mx5cartalk.com

Hey all,

Just thought I'd introduce myself an my mx-5.
Came from a 2006 wrx that I built (well.. bolted on) to 200kw atw.
I find the mx-5 a much better car to drive despite making a lot less power.

I purchased it off a mate about a month or two ago, its a 93' NA6 which looks like its painted with house paint.
Suprisingly the engine bay was in immaculate condition and had permits for all modifications on the car.



Has some few bits and peices that Im planning on doing myself.
Currently dailying it on a welded differential. Mx5 diffs are expensive as sh*t

What I've done to the car is just basic maintenance such as gearbox/diff and oil change and fuel filter. Car runs and drives great. Also rebuilt the clutch slave due to thinking it was bad, but it fixed my sloppy clutch a bit although im pretty sure its actually the master that is bad as im not losing a discernible amount of fluid.
Plans:
wheel alignment and get rid of some of the camber at the back
Paint it DIY (will be a learning experience but anything I do will be better than what is on it now)
DIY turbo with megasquirt pnp

Have already picked up a used fmic some piping and a t25 in OK condition. Going to buy a MIG on the weekend and learn to weld.

Looking forward to learning new things with this car. It's already been a heap of fun.

Congratulations on the purchase and welcome to little roadster ownership.

If you do find/know a place to get a proper wheel alignment done in Perth (preferably someone who knows MX5`s), please do let me know.

Welcome!
When I bought mine 3 years back, I also thought that the diffs were expensive but I think it's just that everything else is pretty reasonably priced.

General stuff is cheap and performance stuff is more expensive.

I'm currently going the turbo route after being supercharged.

Bargains can be found. You just need to be ready to pounce when said bargain comes up.

Great cars, fantastic community and an endless supply of mods to personalize in your own way.

Curious to see how you go with the welding as I'm thinking of doing the same.

Look forward to your updates

Sent from my GT-I9506 using Tapatalk

Welcome to the obsession and Mariner Blue is a nice colour, it will grow on you...

Looks clean mate. Have fun

I can see a Green P plate in the picture ;) Join the club!

Thanks for the responses everyone

speed wrote:Bargains can be found. You just need to be ready to pounce when said bargain comes up.

I'm definitely keeping my eye out on used turbo bits, seems like they go fast though!

when I was Perth based, I picked up a used torsen diff for about $500 - just have to pounce. If you're not in the club already, join! Many of my bargains came through the club :-)

For a good alignment see John Fowler AutoSport www.johnfowlerautosport.com.au

or Shane Curgenven at Tyreways Bentley, 21 Sevenoaks St, BENTLEY, WA, 9458 4586

Okibi wrote:For a good alignment see John Fowler AutoSport www.johnfowlerautosport.com.au

or Shane Curgenven at Tyreways Bentley, 21 Sevenoaks St, BENTLEY, WA, 9458 4586

Thanks for that Okibi.

Okibi wrote:For a good alignment see John Fowler AutoSport www.johnfowlerautosport.com.au

or Shane Curgenven at Tyreways Bentley, 21 Sevenoaks St, BENTLEY, WA, 9458 4586

Have heard very good things about john fowler, however needs some rear tyres as well and have a friend who works at a garage who's getting me a decent price on tyres and alignment included.

Decided I should make use of a fire extinguisher I had laying around, made a ghetto bracket for the passenger seat, surpisingly sturdy though.


Painted in dark walnut with some rustoleum I had laying around



Good news is I have purchased a clutch master cylinder which I will be putting in soon
Also have an open diff from a 1.8 with drive shafts and prop shaft to suit for a reasonable price (supposedly can handle a bit more abuse than a 1.6 unit afaik)

Have also been looking into painting the car at some stage, decided on going on a solid acrylic colour as I don't have a great deal of spray painting experience. Will be looking for a decent size comressor and some decent gravity fed spray guns. Supercheap has one for $48 on sale which I might look into!

There's a massive difference between a standard tyre shop alignment and a GOOD alignment.

To give their alignment person a chance, perhaps give them some specs to work from ..

949s street alignment specs are well regarded, except they recommend a larger front sway
http://949racing.com/miata-race-alignment-info.aspx

Flyin' Miata
Front
Caster: 5.0 degrees
Camber: 1.0 degrees negative
Toe-in: 1/16", 0.15° or 9 arcminutes total (1/32", 0.075° or 4.5 minutes per side)
Rear
Camber: 1.5 degrees negative
Toe-in: 1/16", 0.15° or 9 arcminutes total (1/32", 0.075° or 4.5 minutes per side)

http://www.miata.net/garage/align.html

http://tampabaymiatas.net/Misc_Pages/MiataSuspension102.htm

Okibi wrote:There's a massive difference between a standard tyre shop alignment and a GOOD alignment.

Flyin' Miata
Front
Caster: 5.0 degrees
Camber: 1.0 degrees negative
Toe-in: 1/16", 0.15° or 9 arcminutes total (1/32", 0.075° or 4.5 minutes per side)
Rear
Camber: 1.5 degrees negative
Toe-in: 1/16", 0.15° or 9 arcminutes total (1/32", 0.075° or 4.5 minutes per side)

Thanks alot for this information Honestly i've never had a good alignment before, just the basic toe correction.
I'll let them know that I'd like the alignment to be close to those specs,

Planning to get coilovers at somestage and will go get a proper alignment at john fowler autosport or similar, assuming im not happy with the one I will get when im next week.

Alright so not much has happened recently..
Got two new tyres and an alignment, feels better but not great as expected. Possibly have a worn tie rod end or slightly bent upper control arm as steering is a bit hard on initial turn in (right handers).

Replaced the pioneer head unit that came with the car and speakers with an alpine unit that was given to me in exchange for a few favours and some type-s 6" Front speakers.


Car sounds great now

Also got a bit annoyed at looking at the exposed screws inside the ashtray compartment and centre console.. so managed to get a bit of free carpet at Bunnings automotive and cut some to fit. Looks 100x better



( I cleaned up all the weird gunk after, don't worry )

Also picked up some nb8a brakes all round which seem in decent condition and were a lot cheaper than what nb8b brakes seem to be going for. Hopefully it gives me a bit of an improvement as sometimes I feel I need a little bit more braking ability.


Also hope to fix my dodgy/weak handbrake at the same time, as it seems It might be to do with the adjustment key on the back of the caliper.

Also a cool pic from a cruise a while ago


Have a bit of a list of things I'd like to do with the car before venturing into turbocharging it. Mainly some suspension work and take my car to the track to see what I want to improve on, before I start adding power

Looks good, love that location under the railway in Freo, it's tricky to get the lighting right.