MX5 mk1 tuning

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Discussion

Drums

266 posts

142 months

Friday 15th July 2016
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^^^ Awesome looking roadster!

mad4amanda

2,410 posts

164 months

Friday 15th July 2016
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Great thread I have an 89 roadster in red with mk2 wheels and 195 50 15 falken tyres they are great decent grip in all weathers. This year I had the old engine replaced with a 47k miles unit from Japan I had a spare rocker cover and inlet manifold and various housings black powder coated and it now looks as good as it goes ! Body is shabby no rust but lots of scratches and dinks .
Where can I get a pair of those mirrors they look great?

k-ink

Original Poster:

9,070 posts

179 months

Friday 15th July 2016
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Yep, very nice! That flipped will do me - silver with a black interior smile

k-ink

Original Poster:

9,070 posts

179 months

Saturday 16th July 2016
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Just ordered some low-pro headlights smile

k-ink

Original Poster:

9,070 posts

179 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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Quick update: after a chat with the guys at Scuzzle Motorsport they have ordered me a full Racing Beat induction, manifold, exhaust and high flow cat. Plus adjustable Meister coil over dampers. Car is booked in for a full service and light fettle. I will hold fire on major engine tuning until I am used to the car.

Minor details: mud guards removed, clear reflectors swapped, wind breaker added. Still waiting on wheels and mirrors to arrive.

Rickyy

6,618 posts

219 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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k-ink said:
Quick update: after a chat with the guys at Scuzzle Motorsport they have ordered me a full Racing Beat induction, manifold, exhaust and high flow cat. Plus adjustable Meister coil over dampers. Car is booked in for a full service and light fettle. I will hold fire on major engine tuning until I am used to the car.

Minor details: mud guards removed, clear reflectors swapped, wind breaker added. Still waiting on wheels and mirrors to arrive.
Interested to see how you get on with this. My biggest complaint with the 1.8 engine, is the lack of urgency below 5k RPM. Oh and lack of exhaust noise!

k-ink

Original Poster:

9,070 posts

179 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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I had a chilled drive yesterday. It flows through corners so well. Really good to have the top down. I'll go out later and see how the wind deflector thing gets on.

With regard to speed I am not looking for a real weapon or anything. Just something fun with a bit of cheekiness to it. Scuzzle are manic now so it will be a while before I can report back. I'll do a few minor bits myself until then. Perhaps an audio upgrade, as the doors are so easy to work on.

Rickyy

6,618 posts

219 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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k-ink said:
I had a chilled drive yesterday. It flows through corners so well. Really good to have the top down. I'll go out later and see how the wind deflector thing gets on.

With regard to speed I am not looking for a real weapon or anything. Just something fun with a bit of cheekiness to it. Scuzzle are manic now so it will be a while before I can report back. I'll do a few minor bits myself until then. Perhaps an audio upgrade, as the doors are so easy to work on.
I currently have a love/hate relationship going on with mine.

I had a really underwhelming drive on Sunday in Brecon, mostly due to the fog and traffic. I came home wanting to sell it.

I then went out night before last and had a blast. It felt more resposnsive (despite being the hottest weather I've driven it in) and fell in love with it again. Came home planning all sorts of upgrades for it.

I don't care about outright speed either. I want to reduce body roll and flex, bit more feel and stopping power from the brakes and a bit more low down punch.

eltax91

9,879 posts

206 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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k-ink said:
I had a chilled drive yesterday. It flows through corners so well. Really good to have the top down. I'll go out later and see how the wind deflector thing gets on.

With regard to speed I am not looking for a real weapon or anything. Just something fun with a bit of cheekiness to it. Scuzzle are manic now so it will be a while before I can report back. I'll do a few minor bits myself until then. Perhaps an audio upgrade, as the doors are so easy to work on.
Nick at Skuzzle is always manic. He's very sought after. I sent my car there the day I went working away for 3 weeks. When I went to collect it, it was all finished, he started putting bits of trim back on etc when I got there. hehe

Sway

26,276 posts

194 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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eltax91 said:
k-ink said:
I had a chilled drive yesterday. It flows through corners so well. Really good to have the top down. I'll go out later and see how the wind deflector thing gets on.

