Discussion
Delighted with the MX5 (both me and the better half -its hers really) but a few quick questions:
Its a UK 1.8 (1997) - I presume its mapped for 95octane, but it certainly seems to pull harder when running on Optimax, especially around 3500-4000rpm. Is it my imagination or do others find this to be the case? Would it be worth dropping in some Millers CVL once in a while? Would a change of plugs make much difference to the running? The plugs seem clean with no deposits.
In terms of a cat-back exhaust, is there one which is clearly the best? If not, what would be a good one to go for?
I fancy getting a a half roll cage for behind the seats - who stocks this and how much does it cost?
Can I get a strut brace (off the shelf) for the rear?
Many thanks in advance
Its a UK 1.8 (1997) - I presume its mapped for 95octane, but it certainly seems to pull harder when running on Optimax, especially around 3500-4000rpm. Is it my imagination or do others find this to be the case? Would it be worth dropping in some Millers CVL once in a while? Would a change of plugs make much difference to the running? The plugs seem clean with no deposits.
In terms of a cat-back exhaust, is there one which is clearly the best? If not, what would be a good one to go for?
I fancy getting a a half roll cage for behind the seats - who stocks this and how much does it cost?
Can I get a strut brace (off the shelf) for the rear?
Many thanks in advance
Exhausts:
Racing Beat
Flyin Miata
Borla
Roll Bars:
Hard dog (cost from £300, but will be about £500 with fitting)
You can get a strut brace for the rear, but you would be better off just having the roll bar as it bolts into the rear chassis.
All of the above can be supplied by:
www.performance5.com
www.rotechniks.co.uk
www.flyinmiata.com
www.racingbeat.com
Racing Beat
Flyin Miata
Borla
Roll Bars:
Hard dog (cost from £300, but will be about £500 with fitting)
You can get a strut brace for the rear, but you would be better off just having the roll bar as it bolts into the rear chassis.
All of the above can be supplied by:
www.performance5.com
www.rotechniks.co.uk
www.flyinmiata.com
www.racingbeat.com
A 1997 will I presume be a MK1. So the engine timing can be set manually. As standard it's set to 10deg but it can be advanced to 14deg on standard 95ron UL. Using 97ron super should only have a very minor effect to performance.
On my 97 had a Harddog deuce fitted by performance5 and the flyin miata anti roll bars to reduce the body roll.
On my 97 had a Harddog deuce fitted by performance5 and the flyin miata anti roll bars to reduce the body roll.
Optimax or similar, certainly won't do any harm. May be worth re-setting ecu just prior to a re-fill, it may advance the timing a notch or two.
With regard to Millars CVL. Possibly worth trying a flask or two, I use it on a turbo engine & mostly for spirited drives/trackdays etc when the weather is hot, tiny but noticable mid-range performance gain, but mainly use it because (esp in hot weather) I get much safer knock/pre-det readings.
With the plugs, if they look healthy enough, they probably are- apply the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' rule of thumb,imo.
Enjoy! MX5 is a great little B-roader
With regard to Millars CVL. Possibly worth trying a flask or two, I use it on a turbo engine & mostly for spirited drives/trackdays etc when the weather is hot, tiny but noticable mid-range performance gain, but mainly use it because (esp in hot weather) I get much safer knock/pre-det readings.
With the plugs, if they look healthy enough, they probably are- apply the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' rule of thumb,imo.
Enjoy! MX5 is a great little B-roader
tuttle said:
Optimax or similar, certainly won't do any harm. May be worth re-setting ecu just prior to a re-fill, it may advance the timing a notch or two.
With regard to Millars CVL. Possibly worth trying a flask or two, I use it on a turbo engine & mostly for spirited drives/trackdays etc when the weather is hot, tiny but noticable mid-range performance gain, but mainly use it because (esp in hot weather) I get much safer knock/pre-det readings.
With the plugs, if they look healthy enough, they probably are- apply the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' rule of thumb,imo.
Enjoy! MX5 is a great little B-roader
Thanks for all the replies guys,
Is the ECU re-set done by disconnecting the battery and leaving it for a while?
I think a roll cage bolting onto the strut tops is the way to go and maybe an exhaust will follow but an induction kit might be better (noise under acceleration but not so noisy when cruising)
tuttle said:
[quote=tuscan_thunderIs the ECU re-set done by disconnecting the battery and leaving it for a while?
Usually. IIRC you can also disconnect battery & with key at on position pump brake peddle a few times, to discharge any capacitance in the system.[/quote]
*cough* You can reset the ECU as much as you like it still wont change anything.... As I said above the 1.8 in the MK1 has manually set timing which is done by adjusting the Cam Angle Sensor (iirc). And it does not have a knock sensor.
los angeles said:
It is designed for US gas and the cheapest UK petrol doesn't meet the equivalent specifications. A roll cage will offer little if any crash protection but it will add unwanted weight to the car blunting performance. I'd recommend a Jackson Racing Stainless Steel Exhaust - wide bore for better breathing. It has a great burble even on idle.
