Fitting nc headers

Engines, Transmissions & Final Drive questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, The American, Lokiel, -alex, miata, StanTheMan, greenMachine, ManiacLachy, Daffy

ansellpa
Fast Driver
Posts: 116
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:53 pm

Fitting nc headers

Postby ansellpa » Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:29 pm

Ok so I am waiting for my goodwins roadster sport headers to arrive,
And need to work out how to fit them.
Given at the space looks very tight, and I am reluctant to remove all skin from my knuckles and swear like a sailor, I was hoping those who have been before me may have some tips.

For example do you undo engine mounts and try to push the engine to the side??

What can I do to get more room???

User avatar
Regie
Speed Racer
Posts: 4259
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 3:02 pm
Vehicle: NC - V8
Location: Sydney

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby Regie » Tue Sep 18, 2012 11:12 pm

Battery and battery box out
Alternator loosened
Bottom o2 sensor removed

There are some tips on the us site, not sure of links though

I installed mine about 6 months ago, took about 4hrs or so
MY07 NC, Mazdaspeed Body, Ohlins, Full GWR Exhaust, 17x9 RPF1's, 4.1FGR and lots lots more

deanb90
Fast Driver
Posts: 231
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:55 am

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby deanb90 » Wed Sep 19, 2012 12:30 am

PITA job, be prepared for swearing and beers

ansellpa
Fast Driver
Posts: 116
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:53 pm

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby ansellpa » Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:42 am

Thanks for the tips.
Special tools or big socket extensions to get to hard to reach places???
What sort of beer is recommended?

deanb90
Fast Driver
Posts: 231
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:55 am

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby deanb90 » Wed Sep 19, 2012 2:31 pm

no special tools, just your basic socket set etc. grab a can of WD-40, some of those bolts will be very hard to get off. Just be very careful when removing the bolts that go into the engine block, you don't want to thread one.

If your extending the O2 sensors you need to weld bungs into the midpipe, make sure the wires are not touching the exhaust, i put them over the transmission so they are out of the way.

User avatar
Regie
Speed Racer
Posts: 4259
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 3:02 pm
Vehicle: NC - V8
Location: Sydney

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby Regie » Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:23 pm

ratcheting ring spanners made my life soo much easier on some of the bolts
MY07 NC, Mazdaspeed Body, Ohlins, Full GWR Exhaust, 17x9 RPF1's, 4.1FGR and lots lots more

ansellpa
Fast Driver
Posts: 116
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:53 pm

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby ansellpa » Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:02 pm

Got some of those, they are the best.

Good mod this one?

User avatar
Regie
Speed Racer
Posts: 4259
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 3:02 pm
Vehicle: NC - V8
Location: Sydney

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby Regie » Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:08 pm

ansellpa wrote:Got some of those, they are the best.

Good mod this one?



might be some info here

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.ph ... ht=headers


best bang for buck mod you can do to the NC!!
MY07 NC, Mazdaspeed Body, Ohlins, Full GWR Exhaust, 17x9 RPF1's, 4.1FGR and lots lots more

ansellpa
Fast Driver
Posts: 116
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:53 pm

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby ansellpa » Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:40 am

Yikes,
Really don't want to have those problems.
Might spray it with wd and let it sit for a while before I attempt

ansellpa
Fast Driver
Posts: 116
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:53 pm

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby ansellpa » Sat Nov 03, 2012 1:52 am

Job done! Yes it was difficult but no stripped nuts or cutting of heat shields.
Now I just need to have bungs welded onto mid pipe by mechanic so I can fit extended o2 sensors and I am away.

User avatar
Regie
Speed Racer
Posts: 4259
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 3:02 pm
Vehicle: NC - V8
Location: Sydney

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby Regie » Sat Nov 03, 2012 2:07 pm

are you running the Goodwin rear muffler also??

The power gains are awesome from just a header install!!
MY07 NC, Mazdaspeed Body, Ohlins, Full GWR Exhaust, 17x9 RPF1's, 4.1FGR and lots lots more

ansellpa
Fast Driver
Posts: 116
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:53 pm

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby ansellpa » Sat Nov 03, 2012 10:49 pm

Yes, I have not dríven the car stock so won't have a bench mark.
Got the race rear muffler but keeping stock mid pipe and will get bungs welded for sensors.

Is it worth getting an entire custom midpipe?

Also getting ecu reflashed by targa racing.
Has been a busy few weeks in my garage.
Full fluid change,
Porterfield race pads
Aem intake fitted
Auto exe adjustable Coilovers
4.1 Jdm LSD

Racing beat front and rear swaybars and end links
Wheels 17x 8 and hankook semis


Next up is cage and braided lines.
Tried to get stock lines off but vf tight and worried about stripping the fittings.

Should be ready for sprints and or Race in the new year.

User avatar
Regie
Speed Racer
Posts: 4259
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 3:02 pm
Vehicle: NC - V8
Location: Sydney

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby Regie » Sun Nov 04, 2012 6:25 am

Sweet, sounds very similar to the mods on my car

I also got the reflag done by targa racing. Chris is a great guy to deal with

I must get my 4.1 installed soon too haha
MY07 NC, Mazdaspeed Body, Ohlins, Full GWR Exhaust, 17x9 RPF1's, 4.1FGR and lots lots more

ansellpa
Fast Driver
Posts: 116
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:53 pm

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby ansellpa » Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:35 pm

Seems to be the nc formula.
I have since learned mine has forged crank and rods as it is 09 model.
Might consider some cams down the track and see if it can rev harder.
Chris is setting my limit to 7500.

Then again, why mess with such a reliable stock engine?

deanb90
Fast Driver
Posts: 231
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:55 am

Re: Fitting nc headers

Postby deanb90 » Thu Nov 22, 2012 1:24 pm

imo the 4.1 is the best bang for buck, much better than the headers. But is the most expensive to get installed


Return to “MX5 Engines, Transmission & Final Drive”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 100 guests