what am i?

rain902 · Postby **rain902** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:19 pm

i bought home a scruffy looking JDM import the other night - thought it was all stock, except for strut braces top and bottom; tuned length extractors and a set of worn, warped slotted front rotors...

on the 800km drive home, i noticed that it was considerably towier than my 89 jdm na6, and the clutch was heavier and more sudden.
Much more direct in the steering - considerably more oversteer than the current NA.

Ricer aftermarket stuff, I assumed...

I asked Mrs Rain (a long time leadfoot) to take the new one for a buzz to see if she could notice any difference or if it was all imagination on my part - she tells me that she wasnt at full throttle in 2nd gear, when I was, and she was pulling away from me (i was twirling about 5800rpm to try and arrest the widening of the gap)

fellow club racer and I were comparing them the other day - noted that the brake rotors front and back are bigger than my na

Got me thinking - looking for other differences - i noted the following:

8 slot crank pulley on the new NA,
4 slot (short nose crank) on the current NA.
part numbers for both coil and air flow meter are the same on both cars
engine number unreadable due to darkness and dirt.
k&n filter pod on new na - picking up heaps of hot air from near the extractors (no CAI)

Is this a case of some tuning mods making a BIG difference to the handling, in gear torque and top end, and later model rotor upgrades, or is there a model like this? (eg clubman)

So my question is - how do I tell? Im guessing its a 1600cc coz of the meter and ignitor part numbers - will revealing the engine number (scrubbing brush, chalk and torch) tell me what engine family it is?

chassis number is 135xxx, so I was expecting short crank motor as per topic on short nose cranks.

would the addition of a filter pod and extractors make such an apparent difference?

whats with the brakes?

of course, its possible that the engine has undergone internal mods - but it looks stock from outside - although the car did once wear a FULL rollcage (6 point one)

any suggestions / hypothesese would be welcome...

CT · Postby CT » Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:57 pm

rain902 wrote:So my question is - how do I tell? Im guessing its a 1600cc coz of the meter and ignitor part numbers - will revealing the engine number (scrubbing brush, chalk and torch) tell me what engine family it is?

What side is the CAS? Inlet = 1.6, Exhaust = 1.8, None = 1.8.

Craig · Postby **Craig** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:16 pm

Maybe your old car had a blocked up cat converter?

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:29 pm

There were special edition MX5s in Japan, some of which came with pod intakes, high comp pistons, extractors etc.

We would need pics to determine if yours is one of them or not....is there a mazdaspeed or mazda E&T plate on the firewall?

rain902 · Postby **rain902** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:20 pm

cas is at the rear, intake side. no badges other than markings and aus vin on the firewall.

the extractors are Jasma, and the rear muffler is standard, round, large and quiet.

also noted that the rear side bumper (red) markers are illuminated, the front ones arent. rice. hehe

the wheel pic is the front right - hope it clearly shows brake rotor diameter.

You are of course right, it could be a crummy cat - although the engine does still spin freely - it just doesnt make as much power. i note on reading the short crank threads that a loss of power could be experienced due to cam and crank relative change - my next step will be to examine the short crank motor closely for signs of apparent wear. :shock:

PT · Postby PT » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:29 pm

rain902 wrote:also noted that the rear side bumper (red) markers are illuminated, the front ones arent. rice. hehe

Normal on a import.... rear ones are red, front are orange...

Aus del gets all orange.

rain902 · Postby **rain902** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:34 pm

PT wrote:
rain902 wrote:also noted that the rear side bumper (red) markers are illuminated, the front ones arent. rice. hehe

Normal on a import.... rear ones are red, front are orange...

Aus del gets all orange.

yes, my other jdm has the mismatched colours - 'cept the rear ones dont glow! at least Im going to have 2 matching sets now :lol:

muzza2 · Postby **muzza2** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 11:29 pm

mine were stole while at a mx5 car cruise

this guy pulled up in a red SP, whiped out his screw driver and took off with my red ones....

10 mins later i see him again and their on the back of his red SP instead of the crappy orange ones

oh yeah i forgot his name was PT

PT · Postby PT » Mon Apr 03, 2006 11:37 pm

Ahem.... I feel the need to clarify this one....

See muzza has an orange with red reflectors...

I have a red car with orange reflectors... really I did him a favour see!

rain902 · Postby **rain902** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 11:41 pm

PT wrote:Ahem.... I feel the need to clarify this one....

See muzza has an orange with red reflectors...

I have a red car with orange reflectors... really I did him a favour see!

lucky it wasnt too dark - imagine the shame if you had given him 4 reds and yourself 4 orange ones :shock:

muzza2 · Postby **muzza2** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 11:57 pm

hmmm, well one of the members their took photos of PT with the screw driver ripping them off my car

was quite funny at the time! :lol:

but i must admit, both cars look exceptionally better after it

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:41 am

muzza2 wrote:mine were stole while at a mx5 car cruise

this guy pulled up in a red SP, whiped out his screw driver and took off with my red ones....

10 mins later i see him again and their on the back of his red SP instead of the crappy orange ones

I managed to capture the theif on secret hidden camera!

http://sabretooth.id.au/photos/200603ru ... mage29.htm
http://sabretooth.id.au/photos/200603ru ... mage32.htm