yay its another MX5 thread! Track slag!
Discussion
I'm thinking I cant quite cope with my self imposed 24 month "silly car holiday" after having sold the TVR earlier this month.
I do need to do things on a bit more of a tight budget.
Therefore I'm thinking cheapo MX5, I can do pretty much any work required myself, and parts are easy to come by and relatively inexpensive.
Anyone using one as a track slag? any good websites on DIY work and track preparation?
I'm thinking get one that runs, strip it out, loose the PAS and AC if it has it, decent set of tyres and its good to go, maybe add a roll cage and some fancy suspension (but from what I gather the standard suspension is pretty good anyway provided its all in good condition).
Cheers
ps I would have searched but any MX5 search comes back with about nine billion results!
I do need to do things on a bit more of a tight budget.
Therefore I'm thinking cheapo MX5, I can do pretty much any work required myself, and parts are easy to come by and relatively inexpensive.
Anyone using one as a track slag? any good websites on DIY work and track preparation?
I'm thinking get one that runs, strip it out, loose the PAS and AC if it has it, decent set of tyres and its good to go, maybe add a roll cage and some fancy suspension (but from what I gather the standard suspension is pretty good anyway provided its all in good condition).
Cheers
ps I would have searched but any MX5 search comes back with about nine billion results!
You could have put this in the MX5 section....
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/forum.asp?h=0...
Anyway. Yes. Good as standard. Even better with shiny bits. Not fast in a line. Cheap. 3 track days to a set of pads for me.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/forum.asp?h=0...
Anyway. Yes. Good as standard. Even better with shiny bits. Not fast in a line. Cheap. 3 track days to a set of pads for me.
This aussie MX5 forum has loads of info http://mx5cartalk.com/phpBB-3.0.2/index.php
If you are after a Mk1 I would think either a pre- 31st March 1992 1.6 (assuming you want to be able to keep the car road legal (this vintage of car qualifies for less stringent emissions regs so you can junk the CAT and still get an MOT)) or a 1.8i = not a 1.8iS as the 'S' has whistles and bells you don't need like aircon, power steering etc.
HTH.
HTH.
Also I believe there are more Forced Induction options on the 1.6. There are quite a few modders on mx5nutz.com you might want to have a look-see:
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?s=0ac3f4fd6...
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?s=0ac3f4fd6...
bluetone said:
Also I believe there are more Forced Induction options on the 1.6. There are quite a few modders on mx5nutz.com you might want to have a look-see:
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?s=0ac3f4fd6...
I was just looking at turbo options when you posted this... musnt get too carried away, its supposed to be a cheap as chips track day snotter, not something I sink 100's and 1000's into modifying! http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?s=0ac3f4fd6...
zac510 said:
Why do you want to lose the power steering? In my mk2 I think it's quite good. It's definitely not overdone. (have done a couple of airfield days so far too)
Personally-speaking I don't see the need with a car as light as the 5 - it doesn't need it. It also adds weight and it's just something to go wrong...Edited by bluetone on Tuesday 31st March 20:23
bluetone said:
zac510 said:
Why do you want to lose the power steering? In my mk2 I think it's quite good. It's definitely not overdone. (have done a couple of airfield days so far too)
Personally-speaking I don't see the need with a car as light as the 5 - it doesn't need it. It also adds weight and it's just something to go wrong...Edited by bluetone on Tuesday 31st March 20:23
On a small light car like a 5 its an unnecesary creature comfort, I think the easiest way would be to get a low spec early model as has been said, they didnt come with any of that stuff anyway and should be extra cheap because of it!
Paddy_n_Murphy said:
snotrag said:
Note.
IMO - keep the power steering. Its what the car was designed with, and works best with. The rack is quicker, and more feelsome. I've driven both.
Many, many people will tell you the same.
The only reason for the non PAS cars when new is for penny pinching paupers.
IMO - keep the power steering. Its what the car was designed with, and works best with. The rack is quicker, and more feelsome. I've driven both.
Many, many people will tell you the same.
The only reason for the non PAS cars when new is for penny pinching paupers.
PAS is for wimps and unnecessary.
I have the above 1.8i (no ABS, no AC, no PAS) - superb and lovely driving.
it IS unnecesary in such a light car IMHO, and feels far more positive without.
Although I can only vouch for MK1's not MK2's and above but AFAIK, the PAS was the same system on both.
I think the best thing to do would be to try both and see what comes up, I really will be looking at the bottom end of the market, there seems to be lots of choice out there so plenty to have a look at.
I cant get the idea of a blown one out of my head!
either get one thats already been done or do the conversion myself as a project. lot of money in parts though and the ones with a turbo already fitted arent exactly the snotters I'm looking for!from what I read 200hp is very easily achievable from the 1.6, does that sound right? I'm guessing that would be rather nippy?
For a cheap reliable track snotter I'd go for a basic SC setup rather than TC. There is less to go wrong and you don't have bother with exhaust mods to get it to work at lower revs. It should give you an easy 160-170bhp which is plenty on a stripped out mk1.
Oh, and I'd stick with PAS too.
Oh, and I'd stick with PAS too.
)
Look forward to seeing how you get on David, I'm planning to do exactly the same thing in a few months (had one of these before the TVR and much as I love the tiv it makes an expensive track car).
Not an expert but I would say go for an LSD-equipped car (most of the imports have this, IIRC 1.6s are viscous, 1.8 are the favoured mechanical type?) I have a vague recollection the 1.8s have better brakes as standard and one or two other additions? That and be careful of mk1 UK 1.6s, some of them have a significantly lower power output to distance them from the 1.8, but as standard they're quite close.
It is worth swotting up on the Eunos specs - you can get some with lowered drive ratios, extra bracing everywhere, LSD, lightened flywheel, Bilstein shocks and so on already fitted, giving you a track-spec car out of the box practically.
Not an expert but I would say go for an LSD-equipped car (most of the imports have this, IIRC 1.6s are viscous, 1.8 are the favoured mechanical type?) I have a vague recollection the 1.8s have better brakes as standard and one or two other additions? That and be careful of mk1 UK 1.6s, some of them have a significantly lower power output to distance them from the 1.8, but as standard they're quite close.
It is worth swotting up on the Eunos specs - you can get some with lowered drive ratios, extra bracing everywhere, LSD, lightened flywheel, Bilstein shocks and so on already fitted, giving you a track-spec car out of the box practically.
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