I thought US gas was even worse than the UK stuff? Jap being the best... Willing to be proved wrong though.
los angeles said:
A roll cage will offer little if any crash protection but it will add unwanted weight to the car blunting performance.
Is that why Spec Miatas and Max5 cars have roll cages?
Having seen in first person what happens when a 5 rolls I would never trust the windscreen to hold the weight of the car.
Re the exhaust, if it is still on it's original (unlikely at that age) you will need to fit a new cat (mid section) or have the original mid section butchered as the original exhaust goes from the manifold to the back box (ie includes cat and centre section silencer but not back box) an expensive lesson to learn (he says crying into pint)
other than that, the replacements are easy to come by.
Greg
other than that, the replacements are easy to come by.
Greg
los angeles said:
It's a benign roadster.
www.danotech.com/miata/rolled.html
All it takes is curb clipped in the wrong way.
I agree with you though, "style bars" are often mis-sold as giving protection.
steve_evil said:
It is designed for US gas and the cheapest UK petrol doesn't meet the equivalent specifications. A roll cage will offer little if any crash protection but it will add unwanted weight to the car blunting performance. I'd recommend a Jackson Racing Stainless Steel Exhaust - wide bore for better breathing. It has a great burble even on idle.
I thought US gas was even worse than the UK stuff? Jap being the best... Willing to be proved wrong though.
Yes it is. LA is right our stuff doesn't meet the specification, it exceeds it. It's just worded interestingly. Not to mention that you get short changed with a US gallon
los angeles said:
A roll cage will offer little if any crash protection
further to Ben's post.. In the case below, I'd definately be glad I had that "little if any crash protection"!!
notice how the bar doesn't even look bent, when the screen has been completely flattened!!
>> Edited by Pierscoe1 on Monday 20th March 22:01
As per the ROLL BAR (not style bar) I recommended first off in the thread the Blue Mk2 in Piers' post has a Hard Dog M2 Sport Bar with double diagonals.
It bolts into the chassis at six points (it requires cutting of the rear deck).
Fitting and product instructions can be found here: www.bethania-garage.com
The crash that Piers posted occured on a Californian highway, on an increasing radius bend that caught the driver out, he clipped the verge and flipped. He walked away with no injurys.
LA, I can't belive you have never heard of Hard dog bars, they are a well known and respected U.S. produced miata product. The Hardcore bar is approved by the SCCA for SoloI racing.
As mentioned above in my initial post they are available direct from Bethania or Flyin Miata in the U.S. In the UK P5 and Rotechniks supply them.
It bolts into the chassis at six points (it requires cutting of the rear deck).
Fitting and product instructions can be found here: www.bethania-garage.com
The crash that Piers posted occured on a Californian highway, on an increasing radius bend that caught the driver out, he clipped the verge and flipped. He walked away with no injurys.
LA, I can't belive you have never heard of Hard dog bars, they are a well known and respected U.S. produced miata product. The Hardcore bar is approved by the SCCA for SoloI racing.
As mentioned above in my initial post they are available direct from Bethania or Flyin Miata in the U.S. In the UK P5 and Rotechniks supply them.
munter said:
[quote=tuscan_thunderIs the ECU re-set done by disconnecting the battery and leaving it for a while?
*cough* You can reset the ECU as much as you like it still wont change anything.... As I said above the 1.8 in the MK1 has manually set timing which is done by adjusting the Cam Angle Sensor (iirc). And it does not have a knock sensor.
Appologies,I was applying 'generic motoring experience'. I am mildly surprised that something produced as late as '97 doesn't have any active knock sensor/retarder, octane sensor etc.
tuttle said:
[quote=tuscan_thunderIs the ECU re-set done by disconnecting the battery and leaving it for a while?
*cough* You can reset the ECU as much as you like it still wont change anything.... As I said above the 1.8 in the MK1 has manually set timing which is done by adjusting the Cam Angle Sensor (iirc). And it does not have a knock sensor.
Appologies,I was applying 'generic motoring experience'. I am mildly surprised that something produced as late as '97 doesn't have any active knock sensor/retarder, octane sensor etc.
It was a bit of a surprise to me as well. But the basic engine design comes from the 80's Mazda 323 and Mazda were strapped for cash in the early 90's when they put together the 1.8 mx5. That said, what the engine looses on technology it win's on reliability! Knock sensors were introduced on the Mk2 in 98.
benjc said:
LA, I can't belive you have never heard of Hard dog bars,
exactly.. when you said "vast majority of rollbars" I thought you'd be talking about the HardDog ones, as they seem to be the singular most popular rollbars for MX5's.. certainly in this country (and they're american, so I can only suppose they're very popular in the US too).
Also, I think (and plenty of other do too) that the M2 Sport Bar actually looks really good.. obviously that's subjective, but then if you're that concerned about how it looks, maybe driving slower with a "style-bar" would suffice
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