MX5 turbo questions?
Discussion
did a search and read a few old threads on MX5 turbo's but one question i couldn't find an answer to is insurance? what are they like insurance wise and who do people go to? i can't see many insurance companies liking a serious mod like a turbo slapped onto an MX5!
i'm considering a MX5 MK1 1600cc and buying it in the winter (be cheaper) then getting it sorted for a turbo conversion in the winter time where i probably wouldn't want to use it ready for when the sun comes out.
there's a billion and one turbos mind for a start! and prices seem to vary too!
i'm liking the HKS kit, HKS a make i've heard of and i've seen a lot for sale with the HKS kit also. any recomends for the conversion in the essex area? i know TDI do it in thurrock not a million miles away but been told they're not cheap! but when it comes to turbo's and ECU's i think you pretty much get what you pay for!
what would the HKS give bhp wise also if anyone knows?
soz for so many questions but it something i'm really looking into doing! wanting to own/drive something a bit special now since selling the MR2 turbo 6-7months ago!
i'm considering a MX5 MK1 1600cc and buying it in the winter (be cheaper) then getting it sorted for a turbo conversion in the winter time where i probably wouldn't want to use it ready for when the sun comes out.
there's a billion and one turbos mind for a start! and prices seem to vary too!
i'm liking the HKS kit, HKS a make i've heard of and i've seen a lot for sale with the HKS kit also. any recomends for the conversion in the essex area? i know TDI do it in thurrock not a million miles away but been told they're not cheap! but when it comes to turbo's and ECU's i think you pretty much get what you pay for!
what would the HKS give bhp wise also if anyone knows?
soz for so many questions but it something i'm really looking into doing! wanting to own/drive something a bit special now since selling the MR2 turbo 6-7months ago!
www.mx5mad.com
Romford
I have my 1.8 booked it to go to 260bhp
Insurance join www.mx5oc.co.uk and get a club policy with AON
Romford
I have my 1.8 booked it to go to 260bhp
Insurance join www.mx5oc.co.uk and get a club policy with AON
I'd also get in touch with Tracktec and Performance 5.
They fit the Flyin Miata Kits which are excellent quality and are in redevelopment at the moment, give them a shout.
The problem with the HKS kit is that depending on your power goals you may want more power and then you have to start fiddling and remember when turboing a 5 you need to consider brakes, suspension, exhuast systems on these all need to be done, not as simple as the MR2.
The man above has already done this as I have, if you want any more advice, drop P5, Tracktec or Mad an e-mail and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
www.performance5.com
www.tracktec.co.uk
Loads of advice here - www.mx5nutz.com (they have guys making turbo kits out of turbos from other cars - wildrnes and Daz are the guys to talk to)
They fit the Flyin Miata Kits which are excellent quality and are in redevelopment at the moment, give them a shout.
The problem with the HKS kit is that depending on your power goals you may want more power and then you have to start fiddling and remember when turboing a 5 you need to consider brakes, suspension, exhuast systems on these all need to be done, not as simple as the MR2.
The man above has already done this as I have, if you want any more advice, drop P5, Tracktec or Mad an e-mail and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
www.performance5.com
www.tracktec.co.uk
Loads of advice here - www.mx5nutz.com (they have guys making turbo kits out of turbos from other cars - wildrnes and Daz are the guys to talk to)
Edited by juzzyp on Sunday 6th August 22:46
what sort of suspension and brake mods we talking? would fitting stiffer springs do the job? i'm guessing the standard brakes might get a bit cooked as well so maybe bigger discs and new calipers?
hmmm starting to think the turbo 5 idea isn't a cheap option! but i've driven a few 5's now and just feel it needs that extra bit of go, not much just enough.
i'm not to power hungry and i've read the 1.6 revs nicer than the 1.8 and i've driven both and found there wasn't a lot in it speed wise but i did like how the 1.6 responded to the throttle.
i was going to set a budget of around £2k for a tidy MK1 and then fiddle with suspension and brakes first then adding the turbo later on as this seemed the safest way, no point adding extra power if you can't stop or turn with it huh.
