Slowpoke’s special 10AE No.3603

slowpoke · Postby **slowpoke** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:22 pm

I bought my car on 19-10-04 from the original owner, with 6,946km on the ODO.
Being accustomed to a 5 spd. (Suzuki), the 6 speed gear arrangement irritated me from the outset and after 4,600km of frustrated grappling I ditched the 6 speeder for a 5 spd.g’box. The improvement was/is immense but the 3.6 F.D. was then way too high and the speedo required adjustment..
2nd hand 5spd g’box – Supplied and fitted by Carco, Belconnen ACT @11,782km
(1-3-05) Oil: Red Line MTL
3.9 Crown wheel & pinion – Supplied and fitted by Southern Differentials, Phillip ACT @ 13,223km (10-5-05). Oil: Red Line 75W90 F.S
Red Silicone Radiator Hoses, Black High-Flow (radiator) Protective Grille, Clear Protective (head) Light Shields – (Moss USA)- Fitted @ 13,256km
Electronic Speed Corrector – bought from Tyrone Smith (Mojo Automotive Developments-Lara,Vic) Fitted by Russellb, Carco @ 14,513km (10-8-05)
4 (10AE) mudguard extensions fitted by Carco.
Quick Shift – Supplied and fitted by Carco @18,678km (2-11-05)
Extractors, and Loc Stewart CA1 (with Simota filter) – Supplied and fitted by Garry Stewart, Acacia Ridge, QLD @ 20,316km (15-12-05)
‘Cateran’ 2 ½” Stainless steel Hi-Flow catalytic converter (CAT 004M), ‘GENIE’ silencer, 12” ‘Hot Dog’ – supplied and fitted by Powatone Exhausts, Fyshwick ACT @ 22,202km (18-2-06)
‘Chief’ Cruise control – Supplied and fitted by Carco @ 23,282km
FUELSTAR FUEL CATALYST, & new (MX 5) battery fitted @24,286 (28-6-06)
‘Quickshift’ replaced with the original g’lever @25,437km (15-9-06)
Cam belt renewed @29,583km (27-2-07)
Small rubber Shift Boot & Beat Rush Bush (from Carco) fitted @40,278k (5-2-09)

Petrol consumption from 31-1-06 to 17-6-06 was 8.6 Ltrs per 100km (standard petrol – H’way running)
After Fuelstar Fuel Catalyst was fitted petrol cons. from 29-6-06 to 17-2-09 was 7.5Ltrs per 100km (standard petrol – H’way running)
Current kilometres: 40,740

In my view the car equipped as it is now is significantly more pleasant to drive. Doubtless the 6 speeder was better suited to the later S-VT engine..

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:06 pm

Sounds nice slowpoke and always good to see more Canberra people. But the real reply should be PICS!

Coming out to Wheels at Old Parliment House this weekend?

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:29 pm

You have been busy SP - sounds nicely personalised! Interesting result with the Fuelstar - always wondered about those kinds of devices.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 11:46 am

SP, not having dríven a 6sp MX5, was the on road translation of moving to 5sp with 3.9 FD less & improved gear changes? I'm assuming when you say you grappled with the 6sp, that in 6sp configuration it wasn't a knife through butter gearbox which was compounded by the more frequent gear changing required of the 6sp ratios. In other words, a driver would be constantly busy when a more relaxed drive would have been pleasant.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:32 pm

Well now that I've seen the car, mind if I post a photo or two?

slowpoke · Postby **slowpoke** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:23 pm

Thank you Jeo. I'd be flattered and honoured..

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:16 am

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:07 pm

lovely car.

need to get rid of the luggage rack though!

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:16 pm

Looking good - thanks Joe! Also looks like a good turnout & nice day by the Lake.

slowpoke · Postby **slowpoke** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:58 pm

Hello 93Clubman,
When I wrote "grappling" I was certainly exagerating ! But I think that the NB8A engine (in standard form) was ill-matched with the 6 speed g'box. In my limited view the NB8A engine, in standard form (as it came from the factory), is not an 'easy revver' and when coupled to the 6 speed g'box (with its very short gearing) it makes for a "choked" driving experience.
But replacing the original air intake with a Loc Stewart type and replacing the entire exhaust system with a free flow type dramatically improves the driving experience of a 10AE.
After driving a friend's "10" fitted with the Stewarts' CAI and exhaust system I now think that if I had had these same improvements made to my car before the g'box swap, I would've left the 6 speeder in place.
I strongly suspect that had the 10AE come with the S-VT engine it would've offered a vastly more satisfying driving experience...

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:18 am

Thanks SP - so the 10AE was literally & figuratively ahead of its time having the 6 speed...

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:12 am

slowpoke - i believe the 10AE's came with LSD's. if you drove an mx5 without one, you would realise how slightly uninspiring an mx5 can be :oops:

slowpoke · Postby **slowpoke** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:49 am

Yes sliq you are correct. 10AEs all came with LSDs and doubtless its a very nice 'security blanket'.. But I'm inclined to think that whether my car has one or not it would make no difference to my driving style.
I've owned a number of British sports cars in the past and none of them had LSDs but they were all terrific fun in their own respective ways. Being a two bob lair at heart, having a decent exhaust note is much more inspiring to me than knowing that my car is equipped with an LSD. Its all horses for courses tho, isn't it ?
If only Mazda wanted our opinions we could all provide them with the perfect specs. for the perfect MX5 !