The (Very Slow) NB8B Track Monster Build

[jdm_wannabe]

Alright, so i'm a new member, and have recently purchased a really low klms (42 xxx km) silver mx5 with a matching hardtop. While this is my first car, I have dríven around 5 different car types including a small hatch (1.8 4 banger Astra) , a commodore (3.6 V6), both a light (2.0 4 banger with a CVT) and heavy SUV (3.0 V6), and a smaller sports car (2.0 GT86). All of those car were autos so naturally, the NB was a dream come true for a enthusiastic car guy (boy) like me. Its just a relief to drive something as small as an mx5. I have worked in a workshop before and have more basic knowledge than most of the population, but I need to learn heaps from all of you about the ins and outs of the mx5.

But that is enough history, the dream is to turn this clean NB8B into a very track focused legal road car. However, as a student with limited income (spent all money on buy the car) and having to go the uni next year, it will be hard, but ultimately this is my dream.

While I am still in Queensland finishing of my school, I will be looking to attend a few dodgy days and such to learn more about the mx5s and see what I want to do with mine. Over time, the major plan is to do the suspension, maybe lighter wheels, brakes, and then work on powah. Right now I will just be making small investments and mostly trying to just keep the car in mint condition and do minor modifications until the time has come to do what I really want to. I will also be trying to take driver courses to help me improve my driving (I can rev match on downshifts most of the time, want to learn heel and toe).

Thank you for reading and I hope to enjoy my mx5 as some of you guys do to yours, I would love to add to the mx5 community and learn form all you gurus.

[ManiacLachy]

Welcome! Be sure to upload some pictures of the car ASAP, we're a visual bunch ;) What year is it? Any mods already in place?

Going slow and steady is a good way to go about your build, you can keep an eye out for bargains, consider more options and possibilities, and fully appreciate each change that you make. You'll learn a lot along the way, and MX-5s are an easy car to work on. If this is your only car though, I wouldn't be in a rush to make it a "track monster". You really don't want to drive such a car on the street.

Keep an eye out for dodgy days, you don't need to actually have a job to do on your car, they're great events for meeting people and just learning about the cars. Also, if the track is your interest, maybe join up with the MX-5 QLD club and get a long to a few track days, the basic car is fine and you'll have a great time.

[StanTheMan]

Welcome

1. Alignment
2. Fire extinguisher
3. attend some track days to improve nutter behind wheel
4. Suspension. Coil overs springs,sways & so on
5. Wheels & Tyres
6. LSD
7. breathing. Intake & exhaust system
8 Seat & harness
They are the basics

then you need to figure out which route you will go down N/A or Turbo. Since you are only finishing School, my bet is that turbo is off the cards for some time. So I'll go down the N/A route. That's not to say you can't go down the turbo route.....just not legally for some time. However you may go down that path down the track & keep your N/A mods to a minimum so as to change direction when you feel the time is right. You are probably aware that choosing cams & compression are the exact opposite from N/A vs Turbo

1, cams (should that be singular? you have VVT . I admit,I know nothing about VVT & cam choice, if any)
2. compression Head shave & 11.5:1 pistons
3 valves & springs
4. porting
5.ECU
6 E85 conversion

That should keep you busy & broke for some time to come enjoy the journey.

[StanTheMan]

No need to change brakes until you have seriouds power mods.
decent brake pads will be enough to keep cost down until serious power mods are on the agenda

[jdm_wannabe]

WOW!

I really wasn't expecting such quick replies, but what an amazing bunch you guys are. Ill get some pictures soon as I get her washed up, and get some nice angles. Yeah 'maniaclachey' it wont be a track monster anytime soon, in fact for a very long time but that is the ultimate goal when I have enough for a daily as well, so a looong time.

Yeah 'Stan' ill be going to go down to turbo route but again, in a long time. in the mean time, ill try to mod the car in such a way so i dont have to rebuy parts to turbo it, so staying off the engine mainly. Ill mostly be going for suspension and tyres where most of my money will be spent.

Thanks again and ill try to get some pics up as soon as possible.

