mx5cartalk.com

Hi All,

I joined the forum way back in 2012, when I was thinking about grabbing an MX5 for some fun. That never happened, until about a month ago when I bought an NA8 for cheap with 285k klms, a couple oil leaks, but otherwise pretty good condition and essentially stock. Has some sort of exhaust on it and a painted valve cover. I bought it from sgaites off the forum here.

For the past few years I've been driving a fairly modded SG Forester XT with about 220awkw on E85 daily dríven (1:14.75 at Wakefield on Nitto NT05), but had decided I didn't want to drive a 4 cylinder turbo anymore, and started thinking about going to a V8 for something different. A couple weeks after that decision, while slowly pulling parts to return to stock I blew third gear. So the plan is still to return the Forester to stock, sell the parts, replace the box and then sell the Foz. Just been too hot and lazy to get into it.

In the meantime, I decided to revisit getting an MX5 for something fun to tinker with and hit the track with while I build motivation to get rid of the Forester. I had a 13BT swapped first gen RX7, and also currently have an FC RX7 that I'm very slowly building into a time attack car (slow, like nothing has happened for 8 years!! ), so I like my Mazdas. Anyway, I got it registered here in the ACT earlier this week and am now planning to take it to the Circuit Club trackday at Wakefield on Anzac day. Plans between now and then are basically just safety related and maintenance. Get a baseline time on that day and build from there! Should be fun.

I don't really want to use the MX5 as a daily, so the plan is still to get a V8 (VE SS-V Ute), or lately I've been thinking about a first gen Audi Q7 Diesel. Good family car, and the ultimate tow rig too!!

Between now and the trackday, I'd like to get a rollbar and seat in the car. Replace all the fluids. Check what/where the oil leak is and repair. There's a grinding noise in the front, which I suspect is related to the brakes, so have ordered rebuild kits and will give them a once over. I'll inspect the pads and rotors when I do that. Then take it to the track, on the crappy mismatched tyres that are on it. Then the mods will begin... Even though I should leave it alone and just get track time and improve etc I like modding so that ain't gonna happen, may as well just accept it!

Let the good times begin!

_PSC9158 by Christian, on Flickr

_PSC9161 by Christian, on Flickr

The old daily:

_PSC8236 by Christian, on Flickr

And the RX7... So sad!

FC3S by Christian, on Flickr

Front caliper rebuild kits arrived from the UK. I've used this brand before and they were good. I got the ones with replacement pistons, just in case. Also got some bits that will be used a little later...

Once I've got the front end up to do the calipers I'll give everything a thorough going over. Not sure when the wheel bearings where last done, and can only guess at the condition of the suspension bushes. I like the idea of the mazdaspeed bushes or I gather the IL Motorsport bushes are the same thing but slightly cheaper. I'll replace them all at some point.

I recognize your name from OzFoz. Haha. I'm jd_guitarman on there. Nice to see someone that has an mx5 and foz like me.

Sent from my X9079 using Tapatalk

Hey man! Yeah, not a bad combo, although My Foz will be moving on at some point.

Got some time after work yesterday evening to have a quick look with the wheels off. First thing I found was the drivers side front wheel nuts were all not particularly tight! I discovered that the grinding noise I was getting seems to be a warped rotor, so I'll replace the whole lot after trackday number one. Finished my inspection which showed everything to be in good working order aside from the warped rotor, so buttoned it all back, torqued the wheel nuts to spec and took it for a test toast... Much better, with the noise reduced quite a bit, things feeling a little tighter. I've got a headlight that bounces all over while driving though.

I've decided to set myself a deadline and go to Wakefield on May 4th for a speed off the streets day. Decided to skip the Circuit Club day, due to the higher cost.

The car currently has 2 x Yokohama Blue Earth tyres and 2 x Westlake SP06's... Not great, so I hope to thoroughly abuse them at Wakefield and then move on to something a little grippier.

Such a fun car to drive and own so far! Happy camper over here!

Just joined the MX5 Club of NSW, Canberra chapter. Excited!!

Hopefully I can get in on the club trackday on the 15th May, instead of going by myself on the 4th. Definitely going up on the 23rd to check it out, and get motivated!

Sparco Sprint arrived. Automotive + roll bar should arrive tomorrow. Ordered a harness.

I don't have HANS, and can't afford it atm, so will have to go at it the ol' fashioned way for the time being. Definitely something i'll add to the upgrade list though.

Automotive Plus rollbar arrived.

I got uncoated, so I'll need to put some paint on it before fitting.

Great Foz, I love mine can't get rid of it. She is my daily nothing can compare.

My daily

^
When I was looking for a DD the Forester was on the short list since I've worked with a few guys who own them and love them.
They all warned me of the bad fuel economy so that was a check mark against it do DD.
Coupled with all the modz available for the WRX that can be added to the Forester and my addiction for "MOAR POWA" and total lack of self control once I start modding a car, I knew this would be a bad car for me as a DD.

If I wanted a dedicated track MX5, something to tow it with and didn't need to care about fuel economy, I reckon the Forester DD + track MX5 + tilta trailer (http://www.tiltatrailer.com.au/trailers/) would be the perfect 2-car only combination and I'd mod the Forester much like you have to make it fun on the street.

Nice Foz's. True, the fuel economy of the XT's isn't great. I liked my Foz, but got bored of it and am after something a bit bigger for daily family life. Also something I won't be tempted to modify (too much).

Anyway, I did some test fitting of the Sprint this weekend. It didn't get me quite as low as I I'd like, but is better that the stock seat. I can see the oil pressure gauge needle now! I do fit with the helmet on and have maybe 20mm clearance from top of helmet to soft top skin.

Would this be any different with a hardtop?

Anyway, I had to order some more appropriate bolts than what I had laying around, and I'll need to sort out an NA seat belt receiver and mounting for that.

Thanks for looking.

Had a bit of a WTF!?! moment today. I was trying to install my MX5+ rollbar, but early on in the process while removing the factory brace between the seat belt towers, I discovered something wasn't quite right. I didn't have holes, that the tower was bolted into, instead I had studs with rusty tops... Or so I thought at first glance.

Having never done this before, and not owning an MX5 before, my only clue at first was that the instructions for the rollbar, didn't line up with what I was seeing.

So, basically at some point a previous owner has taken some bolts, and installed them upside down and then welded them in place!! Not sure why. My car is a '95 so I was expecting to have the threaded holes there to accept the bolts for the rollbar through the supplied spacers. Now, I'll be cutting the welds, cleaning the area up and continuing with the install. Unfortunately, I have little time this weekend, so I'll now miss the MX5 Club trackday on Monday that I was booked in for. Have been very busy lately, and things came down to the last minute.

Here are some pics of the shenanigans.

I finally got around to fitting up the rollbar and correcting the issues from above.

It's all good now. Just need to fit my harness and get a wheel alignment and I'm hoping to hit the Speed off the Streets day at Wakefield on the 9th.

Dodgy photo!