Ideas? Suggestions?

[CT]

is a bad thing to get power and no ecu?

So, I think you need to understand exactly how a car works so you can understand what is required for you to destroy your car completely.

Any upgrade which increases capacity, density of intake charge, increases fueling requirements or requires changing ignition parameters will require tweaking the factory tune of the car. As we all know, the MX5 ECU is not chippable or crackable so the only solutions are piggy back ECU's or standalone ECUs. These are fully programmable units that allow custom tailoring of the fuel, ignition and boost parameters so the car will run properly without destroying itself. If you think you can add a blower and not consider an ECU upgrade you should probably start digging a hole and putting $50 notes in it.

Once you have upgraded the engines performance, other things which were not designed for higher levels of power will break. So you then need to update them. These include the clutch and for better power delivery an LSD. But most importantly, you will need to increase the cooling capacity of your engine by upgrading the radiator, adding oil coolers and maybe even extra water pumps.

So, if the turbo kit costs you $8k, factor in another $8k to do it properly otherwise you might just be better off going and purchasing a V8 commonwhore.

[JBT]

I'm impressed JBT! Just a few months ago at a dodgy day I heard you saying "so why should I play around with my ECU thing?"

Trouble is, I've stuffed all that info into my brain and now I'm sure something else has been deleted/dumped.....only so much RAM capacity in the mk1 JBT you know .

[blackster]

Ok everyone is giving me there two cents worth so i want urs, say if u have a nb8b 2002, 2.5" exhaust from cat convertor to the back, and CAI and u have $8000-$10000, what would u put in it?

The car is to be used as a daily drive, and maybe track day once in a blue moon. And dont say driving lessons as i plan to do these already outside of this budget. My aim to have the car faster thanmy gf 1996 Nissan Maxima which has 142kw at the fly v6 3L while having it reliable as i tend to keep the car forever and ever. I just want a car faster than my gf cos guys should have the faster car.

1996 NISSAN MAXIMA
Power 142kW @ 5600rpm
Torque 278Nm @ 4000rpm-4000rpm
Kerb Weight 1414kg

2002 MAZDA MX5
Power 113kW @ 7000rpm 120kw after CAI and exhuast?
181Nm @ 5000rpm-5000rpm 200nm after CAI and exhaust?
Kerb Weight 1090kg

Out right power doesnt necessarily mean the car is faster then yours when your power to weight ratio is better, and im more then sure that your 5 would eat the maxima through the twisties. Honestly, if your not beating it or at least keeping up then your better off improving your driving technique before investing in more power.

PS im not suggesting to line them up on the street

So please enlighten me with the budget of $8,000 - $10,000, and if u guys are listing parts could u guys put in estimates. Both Supercharging or Turbo is cool, just wanna know wat u guys would get if u had tha money with the car mentioned.

CT, has given very good advice as far as forced induction is concerned, Im also jumping on the improving handling bandwagon but also look at other naturally aspirated mods, such as high end grind cams, porting and boaring as well as a try Y headers and a piggybacked ECU.

[JSE]

8 - 10k!!!!!!!!!

Hello LSD, upgraded brakes, coilovers and turbo!

OR

leather seats, turbo and some nice JDM wheels!