FM2 & hard tracking?
Author
Discussion

iguana

Original Poster:

7,293 posts

283 months

Monday 7th June 2010
quotequote all
Got a chance to move to an FM2 running the normal 250 ish level, got all the standalone & wideband, not had coolant re-route tho.

Is no oil cooler in the spec which I'd guess is an essential 1st buy tho, owner has never tracked it so didnt feel the need.

Is pretty much the best combination for tracking tho yes/no? is that what Herman runs?

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

221 months

Monday 7th June 2010
quotequote all
Hello, I run a very similar kit from Begi who used to make the FM2 kit. Tracking it I'd say you need a minimum of a higher volume rad and oil cooler. Great fun track car smile

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Monday 7th June 2010
quotequote all
wot 'e sed biggrin

I think I'd get it to a rolling road and get them to check it over, running it all the way through the rev range, especially at higher revs for knock and optimum AFR. At that level correct mapping is absolutely vital.

iguana

Original Poster:

7,293 posts

283 months

Monday 7th June 2010
quotequote all
Cheers fellas, is what I thought, will keep ya posted.

mk1salami

228 posts

211 months

Tuesday 8th June 2010
quotequote all
Coolant reroute, some sort of bigger radiator (KOYO, Mishimoto, Ron Davis), Oil cooler, 6 speed box - I say that because I ruined three 5 speed boxes with hard road use.

Brake ducts? Bigger brakes with better pads. Try carbotech XP8 / XP10 / XP12's

mk1salami

228 posts

211 months

Tuesday 8th June 2010
quotequote all
Oh also, I'll bet £10 the manifold studs will back out. I had the problem with my BEGI kit, which is essentially the same. I tried all sorts, including safety wire, anti vibe washers and never found a proper solution. If you head over to miataturbo.net there is talk of an Ikonel stud group buy which is *THE* cure, apparently.

Oh and also - some sort of aero package? The MX5 can really do with some downforce, so maybe look at canards, front splitters, rear wings etc.

And another thing, I'd be investing in a cheap water injection kit as a safety net. You really are beating down on your car at a track, and makes sense for a little investment (~£150-200)

Edited by mk1salami on Tuesday 8th June 10:10

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

221 months

Tuesday 8th June 2010
quotequote all
Sounds overkill to me for 250 region.
Although will give peace of mind.
I only ever ran a 37mm koyo rad and a 13row oil cooler for three years worth of track abuse running about 265bhp.

No gear box issues either on the 5 speed.

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Tuesday 8th June 14:12

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Tuesday 8th June 2010
quotequote all
I agree.
I'd be happy enough knowing it was properly mapped and with improved coolant/oil cooling.

OnlyMX5ives

1,142 posts

215 months

Tuesday 8th June 2010
quotequote all
FM2 will need a big rad for track use, I know a couple of guys who use std rads but they overheat after 15 mins.

Personally I'd run an oil cooler too (or at least an oil temp gauge)

TORQUE breaks boxes and they get borderline around 220lbft.

So a poorly tuned FM2 may not break them, a well tuned FM2 probably will especially with track use.

IF you have 240lbft and haven't broken a 5 speed after 2 years you are either very lucky or drive like a girl. wink

At £100 for a good used one its hardly a problem.

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

221 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
Not true in my experience regards gearboxes. Jon's cars was dyno'd last at 284bhp on a begi / fm2 kit and it's had no box issues either. Maybe if you don't miss gears or slam through the box flat shifting or doing standing starts then it's simply not an issue?

The Americans break them because they are always flat shifting and side stepping the clutch doing their beloved 1/4 miles.

piefacemate

592 posts

194 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
It's almost a moot point with the gearboxes too since there's not much you can replace them with. 6 speed MX5 units are a bit stronger but rare as hens teeth, and quaife units will set you back the equivilent of 10+ normal gearboxes!

Money better spent on a few training days to perfect your downshifts, and a slush fund for standard gearboxes if you do strip a few cogs!

OnlyMX5ives

1,142 posts

215 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
Herman Toothrot said:
Jon's cars was dyno'd last at 284bhp
TORQUE

TORQUE

TORQUE

Some Tractors only have 150bhp but they will snap any MX5 part you care to mention.


Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

221 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
I what you don't think a 285bhp turbo has much torque?

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
Herman Toothrot said:
I what you don't think a 285bhp turbo has much torque?
I'd guess at around 250-260lb/ft - That's probably getting pretty close to the limit for torque on a stock engine anyway.

OnlyMX5ives

1,142 posts

215 months

Wednesday 9th June 2010
quotequote all
Herman Toothrot said:
I what you don't think a 285bhp turbo has much torque?
????

I have no idea as you haven't mentioned it.

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

221 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
OnlyMX5ives said:
Herman Toothrot said:
I what you don't think a 285bhp turbo has much torque?
????

I have no idea as you haven't mentioned it.
I'm baffled, your a trader with a good reputation (indeed I've sent you customers for chargers) I shouldn't need to explain.

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

221 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
Herman Toothrot said:
I what you don't think a 285bhp turbo has much torque?
I'd guess at around 250-260lb/ft - That's probably getting pretty close to the limit for torque on a stock engine anyway.
Yes, in the ball park, think high 240lbs given by the GT28 turbo. It is indeed at the limit of the stock engine and that was found out, he's now rebuilding an engine - no catastrophic failure but a day at the track and the rings are shot, too much blow by. Gear box was fine though.

I think too many people take what the Americans say as gospel. They use the cars differently - i.e 1/4 miles, thats so punishing for boxes and diffs. You don't stress them anywhere near as hard on a track.

I don't do standing starts or flat changes in my car but other wise I drive it hard on track its got over 220lbs torque and zero issues. Indeed I'm confident enough that I'll be putting about 270lbs through it soon.

Differnet types of boost also give differnt results and abilities as i'm sure you read up on before turning up the wick smile You charger boys can get away with more bhp than the turbo chaps on stock engines, nice linear power delivery.

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Thursday 10th June 00:21

mgrays

189 posts

213 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
Aye .. big rad and big brakes .. and expect the odd gearbox if you are hard on them.

Stock 1.8 brakes are OK but not great

Turbo studs is an issue.. I bought a gearbox downpipe brace from FM last time I was over which is reputed to help.. you can feel the vibration on the turbo as you rev it. Keep an eye on it for each track day and it will be fine and get prevailing torque nuts (or do the shade tree trick like me and crimp the nut a little in a vice)

Oh and you hit a brick wall from the bad aero at about 70mph.. the stock Elise's hit it at 60mph.

(mgrays aka Quithel with first FM2 in UK?.. maybe even Europe; done a hand full of track days but then I am SB no BBB.. must dig car out for summer!)

piefacemate

592 posts

194 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
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On the subject of bad aerodynamcs, Why is the car so poor? Are there any ways o improving the aerodynamics for a sensible price?

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
piefacemate said:
On the subject of bad aerodynamcs, Why is the car so poor? Are there any ways o improving the aerodynamics for a sensible price?
Leave the top up! But that would be boring - especially on track!