Lockdown Purchase - NC MX-5 Sport
Discussion
Evening all!
In August last year, I drove my good friend and fellow PH’er Jimmy Recard’s, NC MX-5 Sport on track at Cadwell Park. One of those fantastic days where the weather is perfect and despite running out of talent and nearly binning the poor car on the day, I planted the seed that, should he ever wish to part with it, I’d happily take it off his hands.
So, one drunken zoom call in April, Iain finally relented and the car was mine, on the basis it would be made into a track car. A week or two passed before Boris’ band of bandits allowed free travel for me to drive from Newcastle to Bridgnorth to collect it and following some lovely fish and chips, I made my way back North.
This will be my first foray into both RWD and my own track car - I drive a Mini Cooper SD as a daily - so this will be a running journal of my plans for the car as I get it ready for track in the new month or two.
Since purchase, I’ve replaced the PCV valve to cure a known drinking habit that’s worse than my own, and completed a hood and headlight restoration via YouTube assistance along with new plates and yesterday, new wheels, as I’m not a huge fan of the 16 inch Enkei wheels, which I feel date they car a little.
Overall mega impressed with what can be bought for less than shed money these days!
In August last year, I drove my good friend and fellow PH’er Jimmy Recard’s, NC MX-5 Sport on track at Cadwell Park. One of those fantastic days where the weather is perfect and despite running out of talent and nearly binning the poor car on the day, I planted the seed that, should he ever wish to part with it, I’d happily take it off his hands.
So, one drunken zoom call in April, Iain finally relented and the car was mine, on the basis it would be made into a track car. A week or two passed before Boris’ band of bandits allowed free travel for me to drive from Newcastle to Bridgnorth to collect it and following some lovely fish and chips, I made my way back North.
This will be my first foray into both RWD and my own track car - I drive a Mini Cooper SD as a daily - so this will be a running journal of my plans for the car as I get it ready for track in the new month or two.
Since purchase, I’ve replaced the PCV valve to cure a known drinking habit that’s worse than my own, and completed a hood and headlight restoration via YouTube assistance along with new plates and yesterday, new wheels, as I’m not a huge fan of the 16 inch Enkei wheels, which I feel date they car a little.
Overall mega impressed with what can be bought for less than shed money these days!
Edited by Geordietom on Wednesday 10th June 20:35
Jealous! NCs are great fun and even though everyone thinks they don't look great, I find that they look really good once you make them look a bit more track ready (a la spec miata ). Would rather have one of these as a track car than an earlier mx5 as they seem erm more solid (I own a mk2.5 but almost bought one of these.)
What's the plan for the track mods? Roll bar + chassis work and some engine work? Very tempted to get one of these myself and do the same!
What's the plan for the track mods? Roll bar + chassis work and some engine work? Very tempted to get one of these myself and do the same!
Have a look at the kit available for the MX5 SuperCup series (dampers, exhaust manifold roll cage etc).
Paul Sheard Motorsport near Stoke do roll cages for the Mk3 and they will fit below a fibreglass hard top but not the electrically powered retractable one. Not sure about the soft top but worth asking the question.
You probably know this, but the NC MX5 engine is basically the same as a Ford Duratec so lots of tuning options available. Paul Roddison near Sheffield does a re-map which gives about 185 bhp I think.
Check the oil levels regularly. The engine has a shallow sump and it is known to cause issues on track days quite quickly if the oil level is even slightly low.
Paul Sheard Motorsport near Stoke do roll cages for the Mk3 and they will fit below a fibreglass hard top but not the electrically powered retractable one. Not sure about the soft top but worth asking the question.
You probably know this, but the NC MX5 engine is basically the same as a Ford Duratec so lots of tuning options available. Paul Roddison near Sheffield does a re-map which gives about 185 bhp I think.
Check the oil levels regularly. The engine has a shallow sump and it is known to cause issues on track days quite quickly if the oil level is even slightly low.
Thanks for the kind comments everyone. Suspension is on the agenda, toying between the Eibach lowering kit and Coilovers. I’d love to do a SuperCup kit but saving to do some racing in the 750MC Ma7da Championship with likeminded friends so that might be a stretch too far budget wise.
I have my first major modifications however, upgraded 17Inch alloys from the 25th anniversary model in black, think it totally transforms the look of the car, so very pleased.
Helpful tips on oil, it will be checked religiously!
I have my first major modifications however, upgraded 17Inch alloys from the 25th anniversary model in black, think it totally transforms the look of the car, so very pleased.
Helpful tips on oil, it will be checked religiously!
Great purchase! I've found mine better on track than my turbo Mk1, or my Boxster. They are strong, reliable (keep the oil on max!) and easily and cheaply modified.
Don't mess about with lowering springs, save up longer if needed and buy Meister R and have them setup and the geo done.
