhhhh.
Service the car, get it running right.
Brakes, whether it's improved pads/disc or a BBK.
Wheels & tyres, get it on good rubber with wider wheels.
Suspension, whether it's coilovers or spring damper combo.
then look at anything else that needs doing, like steering racks/wheels.
Powaaahhhhh.
Just going down this road.
1.8 brakes are strong, but put good pads on. Should be enough.
Then I quite fancied some roll-over protection, and that'll stiffen the chassis up a bit.
Next up, Meister R coilovers
I quite fancy a loud exhaust too. Once that's done, I might look at making it go faster - would rather feel like I've mastered the standard car, before adding loads of power though.
Oh, and if you have standard seats and are tall taking some foam out of the driver's seat might be an idea. And a new stereo, perhaps some better speakers in the headrests too.
1.8 brakes are strong, but put good pads on. Should be enough.
Then I quite fancied some roll-over protection, and that'll stiffen the chassis up a bit.
Next up, Meister R coilovers
I quite fancy a loud exhaust too. Once that's done, I might look at making it go faster - would rather feel like I've mastered the standard car, before adding loads of power though.
Oh, and if you have standard seats and are tall taking some foam out of the driver's seat might be an idea. And a new stereo, perhaps some better speakers in the headrests too.
V8RX7 said:
Take a look on MX5Nutz - it's all been done before.
TBH if you're not going on track a standard MX5 with JUST the supercharger is great fun.
I've gone a lot further and it's certainly faster but I'm not sure it's actually as much fun.
Indeed; or look up the Car Throttle channel on YouTube; they've got a mk1 MX5 project on the go.TBH if you're not going on track a standard MX5 with JUST the supercharger is great fun.
I've gone a lot further and it's certainly faster but I'm not sure it's actually as much fun.
I really wouldn't. You're pissing around with a car that's nearly 20 years.
Not to mention the power/handling/brakes/chassis were always in great balance in that car. The flipside of that is you have to upgrade everything if you've any hope of keeping the same character.
I'd get one and keep it clean and give it a bloody deep service, all suspension components replaced without exception for example.
Not to mention the power/handling/brakes/chassis were always in great balance in that car. The flipside of that is you have to upgrade everything if you've any hope of keeping the same character.
I'd get one and keep it clean and give it a bloody deep service, all suspension components replaced without exception for example.
Would it make sense to import a rust free car then do the work? Or would this be a waste of money? Of course it might be cheaper to buy one already modified, but then will it be rust free?!
Interesting replies so far. Especially the ones saying don't do too much. A refresh, better brakes, rubber, bushes, dampers then power was my line of thought. It would be good to have it capable on track for once a year. Bust mostly for road fun.
Interesting replies so far. Especially the ones saying don't do too much. A refresh, better brakes, rubber, bushes, dampers then power was my line of thought. It would be good to have it capable on track for once a year. Bust mostly for road fun.
Checkout Goodwood Sports Cars - reputation seems good, and their cars are all fresh imports. Not cheap on the other hand.
I paid £2k for a clean, rust-free, Eunos last year.
As to leaving them stock, sure, why not, but equally it's your choice - I've chosen to mod mine. All of it could be reversed, but doing a bit of work on the car is part of the fun for me (as I've just posted on a parallel thread in the MX5 forum). For the money you'll not go far wrong I reckon.
I paid £2k for a clean, rust-free, Eunos last year.
As to leaving them stock, sure, why not, but equally it's your choice - I've chosen to mod mine. All of it could be reversed, but doing a bit of work on the car is part of the fun for me (as I've just posted on a parallel thread in the MX5 forum). For the money you'll not go far wrong I reckon.
Small turbo and probably a refreshed set of the Bilstien damper set up would make the best B-road weapon for the potholes. Most of the coilovers you get for these are a bit too stiff, even on their softest settings, to really cope with the state of our B-roads.
With good quality tyres and proper wheel alignment the chassis of these little cars easily copes with 200 bhp+.
With good quality tyres and proper wheel alignment the chassis of these little cars easily copes with 200 bhp+.
Consider ditching the power steering. People rave about the power steering set up, saying the car was 'designed for it' but every one I've driven (including my own) with PAS has had horribly numb and uncommunicative steering. You're better off with a manual rack (watch the fanboys recoil with horror) or doing what I did - depower the PAS rack using the 'flyin' miata' method to get a quick-ratio, unassisted rack.
I was considering selling the car due to the numb steering. One depowered rack later, and it'll be prised out of my cold, dead hands. Best mod I ever did.
If you like the PAS, great. But if you find the steering numb, ditch the PAS.
Oh, and get an alignment.
I was considering selling the car due to the numb steering. One depowered rack later, and it'll be prised out of my cold, dead hands. Best mod I ever did.
If you like the PAS, great. But if you find the steering numb, ditch the PAS.
Oh, and get an alignment.
mint NA imports are no longer cheap though. good ones are on the rise so you can enjoy depreciation free motoring if you keep it std.
The cars are very strong and take an extra 100hp and slicks (a brutal upgrade to a road car) better than many cars, but dont be surprised if things start to break.
I would leave a good mk1 standard, and look to a mk3 for tuning, still a great chassis when tuned.
The cars are very strong and take an extra 100hp and slicks (a brutal upgrade to a road car) better than many cars, but dont be surprised if things start to break.
I would leave a good mk1 standard, and look to a mk3 for tuning, still a great chassis when tuned.
Prof Prolapse said:
I had a mk1 without and I had a mk2 with PAS and I didn't think it was an issue.
Were the PAS issues specific to the MK1?
Probably just tired MK1 systems.Were the PAS issues specific to the MK1?
I've driven and raced MK1s with PAS, OE manual racks and de-powered racks and there's no real difference once rolling apart from the fact the OE manual rack is slightly longer lock to lock.
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