MX5 Turbo Conversion

[T0MMY]

I know there's a few MX5 fans on here so I was meaning to do a proper build thread but couldn't be arsed in the end

Basically I've turbocharged my 20 year old 1.8 Eunos It's a pretty basic job with no intercooler, low boost and basic fuel and timing control with an HKS Fcon Mini piggyback but I'm going for reliability and cheapness rather than power. I haven't had it tested but I reckon it should be around 170bhp which isn't much but then it does only weigh a tonne. Speedwise, I've had opportunity to test it a couple of times under controlled conditions and it's a bit faster than an E46 330i or an Audi TT 225 but a bit slower than a 350Z

Whether it makes the car better or not is a difficult question. It improves the handling slightly and it does mean you can overtake more easily on the road and on trackdays but it's introduced a load of complexity and potential unreliability which you don't get with a standard car. Overall I'd say as a road car it's better, as a trackcar it might be better to leave it standard and just avoid fast tracks.

Anyway, speaking of fast tracks, here's a vid from its first track outing at Bedford Autodrome on Saturday:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR01m31UZqY
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Irn-Bru]

Thought it was going to be about Mightycarmods, some Aussie lads on YouTube if you didn't know who turbo'd an MX5 as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUKgKtMXec8

Currently they are busy modifying it to make it more track ready in their latest videos
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[T0MMY]

[hmmmnz]

shame you guys didn't get the mazda familia over here,
they use the same engine but bolted east/west,
but come turbo'd so inevitably got crashed, plenty of smashed up ones in nz to steal the manifolds ect from and bolt straight to the mx5,
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[daverave999]

I love my MX-5 but I would like a bit more welly sometimes. Why they don't make them as standard with more power I'll never know... Nice videos!
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2007 Versys 650 2001 Yamaha XJ600S Diversion
HT: Imagine a bike......A bike designed by way of crude polls, assembled by cretins using the finest hammers that Lidl had on offer.

[T0MMY]

It's not so much the lack of power I dislike but the way the 1.8 engine delivers it. It's not sporty at all, you need to rev it to get the power out of it but it never feels like it wants to zip round to the redline. The 1.6 engine from the old Civic VTi would be far better...really loves being revved and doesn't feel harsh when you do it.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[lukamon]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[T0MMY]

I'm not a fan of the track at all, it's a real power track and few of the corners link together. Cadwell is much more suited to MX5s but Bedford was all I could book that weekend.

I swear when you're driving the car the wheel doesn't look so off centre It could do with a full alignment anyway but I thought I'd wait until I changed the suspension.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[mistergixer]

[garth]

Does it guzzle fuel like a mofo now?

[T0MMY]

[T0MMY]

Thought I'd update this rather than start a new thread. Just did a trackday at Cadwell with the turbo POWAH...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unkYpP5B72M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vIpvlLW8Rs

And had my first ever off track excursion...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMH6THPXfiI

The car might be up for sale shortly if anyone's interested. One careful owner, never been thrashed
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[damz]

Picked up a wee eunos with the plan of introducing forced induction. I'd likely go for a supercharger rather than a turbo as I prefer the instant feel of power rather than nothing...nothing....powaaaah.

Not planning for outright power as I have the rx7 FD for that, just want it to not be boring on long roads and able to make some progress with overtaking etc.

Did you have to fabricate anything in particular or was it all bought and bolted on?
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Current Bikes RVF400 - 94
Cars: RX7 FD, Eunos Roadster
Former Bikes: FZR 250R 89, ZX7R 98

[T0MMY]

To be honest with a little T25 turbo it boosts up from very low revs and doesn't feel flat at all. It really feels better than the factory installs of my 200SXs or Impreza in that regard! If you have a 1.6 I'd say go the turbo route for cheapness but if it's a 1.8 it's worth going supercharger just because it's so hard to find a decent 1.8 turbo manifold secondhand.

I didn't need to fabricate anything...I have an HKS downpipe and manifold and once you have those two bits the rest is just generic bolt on stuff.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[damz]

it's a 1.6 that I have now, won't be doing any mods until next summer as I am focussing on mods for the rx7 this summer.
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Current Bikes RVF400 - 94
Cars: RX7 FD, Eunos Roadster
Former Bikes: FZR 250R 89, ZX7R 98

[Robster]

If you blow it up you can buy mine off me and try again

Edit: Just saw the 'for sale' comment... oh well!

[damz]

How much did the turbo build cost overall?
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Current Bikes RVF400 - 94
Cars: RX7 FD, Eunos Roadster
Former Bikes: FZR 250R 89, ZX7R 98

[T0MMY]