RX8 roll bars are a cheap easy and very worthwhile mod. After that, get an exhaust manifold - change the manifold before the backbox as that's where the power gains are and improved noise and response.
XSP_0956 by Javelin Trackdays, on Flickr
Don't mess about with lowering springs, save up longer if needed and buy Meister R and have them setup and the geo done.
RX8 roll bars are a cheap easy and very worthwhile mod. After that, get an exhaust manifold - change the manifold before the backbox as that's where the power gains are and improved noise and response.
XSP_0956 by Javelin Trackdays, on Flickrandy97 said:
Have a look at the kit available for the MX5 SuperCup series (dampers, exhaust manifold roll cage etc).
Paul Sheard Motorsport near Stoke do roll cages for the Mk3 and they will fit below a fibreglass hard top but not the electrically powered retractable one. Not sure about the soft top but worth asking the question.
You probably know this, but the NC MX5 engine is basically the same as a Ford Duratec so lots of tuning options available. Paul Roddison near Sheffield does a re-map which gives about 185 bhp I think.
Check the oil levels regularly. The engine has a shallow sump and it is known to cause issues on track days quite quickly if the oil level is even slightly low.
I bought a half cage from Paul Sheard. It won't fit with the soft top due to the way it folds. You can fit it with the OEM hard top though but you have to remove a couple of bits of plastic trim from the roof to get it to fit. Paul Sheard Motorsport near Stoke do roll cages for the Mk3 and they will fit below a fibreglass hard top but not the electrically powered retractable one. Not sure about the soft top but worth asking the question.
You probably know this, but the NC MX5 engine is basically the same as a Ford Duratec so lots of tuning options available. Paul Roddison near Sheffield does a re-map which gives about 185 bhp I think.
Check the oil levels regularly. The engine has a shallow sump and it is known to cause issues on track days quite quickly if the oil level is even slightly low.
In removing the existing (inadequte) roll hoops you lose the seat belt connection and this becomes a move to harnesses only along with bucket seats.
As this is a Sport then it has an occupancy sensor under the passenger seat which is difficult to trick (but there are ways of doing it, such search). You also need to fit resistors to fool the seat belt and airbag sensors.
They're under-rated cars and punch well above their weight on track with a nice setup. I had Ohlins coilovers on mine and the handling was superb.
I think you’ve confirmed that I best move the suspension to a winter job and do it properly. Whatever I do it’s needs to be adjustable so it’s still compliant on the road but decent enough on track, so I think I’ll have to invest in coilovers.
I’m dipping my toe into a Mazda engined Locost a friend owns, so it should be very entertaining - think I only weights 580kg dry!
The RX8 mod is another on the list.
This car is pretty good rust wise, very clean underneath and it’s had the inner silk and rear subframe welded previously. The rear arches are bubbling, but only because they weren’t done with the above work, so I’ll probably get that sorted over winter too.
I’d always shunned the NC a bit (my old man has an ND), but I’m really, really loving it so far.
I’m dipping my toe into a Mazda engined Locost a friend owns, so it should be very entertaining - think I only weights 580kg dry!
The RX8 mod is another on the list.
This car is pretty good rust wise, very clean underneath and it’s had the inner silk and rear subframe welded previously. The rear arches are bubbling, but only because they weren’t done with the above work, so I’ll probably get that sorted over winter too.
I’d always shunned the NC a bit (my old man has an ND), but I’m really, really loving it so far.
So, I think in my last post I mentioned that the rust wasn’t too bad with some bubbling on the arches. I’ve been thinkI got about my plans for the car and decided that, as having driven it over 1,500 miles, mechanically it is in good shape, I should probably address any rust now before I spend on any further modifications.
With that in mind it’s been for a full inspection today via a trusted body shop and the prognosis is that all 4 corners need some attention, the worst being the near side rear which will likely get major surgery.
It’s provisionally booked in next Tuesday which will probably give me enough time to get over how much the bill is going to be, even if it’s heavily discounted as a family friend.
From there, I think I’ll hopefully book a track day in the next 2-3 months, get my friends to have a go; as they are far more clues up than I, and make a little plan as to what it needs doing over winter to make it fun on track, but equally fun and useable on the road too!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/wfDZ3HoV.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/gXdLxSxu" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/gXdLxSxu.jpg)
With that in mind it’s been for a full inspection today via a trusted body shop and the prognosis is that all 4 corners need some attention, the worst being the near side rear which will likely get major surgery.
It’s provisionally booked in next Tuesday which will probably give me enough time to get over how much the bill is going to be, even if it’s heavily discounted as a family friend.
From there, I think I’ll hopefully book a track day in the next 2-3 months, get my friends to have a go; as they are far more clues up than I, and make a little plan as to what it needs doing over winter to make it fun on track, but equally fun and useable on the road too!
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