power gain for a 1992 mx5?

[nasfiftyfives]

hey guys, i'm really interested in getting my mx5 turbo'd but i have no idea on what i need in regards to parts, and where i can get them from.
i might be a bit unrealistic in wanting to do this as i am on a pretty tight budget but if anyone can help me out with this i'd appreciate it

alternatively, what other options do i have in regards to power gains? i know exhaust and cams are probably the cheaper and more effective options but i still have no idea about what to get and where from..

[NitroDann]

Turbo is FAR cheaper than exhaust and cams for power gain.

How fast do you want it to go?

Name a car that you want to be able to keep up with.

Dann

[nasfiftyfives]

Turbo is FAR cheaper than exhaust and cams for power gain.

How fast do you want it to go?

Name a car that you want to be able to keep up with.

Dann

really? i've got quoted 1450 for a turbo setup, without ecu or fuel pump. im not sure how much cams and exhaust are but i was told they were cheaper..

i'm not too sure what i want to keep up with. i just feel the standard motor is lacking so i wanta bit of a boost. maybe 100kw?

[Magpie]

I'm not too sure what i want to keep up with. i just feel the standard motor is lacking so i wanta bit of a boost. maybe 100kw?

100kw (130 HP) extra or in total? I think saying what your budget is will help people with replies or you run the risk of being a troll under a bridge. However maybe a MX5 is not for you and you should look at a car that already has the HP that you want.

[Mr nanotech]

Why are you upgrading your fuel pump? Stock has been proven to be more than fine up to 300hp. I also agree with Dann too. Turbo is best bang for buck. With s good tune you will have the same result as a supercharger or big csms at a fraction of the cost.

[NitroDann]

A budget kit that will make 150whp can be done with bandaids (ie, no ecu upgrade but bandaid tricks) but to be fair you want the ecu.

You can get yourself a full kit that makes 150 with the ecu done properly for a few grand.

Dann

[nasfiftyfives]

I'm not too sure what i want to keep up with. i just feel the standard motor is lacking so i wanta bit of a boost. maybe 100kw?

100kw (130 HP) extra or in total? I think saying what your budget is will help people with replies or you run the risk of being a troll under a bridge. However maybe a MX5 is not for you and you should look at a car that already has the HP that you want.

yeah sorry that would probably help haha. my budget at the moment in regards to performance is about $1000-$1500. and yes, the mx5 is for me, i just want a little bit more power when i put my foot down. i want a total of around 100+kw.
and i was unaware that the stock fuel pump would be fine. i was told it would need an upgrade (from a friend that doesn't know much about mx5's).

[nasfiftyfives]

A budget kit that will make 150whp can be done with bandaids (ie, no ecu upgrade but bandaid tricks) but to be fair you want the ecu.

You can get yourself a full kit that makes 150 with the ecu done properly for a few grand.

Dann

what is this budget kit you speak of? 0.o

[Mr nanotech]

Maybe increade your budget to $2000 to be safe. Its very easy to make more power its tricky doing it safely.

[Apu]

For that kind of money, I'd spend it on lightening the car. Remove weight, lightened flywheel, change final drive.

[NitroDann]

I build a lot of turbo mx5 parts from scratch, there are others like me who also do it.

If I were you Id wait around for a cheap 2.25 or 2.5" exhaust to come up on the forum. Lets say for 300-400 and buy it.

Then a manifold an downpipe along with the oil lines costs about 650.

Then you need a crossover pipe and air filter, for around 150, and an ecu or rising rate FPR.

Ecu and tune starts at around 1000, or The fuel pressure regulator is a few hundred but you still need to pay a dyno a couple of hundred to set it up.

there you go reliable 150whp.

Almost double stock.

But it wont be nearly as good as a properly made complete setup with everything done right.

It just wont be as fast or make as much torque.

Dann

[Magpie]

Don't forget to consider your brakes etc when planning your build, having a fast engine is pointless (dangerous) if the rest of the car is not modified to match.

[Mr nanotech]

Also your stock clutch and diff won't like this much either so consider upgrading those while you are under the car

[NitroDann]

Stock brakes with good pads are totally acceptable at 150whp.

Dann

[Guran]

In all seriousness, are you using all the power you already have available? A common mistake with MX-5s is to shift at low revs. An NA6 delivers peak torque at 5500rpm, peak power at 6500rpm, and will happily rev all the way to the 7200rpm cut-out (power falls off beyond 7000rpm). If you're changing gears at less than 4000rpm, you're not experiencing all the power your engine can already deliver. Secondly, have you adjusted the ignition timing to 14 degrees BTDC? That will give you a few extra kWs for free.

With your limited budget of $1000-$1500, most would be looking at induction and exhaust: catback system, headers and CAI (eg. $1315 from MX5 Mania plus labour). You're probably looking at around 85rwkW with that setup, which is plenty of fun. A budget turbo setup in this price range may give you issues with legality, insurance and reliablility, not to mention taking a fair bit of your time to get it all working. Worth considering.

Rather than chase power, I'd encourage you to spend it on a few track days and learn how to get the most from what you already have available. Even a stock NA6 is a very capable tool and can produce some surprisingly quick lap times. You'll also have a great time while you're improving your driving skills.