With regard to speed I am not looking for a real weapon or anything. Just something fun with a bit of cheekiness to it. Scuzzle are manic now so it will be a while before I can report back. I'll do a few minor bits myself until then. Perhaps an audio upgrade, as the doors are so easy to work on.
Nick at Skuzzle is always manic. He's very sought after. I sent my car there the day I went working away for 3 weeks. When I went to collect it, it was all finished, he started putting bits of trim back on etc when I got there. hehe
Indeed. Mine goes there for a fortnight at the end of next week - new engine time! bounce

It is great, but can't help, that he's so willing to spwnd time chatting through options over the phone. Last time I rang to check if the bottom end he'd ordered had arrived, I got off the phone half an hour later.

Mine (mk2 RS) is having a mk2.5 bottom end with forged rods, with the head off my car rebuilt and lightly flowed. Stock ecu for now, but Me221 will be fitted soon then over winter the tdr rotrex kit... Car came with poly bushes and ggp dampers, but I'm not completely satisfied, so have a full set of wishbones to refurb and will be speaking to the nice chaps at quantum, which I pass twice a day.

If you're looking for a 'nice' level of power, definitely worth considering nick's 'signature' pack.

k-ink

Original Poster:

9,070 posts

179 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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Oh yes, just need to save up some more! But at least I'll have time to get used to it.

Looking forward to another evening drive when the roads are quiet and the temp is lower. Yesterday I had the side windows down too which was ace. I guess longer journeys would require windows up?

Sway

26,276 posts

194 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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I don't tend to have windows up unless it's raining, and my commute is a flowing 50 miles each way.

Stop being a bloody fanny!

although I will admit to buying some mesh material to make a windblocker to fit my roll bar...

k-ink

Original Poster:

9,070 posts

179 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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I still haven't put the windows up yet. Mainly as it is so good to feel more in touch with the surroundings. Plus it looks much cleaner with them dropped. I was just wondering what they are like at 75? I guess I'll soon find out.

Sway

26,276 posts

194 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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It's fine, remember it was designed from the beginning as a convertible and they knew what they were doing! I routinely hit those speeds plus maybe a little more without issue.

Windblocker makes a massive difference to the back draft through between the seats, including a reduction in the amount of dust/debris sucked into the footwells.

Your first nighttime drive with the roof down when it's raining is an experience to remember - it happened to be my first rainy experience with the roof down too, and there's something seriously surreal driving through the pouring rain in an open car staying completely dry...

Thinking about it, in some ways my most memorable drives have been roof down at night.

k-ink

Original Poster:

9,070 posts

179 months

Thursday 21st July 2016
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Good times cool

BigTom85

1,927 posts

171 months

Friday 22nd July 2016
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I'd agree with that, roof down at night is quite special.

k-ink

Original Poster:

9,070 posts

179 months

Friday 22nd July 2016
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I want to remove the rear badges. However there may be pins and therefore holes left behind. Can anyone confirm if this is the case on UK mk1 1.8 models? I tried using dental floss but it is catching on something solid in various places.

Sway

26,276 posts

194 months

Friday 22nd July 2016
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I'm 90% sure none of the badges front or rear, have location pins.

At the rear of a mk1 it's easy to check, the whole number plate panel is easily removed so you can see the back face. In mk2 that panel became universal (so oblong and square plates would fit) and was incorporated into the bumper.

Edit - thinking about it, location pins would have gone against the 'gram principle' applied very rigorously on the NA (and the nd, less so the nb/nc) when lighter sticky pads would easily suffice.

Rickyy

6,618 posts

219 months

Friday 22nd July 2016
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There are two locating holes on the right hand badge.



Yet to put my new badge back on after the respray! Same with the front badge too.

k-ink

Original Poster:

9,070 posts

179 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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I fitted the stubby aerial conversion kit from MX5 parts. The black plastic collar is too short so rattles around. The screw threads are as tight as can be and I also added a rubber washer. It is still too loose.

Still wondering how to mount the seats. I might make a template out of something thin and easy to work with. Maybe thin wood, acrylic, or 1mm aluminium? Then I can take it to a metal fabricators to copy in thick steel. Too hot today though and I'm feeling lazy!



EDIT:

Thanks guys. Just removed the rear badges with no issues. I used a credit card and white spirits. It came up perfect with no marks or ghosting, after some rubbing. There were two tiny holes on the right hand side as you advised.

Right - the bonnet badge. Does this leave a tiny hole or a large one?

Also can the plastic rear window be removed and replaced with glass? Or do you have to buy an all new hood. My hood is pretty new apparently, so that might be wasteful. I ask as there is a tiny area of plastic with a bit of surface "wobble" to it. I like things just so biggrin