Performance Gains for a P' Plater

[RG.net]

hey guys, ive been on the hunt for some advice on some engine mods, currently i have a 2.25' exhaust system and a intake setup (not cai), i could notice the powergains but i want some more i was thinking along the lines of

1) Extractors
2) New ECU (maybe sourced from a jap spec)

remember as much as i would like to, i cant go for forced induction as the P'plate laws in NSW dont allow that (FUCKERS!).

anything else i can do to help the mx pull faster at lights etc? maybe turbo prep it? (forged pistons etc) any ideas welcome, i'm clueless

[StanTheMan]

get a bullet roadster

[RG.net]

get a bullet roadster

would be cheaper to make my own

[kitkat]

To add something constructive to this thread...

ECU & Cams


You will see gains from cams or ecu alone.

Combining cams and ecu means you can tune you car to take full advantage of the cams.

You could also port & polish.

How deep is your pocket?

[RG.net]

It might be cheaper to sell your car and buy a silvia / commodore etc instead, if you want to win traffic light gran prix.

You could also lower the rear tyre pressures, soften the rear suspension and get better tyres. This would make you launch better, but would make the car handle like wet poo.

Alternatively you could give up trying to make the mx5 something it isn't and enjoy it as is

Now, so as not to sound like a complete arse hole, there's no point trying to build engine internals for a turbo if you can't run a turbo, since a turbo would be better off with a lower compression ratio (if you want to run more than tiny boost) than an N/A engine (which would run better with a high compression ratio).

Seriously, the best cheap investment you can make is to buy a kick arse set of tyres

edit: not a silvia, the n/a ones are slow, SV6 commodore then.

i do get your point, but there is no way i would sell my NB, and either way if i did put a set of extractors and an ecu on it i'm sure it would make me happy enough, not looking for it to be like a wrx or anything (not possible with a turbo anyway) but i just want that little more power. i enjoy the mx-5 for what it is, but how many people on this forum have left the engine untouched, almost if not everyone has done something for a little boost in power/ and or performace cooling wise etc. weather its a cai or a turbo, runs on the twisty roads are awsome, but i would be kidding myself if i said i did that everyday, where as you see some commodore p'plater revving his engine next to you, is like a routine, now i am just blabbering on

[RG.net]

To add something constructive to this thread...

ECU & Cams


You will see gains from cams or ecu alone.

Combining cams and ecu means you can tune you car to take full advantage of the cams.

You could also port & polish.

How deep is your pocket?

planning to keep the car for a LOOONG time, cant say i have deep pockets, but cant say i have no pockets either

[Boags]

either way if i did put a set of extractors and an ecu on it i'm sure it would make me happy enough

I disagree. You won't be happy. From what you have said so far I would assume you are looking for gains you can notice and can use. In that case, FI not possible, I would do as kitkat said and get a decent ECU and cams. That'll cost you a bit, but when on the cams, you'll know about it!

They are also mods that won't be in the for sale section when you get your opens and buy a turbo (which it sounds like you will do).

This advice is not generic, it isn't right for everyone.

Boags

[Alex]

I got one how about manual conversion
cost a bit but faster than the auto and you were going to do it later anyway right??

you already have exhaust so how about getting that intake into a CAI???

just looking at the P-plater rules again and did anyone know that a 350z is one of the prohibited vehicles

Any vehicle with engine performance modifications requiring an engineer’s certification for registration purposes is banned under the prohibited vehicle scheme.

so basically you are free to do nearly anything as long as you don't need an engineers cert and you keep it N/A

I really doubt extractors or cams or ecu will beat the shitty'ol holden from the lights. Cop it on the chin, the mx5 is not a straight line beast in its N/A form. Enjoy the car for what it is and if you feel the need to race do it on the track.

you don't have much faith in the little mx5 but against a late model integra type R it keeps up till your just about to change to 4th (in the manual 5 speed) before the integra pulls away and seems to be about even with the audi A4 (but not sure if that was the audi driver)

about the holden well read it for yourself
http://www.southgate.com.au/history.htm
it says 9 seconds for a standard holden while the stock NB8A was how much?? 8.4 seconds

O yea nearly forgot get it resprayed in RED everyone knows Red cars go faster

[16bit]

you will not be able to get proper use out of the cams without going extractors. If you get a computer (whatever the person tuning it is most comfortable with), a set of tighe 805c cams, cai or a good heat shield, extractors and hi flow cat if you dont have one with a tune on 100ron you should get about 170 - 180hp at the engine.