[Trackphotos]

How soon are you planning on tracking it? My approach has always been to do as little as possible until you've reached a laptime plateau, because it forces you to drive better to get quicker, instead of just having a faster car. If you do choose to do it this way, it can be surprisingly economical to track it semi-regularly. It's never a bad idea to do all the routine maintenance and upkeep with a newly acquired car, beyond that there's not a lot that needs to be done before tracking it. The one thing I would recommend is better brake pads than oem, as they can cook pretty easily at QR without much effort.

I suppose since you're still in school, mx5 club track days will probably be out of the question for you until you leave as they're always on Mondays. If you can get to one or two though, it's a great opportunity to walk around and have a look at the mods others have made, ask for opinions on what have been the most beneficial changes etc.

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[Magpie]

Thinking about nominating to Steampunk a few dates for a dodgy day soon. Possibly 08/10/16, only Lakeside Open Sprints on that day and few of the regulars will be going to this.

Personally, learn to drive fast first and then introduce heel/toe to get the extra tenths. Best to focus on the basics first, develop those and then introduce more advanced skills after the basics have been mastered.

This is the advice I SHOULD have listened to but ignored....
1. Decent alignment
2. Tyres - irrespective of type (R/S Spec or road) know what pressures to use, this will make a big difference. Handling can be 'tweeked' with adjusting tyre pressures. It is important to learn to 'feel' what an under/over pressure tyre feels like as well as if the tyre is too hot/cold. For example at the recent SDT day at Morgan Park on the track my LR at times was showing surface temps (infra red) in excess of 100° for short periods, it was not uncommon to see temps around 70° for all 4 tyres. However, my 'bum' was able to 'feel' the change and looking at the tyre temp display confirmed what was being felt. Backed off for a few laps to let them cool down then do a flying lap Unfortunately the videos I have you can't see the temp display.
3. Suspension - understand what each part does and how changes will effect the car. Do you need coilovers starting out possibly not, however if you get serious on the track then you may want them. Can of worms as to what is 'good/better/best', drive a few different cars and make your own mind up.
4. Brakes - OEM rotors and calipers are fine. Pad wise (can of worms) you could not go past A1RM's all round they are cheap and a good track day pad. If serious the something from Winmax like W5/W3's. We are lucky in Queensland to have Motorsport Brakes (Winmax) and QFM the company that A1RM's locally based.

Very track focused legal road car - this will ALWAYS be a compromise it will never be a serious contender on the track but will be a bitch to drive on the road. Trackphotos has reached this cross road so may chip in with some thoughts. Going down this path will require the purchase of a trailer.

My current plan is:
1. Install a 6 point cage where the front/door bars can be removed, effectively a 4 point roll bar.
2. Lighten doors up for when 6 point cage is installed as don't need side intrusion bars with the 6 point cage.
3. Remove plastic bits behind the bumpers when 6 point cage installed.
4. Talk to Madjak about making some lightweight control arms/spindles whilst he has his CNC machine

What track is closer QR or Lakeside? General Practice at QR on 20/08/16 and SDT is running a track day at Morgan Park on 22/10/16. The SDT day is a good place to learn how to drive a slow car fast.

As for what Trackphotos posted, I made a fast car first but never modified the driver so it was a fast car dríven slowly. It is only now that my skills are allowing the car to be fast. It is now a fast car being dríven better but could still be a lot faster

[speed]

Welcome!
Alignment, pads, suspension is a good way to start.
Look forward to seeing the pics

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[jdm_wannabe]

Alright, so ill answer everything chronologically.

Im not going to track it very soon, maybe sometime around new years give or take a few weeks. Are you allowed to track on your l's, if so then maybe sooner. Yeah I dont plan on modifying the crap out of it without driving it first. I do want to get comfortable with the car at the track before the mods start, so just minor aesthetic ones for now. Yeah once I start heading out to more and more track days, ill definitely be buying better brake pads, thanks for that. yeah i migth be able to get a Monday or two off scholl, but the parents are still working and im on my l's until november, so yeah, untill then itll just be normal driving unless someone can help me get down there but that is unlikely.