it's a bit of a silly question but to get a good brake and suspension set up and a turbo kit that could get me around 180-200bhp what sort of budget do you think i should be setting myself, just a ball park figure as i know with modding you can go a bit over
hmmm starting to think the turbo 5 idea isn't a cheap option! but i've driven a few 5's now and just feel it needs that extra bit of go, not much just enough.
i'm not to power hungry and i've read the 1.6 revs nicer than the 1.8 and i've driven both and found there wasn't a lot in it speed wise but i did like how the 1.6 responded to the throttle.
i was going to set a budget of around £2k for a tidy MK1 and then fiddle with suspension and brakes first then adding the turbo later on as this seemed the safest way, no point adding extra power if you can't stop or turn with it huh.
it's a bit of a silly question but to get a good brake and suspension set up and a turbo kit that could get me around 180-200bhp what sort of budget do you think i should be setting myself, just a ball park figure as i know with modding you can go a bit over
really.. a standard mx5 will handle a power hike with no other mods just fine..
certainly upto ~180bhp you don't need anything else (except maybe a clutch, depending on how much you abuse it).
my standard cars brakes took two full trackdays fine.. so for road use, a modest turbo setup isn't going to trouble them..
suspension mods would be nice, as would uprated pads and stainless lines (what I've got on mine now), but they're by no means essential.. in an otherwise standard car, with a turbo kit to give it ~180bhp you're going to be having an absolute hoot every time you get in it..
Go for it!
certainly upto ~180bhp you don't need anything else (except maybe a clutch, depending on how much you abuse it).
my standard cars brakes took two full trackdays fine.. so for road use, a modest turbo setup isn't going to trouble them..
suspension mods would be nice, as would uprated pads and stainless lines (what I've got on mine now), but they're by no means essential.. in an otherwise standard car, with a turbo kit to give it ~180bhp you're going to be having an absolute hoot every time you get in it..
Go for it!
If its of any interest.
2 pics of MX5 tubby conv's. Top is an Apexi jobbie (TD04 iirc), below the 'official' BBR conversion. The Apexi engine bay/fittings etc appear to have suffered significantly from heat soak damage more than the BBR.- just an observation, not trying to start a war or anything
'A' plan generally give very good quotes for modifieds inc imports.
2 pics of MX5 tubby conv's. Top is an Apexi jobbie (TD04 iirc), below the 'official' BBR conversion. The Apexi engine bay/fittings etc appear to have suffered significantly from heat soak damage more than the BBR.- just an observation, not trying to start a war or anything
'A' plan generally give very good quotes for modifieds inc imports.
Edited by tuttle on Monday 7th August 21:45
hmm interesting cheers for the tips chaps!
i would like about 180bhp with the option to hike the power later but it's not essential.
not to power hungry the way the MX5 handles is most of the fun just with a bit of turbo push and the nice turbo noises such as the little whine they make and the ptttsshhhh as you release would make it that bit more fun i feel.
just want something a bit different and something that no one expects to be quick, one of the things i hated bout the MR2 turbo is more people these days know what it is and what it can do so you got constantly pestered by chavs! plus i feel the MR2 Turbo is been there done that.
only thing i'll hate is the waiting around for the conversion to turbo but it's worth it i think!
cheers for all the info lads very helpful as always!
i would like about 180bhp with the option to hike the power later but it's not essential.
not to power hungry the way the MX5 handles is most of the fun just with a bit of turbo push and the nice turbo noises such as the little whine they make and the ptttsshhhh as you release would make it that bit more fun i feel.
just want something a bit different and something that no one expects to be quick, one of the things i hated bout the MR2 turbo is more people these days know what it is and what it can do so you got constantly pestered by chavs! plus i feel the MR2 Turbo is been there done that.
only thing i'll hate is the waiting around for the conversion to turbo but it's worth it i think!
cheers for all the info lads very helpful as always!
Have you considered supercharging? There's some good kits on the market that give loads of hp and for quite a good price.
THe BRP MP62 kit is amazing or the smaller blower M45 Jackson Racing Supercharging Kit is also a well known one, here are two installs, I've been in both and they are blisteringly quick.
