Please share experience with Cam work and ECU upgrade for NB

[miatalim]

Hi guys,

Thinking of more upgrades for my MX5 NBA. I am after more mid torque pull for street driving essentially. I have just had a DDM CAI and a T&C exhaust and catalytic converter installed. After a lot of reading on this forum, I am not keen on supercharging or turbo charging mainly due to decent $$ needed to do it right. I am after a Cam work and ECU upgrade solution. Due to the considerable cost of undertaking the work below can you guys please chime in on:

1. Which ECU is most commonly used for the MX?
- Adaptronics has been frequently quoted here.

2. Please chime in on subjective feel of whether adaptronics ECU has increased performance on a Naturally Aspirated motor?

3. Who do most people in Melbourne use for ECU install and tuning ?

4. Please chime in on what cam work you had done and where in Melbourne ?

5. Did you feel there was a difference in performance from Cam work and ECU ?

6. Are there any downsides to the above mods?


So far, the price quotes I have receive from one source is:

Adaptronic ECU and plug and play install: $1370
Brand new cams: $1350
Labor to fit and dyno tune ECU:$500
Fit Cams: $700


Thanks in advance.

[93_Clubman]

Depends exactly what you want, but the approach by Jason from Top Tune Automotive in Sydney, who knows his stuff, in the following might be a good compromise:
viewtopic.php?f=73&t=44537

[pcmx5]

I have an NA8A with Microtech ECu and Tighe 805c cams and it is great set up(should have given you a drive when you were at TC!)

I think the NB8A needs a different cam set up(ie it does not just fit into the head without work, lash adjustment?) but could be wrong.Mine are 252 duration.
Given what you have if you replicated my set up in your car with the better head it has you should be looking at around 98-100RWKW on a Dyno Dynamics dyno.

Microtech fitted and tuned is about $1700, cams new billets $1000 and a cambelt kit($300???)

Hope you are still enjoying the MX,

Cheers,

peter.

[miatalim]

Thanks Peter. The T&C exhaust is starting to settle down sound wise and now has a very nice low frequency raspy sound..I love it. Yes. I reckon the best thing to do is to replicate what someone else has done successfully. I'll come down to Geelong to have coffee with you one day soon...just to talk cars.

I am enjoying the MX5 thoroughly and noticed that the ambient temperature does have a noticeable affect on power. When it is cold I don't find myself wanting more power but as soon as it is humid or hotter I start wishing for a 911 flat 6 engine for mid range pulling power.

[pcmx5]

Just to quantify the gains.My car with CAI, extractors and exhaust made 74RWKW and with the Micro Tech and Tighe cams 94.Results are in dyno section.

Drivability is excellent, everyone who drives it comments on the throttle response.

Peter.

[miatalim]

Just to quantify the gains.My car with CAI, extractors and exhaust made 74RWKW and with the Micro Tech and Tighe cams 94.Results are in dyno section.

Drivability is excellent, everyone who drives it comments on the throttle response.

Peter.

Wow...that is 20kw gain. I would be happy with 10kw gain for $3k spend. Please provide details on who tuned your ECU as I heard skillful tuning is a critical ingredient.

[pcmx5]

Just to quantify the gains.My car with CAI, extractors and exhaust made 74RWKW and with the Micro Tech and Tighe cams 94.Results are in dyno section.

Drivability is excellent, everyone who drives it comments on the throttle response.

Peter.

Wow...that is 20kw gain. I would be happy with 10kw gain for $3k spend. Please provide details on who tuned your ECU as I heard skillful tuning is a critical ingredient.

originally set up by Anthony Rodriquez(spelling?) at Maztech in preston amd since maitaned bu Dalton automotive in Wood st South Geelong.

Peter.

[miatalim]

Just to quantify the gains.My car with CAI, extractors and exhaust made 74RWKW and with the Micro Tech and Tighe cams 94.Results are in dyno section.

Drivability is excellent, everyone who drives it comments on the throttle response.

Peter.

Wow...that is 20kw gain. I would be happy with 10kw gain for $3k spend. Please provide details on who tuned your ECU as I heard skillful tuning is a critical ingredient.

originally set up by Anthony Rodriquez(spelling?) at Maztech in preston amd since maitaned bu Dalton automotive in Wood st South Geelong.

Peter.

Hi Peter,

Next time you are down anywhere near Melbourne please give me a call. It looks like I have to go down cams route. It would be great to have a feel of your car before I proceed down this road. I am sure many forum members are curious to find out if there is another non fi way to gain hp.

Cheers

[NitroDann]

Just to quantify the gains.My car with CAI, extractors and exhaust made 74RWKW and with the Micro Tech and Tighe cams 94.Results are in dyno section.

Drivability is excellent, everyone who drives it comments on the throttle response.

Peter.

27% increase in power with tiny street cams. Wow I wonder why NitroDann always recommends cams not ITBs, mania intake/exhaust etc.

Dann

[NitroDann]

Hi guys,

Thinking of more upgrades for my MX5 NBA. I am after more mid torque pull for street driving essentially. I have just had a DDM CAI and a T&C exhaust and catalytic converter installed. After a lot of reading on this forum, I am not keen on supercharging or turbo charging mainly due to decent $$ needed to do it right. I am after a Cam work and ECU upgrade solution. Due to the considerable cost of undertaking the work below can you guys please chime in on:

1. Which ECU is most commonly used for the MX?
- Adaptronics has been frequently quoted here.Megasquirt is the most common, adaptronic in oz on NBs

2. Please chime in on subjective feel of whether adaptronics ECU has increased performance on a Naturally Aspirated motor?Its not subjective, it 100% fact. A tune for YOUR engine and YOUR fuel choice changes the stock tune from a generic tune close enough to give ok economy and drivability on every mx ever, to a perfect tune for your car and fuel choice/elevation etc

3. Who do most people in Melbourne use for ECU install and tuning ?Cant help sorry

4. Please chime in on what cam work you had done and where in Melbourne ?Cam work in melbourne? Buy some from somewhere on Earth, get them shipped, put them in.

5. Did you feel there was a difference in performance from Cam work and ECU ?Nope, 20-40rwkw is hardly noticeable.

6. Are there any downsides to the above mods?Legality, fuel economy


So far, the price quotes I have receive from one source is:

Adaptronic ECU and plug and play install: $1370Sounds right, but 800 more than megasquirt
Brand new cams: $1350Too much by at the very least 400
Labor to fit and dyno tune ECU:$500fit is a 2 minute job, tune should be around 120/hour at any dyno shop
Fit Cams: $700WOW thats expensive. remove cam cover, ziptie cambelt to gears, remove 2 cam bolts, remove 20x10mm bolts and pull out cams, drop in new cams, put back together.

Dann


Thanks in advance.

[elitee]

So would 252 cams be the best choice?
Any recommendations on what brand?
Also is there any people who can tune a ms in melbourne?

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[NitroDann]

Do more research.

You would be copping a really hard time right now on MT.net.

252 degrees is the duration of valve lift, bigger is more power and more rpm.

Dann

[sailaholic]

I had a quote for new billet cams, 1100 for a na8. About 800 for a regrind / weld up and grind down if required.

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[greenMachine]

I had a quote for new billet cams, 1100 for a na8. About 800 for a regrind / weld up and grind down if required.

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I have had a 100% failure rate on regrinds, one on GM (road/race) and one on racecar. Pay the extra, and have the peace of mind that new billets bring.

[sailaholic]

Haha that was plan too.

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