Yes I will definitely be doing dodgy days, but only after I get my p's because the parents arent into cars at all. Thanks and will be looking to come down as I can to meet up with you guys. Alright, so by driving fast you mean like corner lines, braking points, apexes, and throttle modulation right?? I have got a G27 wheel with a ps3 and GT5 at home, but I can never seem to comfortably position a heel and toe on that, the mx5 pedals are much better positioned for that to me. I have got many many hours of racing on that so if real life is anything like GT5 than ive got a little advantage I think. The car is going for a service soon, just a regular check up, so ill get the alignment done then as well. I have read about the thread where Charlie Brown, I think it is, and should i be using those to give to the mechanic (spirited driving setup). The current tyres ive got are re002 at around 70%-80% and I run them at around 32 psi cold. I will experiment more when I get more seat time, because as of now, I only get about 1 hr a week of good driving before I have to stop (old parents and their old backs ). I am thinking about getting 1 inch lowered springs, mainly for the aesthetic killing of the wheel gap, but to improve the stiffness just a little. However, only by getting more seat time will I be able to tell if they are needed, same with upgrading the brakes. November really cant come any sooner. Im not sure if it will be a track only car as of yet because im not sure if I will need the mx5 as transport, if not then hell yeah I get a full on fire breathing track monster in a few years or more haha. Lakeside is about 1 hr closer, but if QR is a better track than it might be worth it. Yes I will definitely look into the SDT, but do they only go on Margan Park??

Yes that is the order I will be doing it in thank you. Pics will be most likely on Sunday as a little road trips is being planned for dads b'day down the Mary Valley Rd to kenilworth (can anyone recommend any other good roads near gympie?)

Thanks heaps guys, looking forward to meet up and stuff, but after november. Thanks again!!

[speed]

In that case, keep it stock and have fun learning your limits first.
Driving a real car is so much more satisfying than any game but safety first ;)

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[plohl]

http://Www.iwmac.org.au

If you're still learning to drive, I cant recommend coming and doing dirt sprints enough. They are out at willowbank once a month. They have a junior class which is 16 to 18 iirc, and even if you're older than that you can still drive whilst on your Ls. You need a cams license.
A stock mx5 is a weapon at the dirt sprints too.

There is a cool road put near gympie, not too long but you can get a wicked flow going... can't remember what it is called... will pm tou once I remember it.
Gympie also has a skid pan where a number of car clubs have events on the weekends etc. Definitely another good thing to start attending. IIRC Skid Contol do events in gympie now too.

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[jdm_wannabe]

Thanks plohl, Ill look into the the dirt sprints, but what level cams license do I need, what do all you guys have, im thinkning it would be the L2S right?? Yes I am aware of the skidpan as the school had a compulsory safe driving course on it (most of it was absolute bull, like this one lady that said we need to be more aware than racecar drivers because we have cars coming from all directions ), so I can go and inquire about the dates and stuff there. Also just wondering who hands out the cams licenses in QLD?

Many thanks.

[Magpie]

CAMS Lisence - go to CAMS website about $150 from memory.

Dirt sprints, well the one time I have gone is a lot of fun. It is surprising how warm you can get the tyres and the surface even gives tyre chirp!

I keep wanting to do more dirt sprints but the stars are not aligning.

[Trackphotos]

Sim racing teaches you the basics, so you can focus on feeling the car instead of having to think about racing lines etc. Will not prepare you for the sensations of heavy cornering/braking, but that comes pretty quickly.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to run QR before lakeside. Lakeside is much faster and much less forgiving. The walls are as close now as they were when it was built over 50 years ago, whereas QR has lots of room to run off, get sideways, spin out and still not come close to the walls. In most parts, anyway. It used to be a weekly occurrence for someone to write their car off at Lakeside, because they chose the wrong track to test their limits at. A 911 GT3 is the most recent victim, third lap of the day and he binned it into the wall. Don't be that guy.

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[jdm_wannabe]

Alright so went on a good drive to kenilworth, but dad told me to follow the recommended speed signs on the mountains (like down to 15) . Nonetheless had a good time and learnt a little more about the mx5, can rev match better. Got some really nice pics though and that was the best part. Enjoy

The car was a bit dirty after being dríven but otherwise it is a good specimen.

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