Top one is the MP62 kit on a MK2.5 and the second one is a Jackson Racing Supercharger M45 install on a MK1.
Im turbocharged and this is my install - running just under 195bhp (thanks SRR for measuring and P5 for the install!!)
THe BRP MP62 kit is amazing or the smaller blower M45 Jackson Racing Supercharging Kit is also a well known one, here are two installs, I've been in both and they are blisteringly quick.
Top one is the MP62 kit on a MK2.5 and the second one is a Jackson Racing Supercharger M45 install on a MK1.
Im turbocharged and this is my install - running just under 195bhp (thanks SRR for measuring and P5 for the install!!)
Edited by juzzyp on Tuesday 8th August 09:19
steve bowen said:
www.mx5mad.com
Romford
I have my 1.8 booked it to go to 260bhp
Insurance join www.mx5oc.co.uk and get a club policy with AON
Romford
I have my 1.8 booked it to go to 260bhp
Insurance join www.mx5oc.co.uk and get a club policy with AON
How much for that and what exactly do the do?
260bhp will be mental in an MX5!
My plan is for the misses to keep ours for a couple of years standard then FI it when time to change rather than chopping it in for something else.
£4500
Buys you:-
GT28 turbo
Braided oil lines,
Braided water lines
Replacement metal coolant pipes
Oil & Water Distribution block
Cast manifold
2.5" Downpipe with externally run wstegate, rejoining exhaust furthur down the pipe.
2.5" De-cat pipe
2.5" mid pipe & backbox
Front mount intercooler
All intercooler pipework almost all being hard pipes
Mistubushi Lancer BOV
K&N air filter
Emerald 3D standalone ECU, crank position wheel & sensor, Map sensor, Airtemp sensor, Boost control solinoid also including Mapping by David Walker (does lots of cerbera's)
550cc RC developments injectors
Uprated high flow fuel pump
Cold Plugs
Price includes all fitting etc
and yep 260bhp / 240lbs torque in a 960Kg MX5 will be damn good fun
Mine should make this power at 11psi oppose 12psi as unlike the muppet that's graphs are shown on the website i won't be keeping my n/a exhaust "because I like the way it looks"..??...my kit also has a few other tweeks
regarding other stuff, i've put a SPEC stage 2 clutch in, strutbraces, bigger (but not too big) wheels & tyres, ripped out the AirCon & am trying to source some bigger brakes at present.
Buys you:-
GT28 turbo
Braided oil lines,
Braided water lines
Replacement metal coolant pipes
Oil & Water Distribution block
Cast manifold
2.5" Downpipe with externally run wstegate, rejoining exhaust furthur down the pipe.
2.5" De-cat pipe
2.5" mid pipe & backbox
Front mount intercooler
All intercooler pipework almost all being hard pipes
Mistubushi Lancer BOV
K&N air filter
Emerald 3D standalone ECU, crank position wheel & sensor, Map sensor, Airtemp sensor, Boost control solinoid also including Mapping by David Walker (does lots of cerbera's)
550cc RC developments injectors
Uprated high flow fuel pump
Cold Plugs
Price includes all fitting etc
and yep 260bhp / 240lbs torque in a 960Kg MX5 will be damn good fun
Mine should make this power at 11psi oppose 12psi as unlike the muppet that's graphs are shown on the website i won't be keeping my n/a exhaust "because I like the way it looks"..??...my kit also has a few other tweeks
regarding other stuff, i've put a SPEC stage 2 clutch in, strutbraces, bigger (but not too big) wheels & tyres, ripped out the AirCon & am trying to source some bigger brakes at present.
Edited by steve bowen on Wednesday 9th August 21:20
Cheers Ben
was the trip out in your thats confirmed to me with a bit (lot)more power than stock the mx5 could be a seriously fun car. As you may have noticed... I do seem to be building your old car on the 1.8 .. few different suppliers etc
Even stock they are goo fun round the bends :-
was the trip out in your thats confirmed to me with a bit (lot
)more power than stock the mx5 could be a seriously fun car. As you may have noticed... I do seem to be building your old car on the 1.8 .. few different suppliers etc Even stock they are goo fun round the bends :-
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