I tested my car verses my mums (s15 with pod filter on it) on the same bit of road both ways with averages (3 goes each way each car) and my car was only 0.9 sec slower to 100 (6.2 for the s15 and 7.1 for me). I only have a full loch exhaust system (extractors, hi flow cat and 2.25 inch piping) and a k and n intake with heat shield. Your car is light and will probably beat a stockish falcadore to 100kph. So with cams, computer and the exhaust you will have a fairly quick little car. You want beat modded turbo cars or v8 taxis but it will be quick. Besides when you go turbo you can sell your exhaust and intake, keep the cams and the computer and you will have a beast!

[RG.net]

I got one how about manual conversion
cost a bit but faster than the auto and you were going to do it later anyway right??

yes, i still plan to do so, but i am waiting till i get my "Greens" so i dont have to resit a test to be able to drive manual

you already have exhaust so how about getting that intake into a CAI???

dont really want to butcher the car much, and i will be getting a turbo down the track, maybe even a engine conversion, not sure yet!

I really doubt extractors or cams or ecu will beat the shitty'ol holden from the lights. Cop it on the chin, the mx5 is not a straight line beast in its N/A form. Enjoy the car for what it is and if you feel the need to race do it on the track.

i dont know champ, the exhaust and intake made a diffrence to me, still would be better to have a completely free flowing exhaust though. ecu would spark up the mx no doubt, my friends own a N14 SSS pulsar with an induction kit and an ecu and that thing is a rocket, i struggle to keep up with it!

as for racing on the track, i plan to do so later on but when i have preped the car to a level that i am happy with

[RG.net]

you will not be able to get proper use out of the cams without going extractors. If you get a computer (whatever the person tuning it is most comfortable with), a set of tighe 805c cams, cai or a good heat shield, extractors and hi flow cat if you dont have one with a tune on 100ron you should get about 170 - 180hp at the engine.

I tested my car verses my mums (s15 with pod filter on it) on the same bit of road both ways with averages (3 goes each way each car) and my car was only 0.9 sec slower to 100 (6.2 for the s15 and 7.1 for me). I only have a full loch exhaust system (extractors, hi flow cat and 2.25 inch piping) and a k and n intake with heat shield.

mmm sounds like we have similar mods, i wouldnt be too far of that then i presume , cams sound good but i'll prob stick with extractors and ecu for now, then go onto the cams pistons, injectors etc when i come close to the turbo but that wont be for a while unfortinatly

[broady]

Er, you realise most (if not all) of these mods mentioned, are illegal under P plater laws (under \"performance modifications\", i think it used to be \"engine performance modifications\")?

[Fatty]

if your car is an auto then you are starting behind the 8 ball already. auto mx5s are less powerful than manual mx5s. there is more power loss thru the transmission, and the cams are different (at least, they were on the earlier models). you could spend a whole bunch of money on your auto and still only end up with a car that is as powerful as a stock manual. and you'd still never be able to keep up with them on a twisty road.

as i said in another thread, i think any mod to increase power on an auto mx5 is a waste of money.

[Boags]

I didn't realise you had an auto. Sell it. Buy a manual, there is an upgrade that is legal!

Auto gearboxes hate tracks. They get really hot and it is quite easy to cook them (I'm not sure about MX5 autos specifically, but autos in general). The engine is also lower compression... An engine/gearbox swap is going to be a huuuuuuuge job. Buy the car you want, don't modify it like that yourself.

Boags

[Alex]

Er, you realise most (if not all) of these mods mentioned, are illegal under P plater laws (under "performance modifications", i think it used to be "engine performance modifications")?

didn't you read my post before
a direct quote from the RTA website regarding restrictions on P-platers states

Any vehicle with engine performance modifications requiring an engineer’s certification for registration purposes is banned under the prohibited vehicle scheme.

hence he could do most of these as an Engineers cert is only required when changing anything that affects the safety or emissions of the car, ie brakes, airbags, engine mods that make too much noise or bad emissions