Cheap Power?

Astiolo · Postby **Astiolo** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 2:07 am

I know cheap power is an oxymoron, but I am a fairly new owner of the mx5 (NA) and I love good handling, thats why I got it. It already had coilovers and wider rims when I got it so at the moment I have nothing to complain about in terms of handling, but I have started to get annoyed at its lack of power.

It has a highflow intake which unfortunatley is sitting right over the strut so its in the way if I was to put a strut brace in but it has nothing else to increase its power. I really dont have much money to spend on it so I was wondering if you guys knew of a few cheap tricks to get a bit more power out of the 1.6l NA engine.

Appreciate any advice.

Lindsay

Speedyblue · Postby **Speedyblue** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:12 am

The cheapest thing would be to add as much lightness as you can. That will help performance and handling

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:48 am

Exhaust would be the next thing to do after the intake. Won't get you much, but its about next the cheapest thing you have available.

Red Dragon · Postby **Red Dragon** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:56 am

Bump the timing (plenty of threads on how to)

Uncle Arthur · Postby **Uncle Arthur** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:27 am

Where are you located?

Astiolo · Postby **Astiolo** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 12:49 pm

Man thanks for the quick replies, I have been thinking about an exaust but like you said it wouldnt do too much, Ill look into the timing.
The previous owner put a cannon tip on the exaust that sticks out a long way and I really dont like it, so thats another reason I'm looking to replace it.

Im in SA, I'm assuming your from QLD Unkle Arthur, I have an Unlke Arthur in QLD.

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 5:31 pm

Bumping the timing to 14/15 degrees and making sure the throttle cable was tensioned correctly made a big difference for me. Both free

The Npower muffles are quite cheap, I'm not sure about performace gains though as I dont have one.

And as said add lightness, where (if) possible it'll make a big difference, even taking out the spare tyre and passenger seat makes a difference. ALthough I quite like my car having all the bits its intended to so I haven't gone down the lightness path. If you're interested in going down this path take a look here http://www.lightweightmiata.com/beast/

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 5:46 pm

full exhaust & maybe an enlarged mania intake will give a a fair amount more torque. Not nececaryly a huge amount of top end HP.

its the torque which makes the car feel much faster. especially comming out of corners.

all that needs to be combined with the base timing advance to about 14/15 deg.

Astiolo · Postby **Astiolo** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:17 pm

My throttle cable is alright, still need to look into the timing.

Had a look at what I could do to reduce weight, and I can't really see much. It's not a track car so I can't/dont't want to just strip it. There is probably a couple of things I might take out when I can be bothered but they wouldn't equate to much weight. I will take out the aircon, especially since its not working, that should help a bit.

Hey Stan the Man, I looked at your profile, that strut brace seems perfect for getting around the problem of having the air filter in the way, where did you get it?

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:03 pm

Remember too that the MX5 makes the majority of its power above 4000 rpm, so keep the revs up and you'll be playing with more power.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:11 pm

As others have stated, I would first start with free power in advancing timing, and using all of the rev-range, but it will only satisfy you for a short time.
You have to come accept that the MX-5 is not a drag car and you will be beaten at almost all traffic light Grand Prix'ses (what's the plural to that?).

Perhaps save every dollar you earn and go to as many track days as possible, because then you will truly find out what the MX-5 is about, and you will realise that it doesn't need much extra power, and that the money you spent on handling improvements is where the $$ should go.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:14 pm

http://www.solomiata.com/CheapHP.html

there was also a generic basic cheap hp list but i can't find it at the moment

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:18 pm

Astiolo wrote:Hey Stan the Man, I looked at your profile, that strut brace seems perfect for getting around the problem of having the air filter in the way, where did you get it?

Its a whiteline. I originally got it from MX5 Mania.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:37 pm

here you go - not all power related, but worthwhile never-the-less...
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=16928

btw, chipping the ecu, where applicable < viewtopic.php?f=57&t=37873&p=494611#p494611 >, & the ex-intake cam mod, also where applicable, are other cheap power mods.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:42 pm

Not adding the strut brace will save you weight and money and lets you position your intake as you like. It doesn't have strut suspension and doesn't need a strut brace.

If you understand your fuel management and can build electronics kits then this $85 one has yielded 5-8rwkw for some of us.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=KC5385&CATID=25&form=CAT&SUBCATID=347 and search for Jaycar on this forum. Cheap and fiddly but rewarding.