Custard’s Tart

Snowmotion · Postby **Snowmotion** » Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:04 pm

That looks like a nice exhaust... I hope this creates the space you need.

Custardtart · Postby **Custardtart** » Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:27 pm

Snowmotion wrote:That looks like a nice exhaust... I hope this creates the space you need.

Thanks. I’ll snap some pics showing the difference but there’s at least twice as much clearance with this header and it was soooooo much easier to fit!

Snowmotion · Postby **Snowmotion** » Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:36 pm

I am soo hoping that I don't have the same problem.
Do you think lower mounts will increase the clearance?

ozace · Postby **ozace** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 7:53 am

Snowmotion wrote:I am soo hoping that I don't have the same problem.
Do you think lower mounts will increase the clearance?

I am not sure the lower mounts will help if you use the Goodwin header, they are close but just not quite right for RHD cars and 2.5 motors

Custardtart · Postby **Custardtart** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 8:30 am

ozace wrote:
Snowmotion wrote:I am soo hoping that I don't have the same problem.
Do you think lower mounts will increase the clearance?

I am not sure the lower mounts will help if you use the Goodwin header, they are close but just not quite right for RHD cars and 2.5 motors

I was just advised (by a MX5 parts supplier that runs and supports race MX5's) that to gain more clearance with the GWR/Racing Beat header the engine should actually be raised using shims under the engine mounts! Unless you're road driving or have very stiff engine mounts and/or an engine brace I would be worried about clearance with those headers on a RHD 2.5 conversion. I'm really surprised no one on the UK forums has raised this before, obviously in the US it's a non issue.
I'd say the two headers likely to give most clearance are the Racing Beat and the Tomei. I found a guy in Brisbane who has stock of the Tomei https://www.cj-motor.com/tomei-expreme- ... lf-ve-ncec
But the Racing Beat wasn't available anywhere here from what I could see.

ozace · Postby **ozace** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 8:42 am

https://rev9autosport.com/nopro-origina ... eader.html,
I would have loved to try this one but the price scared me off

Custardtart · Postby **Custardtart** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 3:31 pm

ozace wrote:https://rev9autosport.com/nopro-origina ... eader.html,
I would have loved to try this one but the price scared me off

That does look ideal but woah that’s a lot of $$$

I’ve just weighed the other components, here’s the results:
Oem mid pipe - 8.5kg
Tomei mid pipe - 7kg
Oem header - 7 kg
Tomei header 6kg

Should have it all done tonight and off for a drive tomorrow.

Custardtart · Postby **Custardtart** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:17 pm

So the exhaust swap wasn’t as straightforward as it should’ve been thanks to bolts that didn’t fit and I had to tap out the header flange bolt holes as they were really poorly cut.
Also, I chose to wrap the header as it sits v close to the alternator, which took a while and even then I did a sh*t job at it :lol:

I always soak wrap in water first which does make the job easier and it looks cool when you first start the engine

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I’ll put up a video of the sound but I can say it’s amazing! I haven’t done a proper drive yet so can’t comment on any drone but so far I’m very happy with it.
Next job is to fit this engine brace to help shifting on track.

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Custardtart · Postby **Custardtart** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:19 pm

Red_Bullet · Postby **Red_Bullet** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:52 pm

Sounds pretty zoom zoom

ozace · Postby **ozace** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:10 pm

I like the sound

Snowmotion · Postby **Snowmotion** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 12:14 am

sounds good...

Daffy · Postby **Daffy** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 5:38 am

ozace wrote:I like the sound

Snowmotion wrote:sounds good...

Red_Bullet wrote:Sounds pretty zoom zoom

+1

Custardtart · Postby **Custardtart** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 6:27 pm

Will be at Lakeside on the 18th August for a general tes session. Half a day for $120, open pitlane if the numbers aren’t too high so loads of track time.
Would be good if there were some other 5’s there?
You don’t need a race number, just a road licence and a QR Racers licence.

Custardtart · Postby **Custardtart** » Fri Aug 02, 2019 2:22 pm

I recently tried to fit the engine brace I got and found, like alot of things, that parts that fit an 2.0NC don’t fit the 2.5. It’s the GWR one and bought through MX5 Parts.
Because of the 2.5 blocks extra 10mm height I had to drill new mounting holes as low as possible in the damper bracket and cut away a section of the oem engine to bulkhead brace.
Job done and after a spirited drive I can confirm there is a small amount of extra NVH on tick over and high revs but not enough to be a problem day to day so I’m going to leave it in place. I had originally planned to only fit it for track days.
I’ll need a track session to see if it helps gear changes but it will certainly eliminate any small chance the header touches the steering column.

Also, a quick update on the EBC Yellow pads....WOW! Road performance is very different to the A1RM’s. Soo much more bite from cold and just stacks of feel. I’m super impressed by them but again, I need a track session to get a fair all round comparison.

Top view of engine brace.

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This shows the clearance which should be ok.

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Here you can see the cut out bit of the bulkhead brace and the lowered engine dampener bracket. I cut off the excess, just below the old bolt hole. I’ll paint it all up again soon.

46E4E437-5A72-47F5-B2C9-2AFCF9D80036.jpeg