Most punch from the 1.6?

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:42 pm

Magpie wrote:and the Charlie91 story has a very sad ending

You should have added a "SPOILER ALERT" before stating that - now he knows "The Story" ending isn't happy.

ciz_ · Postby **ciz_** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 12:40 pm

Going to (soon) start investing in intake and exhaust mods to improve breathing. Might also get some handling mods done as I've been thinking of bracing etc.

Then a supercharger

(as many other mx5 forums have stated, the auto transmission can handle one)

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:09 pm

Will the supercharger be mod plated? I suggest you talk to others on here about the pros/cons of supercharging. As much as this hurts, go a turbo as it is proven and there is just so much relevant/factual information out there.

If going the supercharger then you will need an aftermarker ECU so why not also change out the gearbox? MX5 Plus has a new shipment of 6 speeds in or there is a 5 speed for sale at the moment for about $150 from memory.

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:39 pm

I don't know if it's worth modding the car if it'san auto. First off the b6 engine is rather revvy and being an auto, you immediately lose the ability to effectively keep in in the b6 power band when you want it.
You could maybe adjust your kickdown switch to be more responsive, but it's a pretty poor alternative.
Increasing the timing, buying extractors, an exhaust, highflow cat and cold air intake on a factory manual mx5 are a pretty poor cost to gain. When you factor in that those give maybe 8kw max gain all up, the main selling point is changing the delivery of power in a certain rev range. However, being an auto, your car naturally loses the ability to keep the revs consistantly up.

Then you have the bigger issues, if you change the gearbox to a manual you still have the auto engine management. Which an easily be changed in 30 seconds; how tever the compression is lower on the auto and they run more lethargic cams still.
So like HKSKansei says, it's an uphill battle.

The best alternative is to sell the car complete and original, and buy a manual mx5 or something with ground work already done. As far as mods go, I have been down the full exhaust and intake route as well as supercharged. I'm in the middle of a turbo build right now and I often regret going the other paths.
If you want more go, turbo is your best bang for buck. You could spend around $1200 on a full engine back free flowing exhaust with extractors and a high flow cat. Another $180 or so on a mania intake; but only pick up around 8-10kw. That's $1380.
Or conversely put out $2500 and gain 90kw. Your choice, but I know what I'd be doing.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:51 pm

Mr nanotech wrote:Which an easily be changed in 30 seconds.

If it was that simple I would have had it done. The automatic has a different wiring loom to the manual and whilst it is possible to swap the ECU it is not worth the cost and that is coming for a person who has spent way too much on their car.

Do the timing advance, but it will not be free reving like a manual NA6. A CAI will give about the same noise as it would for a manual. Extractors again a gain but the auto engine will let the package down. As I said my MX5 NA6 started out like yours and the 2 best things that were ever done was the manual, replacing the engine and replacing the ECU! Mind you I did the gearbox, then 10 months later the engine and about 12 months later the ECU. Trust me drive a stock NA6 and compare the difference and see what you want to do, unless you can't drive a manual due to licence restrictions?

ciz_ · Postby **ciz_** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 3:49 pm

Magpie wrote:
Mr nanotech wrote:Which an easily be changed in 30 seconds.

If it was that simple I would have had it done. The automatic has a different wiring loom to the manual and whilst it is possible to swap the ECU it is not worth the cost and that is coming for a person who has spent way too much on their car.

Do the timing advance, but it will not be free reving like a manual NA6. A CAI will give about the same noise as it would for a manual. Extractors again a gain but the auto engine will let the package down. As I said my MX5 NA6 started out like yours and the 2 best things that were ever done was the manual, replacing the engine and replacing the ECU! Mind you I did the gearbox, then 10 months later the engine and about 12 months later the ECU. Trust me drive a stock NA6 and compare the difference and see what you want to do, unless you can't drive a manual due to licence restrictions?

You mean you'd want me to drive a manual na6 and compare? I can do that.

Just a bit torn at the moment - lovely car in all aspects, I'm not a speed kind of guy at all, but would love a pinch of oomph from the 1.6.
Although it would not bother me if it were to remain stock (apart from the exhaust system, not sure if I trust a 20-something year old exhaust. And the handling mods already underway).

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 4:37 pm

Yep try a stock NA6 and feel the difference. Even if you swap to a manual gearbox your NA6 will still not feel engine wise the same as a stock NA6. I wish that we did a dyno of my old car before we did all the mods. However I did blow the auto engine (with manual gearbox) up at Norwel Park so it can never be tested plus we forgot to dyno it with a 1.6 ltr manual engine with an Auto ECU in it before the engine was swapped out. But I can tell you it always felt like it was not as free reving as a stock NA6.

If you are in Brisbane we could organise a Dyno test day and see what it is producing in the real world?

If power is not your goal then go the exhaust, extractors and CAI however understand that it will never be the same as a manual NA6. These mods may not give ACTUAL oooomph but it will sound like it has more oooooomph.