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wesimmo

wesimmo

wesimmo

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Joined
19 Mar 2012
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So I bought an MX5, Mk2.5 Sport so it comes with a slip diff and Bilstein suspension and I absolutely love it.

However the intention was always to start upgrading bits and bobs for the track.

First up is an Exedy stage 1 clutch as the one on it is slipping so that arrived today and is getting fitted by my mates RAC approved garage.

I've bought myself a Haynes manual to learn a bit more about doing other stuff to it such as brakes and a new radiator which look fairly straightforward.

However due to being offered a very good deal on another few parts I've pulled the trigger and ordered something silly. Am I being stupid to even think about installing them myself? My optimistic self says it's just a case of taking my time and following instructions, a bit like when I decided to build my first PC.

This is what is on its way from America...... http://store.kraftwerksusa.com/supercharger-systems/sport-compact/kraftwerks-miata-1088.html
 
If you've never really worked on a car before and would be doing it totally alone then no.

Not because you won't be able to follow the instructions and strip off the right bits / put them back together again (as this is simple, like you say) - more because when you run into issues like snapped bolts / hard to remove bits and pieces in the engine bay you absolutely have to treat it the right way or you'll make an aboslutel world of pain for yourself down the line.


If you have someone who is reasonably capable that can help then go for it though. I'm no mechanical genius but I can remove / replace a turbo easily enough. New install shouldn't be that different
 
I've got a mate across the road who does a lot of work on his cars, replacing hubs and the such like and my 2 mates who own a garage who could offer hints and perhaps lend some tools if required.

If the worst came to the worst their garage is only 3 miles away.

I'm just really interested in learning something new, I managed to download the instruction manual for the old version of the kit which didn't have an intercooler and it looked well documented.

I did replace the air box on my old ITR which was a bumper off job to get the CAI down into the wheel arch.

The main concern is the uprated fuel pump which scares me just because of petrol being involved!

Are there any tools I should start collecting up before it arrives that I can't get hold off quickly should I need them. I've got a couple of half decent socket sets and that sort of stuff.

A heat gun is one thing that I'll need to source for doing the electrics for example.
 
Give it a go, seems you have plenty of mates to call upon if you get stuck.

Just take it slowly, make sure you keep notes of any bolts & parts you remove and enjoy learning.
 
I think the most important thing is knowing when to stop and ask for help, as rodenal eluded to - you can make things worse by tackling something tricky the wrong way.
 
Wow, to be honest I was expecting a lot of "Don't do it" and "Just buy a faster car" type comments, so thanks for the support, guess I'm going to have to give it a go now then.

Even if I do all the stripping back and easier bits and then get stuck I'll save a few hours labour costs and I can get them to finish off the fiddly technical bits.

But yes I'll be careful, documenting it all in detail with photos which can only help as I'm acting as a reference for the kit as part of the deal to supply it at the price I got it.
 
It's probably not the ideal first project but if you genuinely want to learn just take your time and as said know when to stop and ask for help. You're lucky as any conceivable problem you'll encounter on an MX5 will be documented somewhere online.

Don't worry about the fuel pump either they're usually pretty easy, just do it in a well ventilated area!
 
Meh,5 years ago I couldn't change a brake pad.

Last year I changed the timing belt on an LS430, changed a starter motor which included the V8 manifold to come off. Various suspension work. Bumpers off etc etc. I can do the majority of work now.

I learnt how to do everything myself on my own and my tool kit has gone from this:

CRESCENT_CTK148_MPW.jpg


To this

unnamed.jpg
 
Wow! I'm not sure I'd get away with that "tool kit".

Is it worth buying a few specialist bits now by mail order or will I just get away with nipping to Halfords around the corner as and when I need bits?

I'm guessing some sort of torque wrench or similar is going to be useful if a get at all semi serious about this?

Part of the reason I want to learn is that I've been on track days where people I've been with have had to give up when little bits went wrong but then others when I went with a guy who was a mechanic and he quickly did a few bits and bobs to rescue his day after bits gave up.
 
I'm pretty lazy, so a lot of my tools are to cut time as short as possible.

The best thing I have ever purchased is my 1/4 battery impact Makita.
 
Dont do it, buy a faster car,,,,,

1. Make sure the brakes can handle the extra power
2. Its not just bolting on the supercharger, its setting up the fueling as well as a host of other things

good luck and go for it
 
Lol.

This model comes with bigger brakes than the standard models so I'll be fitting new pads at the very least. Probably ASAP so I can get them bedded in at the same time as the clutch.

I'll also be making sure the suspension is all 100% and investing in new tyres.

I'd planned to do the engine work next year but I got such a good offer to buy the kit as the first person to buy it from this company in the UK that I had to go for it.

As for fuelling. It comes with all the parts to flow more fuel and a bit of kit to splice in to the loom to adjust the fuel and I think relocate the MAF sensors.

Once funds allow i might look at a full ECU solution but all reports are that provided bits will do the job for the level of power I'm looking at, about 190 at the wheels.
 
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Make sure the chassis rails near the engine are free from rust before sinking this much money into it - this is the most common cause for writing off mk2 MX5s and it's difficult to spot. Do some googling for photos and horror stories!

If they're okay I say go for it, it sounds like you've got plenty of support available if you get stuck. Take plenty of photos!
 
They SHOULD be ok as I read about that before buying and I got it in writing that the supplying garage would inspect the sills and rails and repair as necessary.

While my mate has got it up on the ramp to do the clutch I'll get him to check them and if they're not ok then it'll be back to get them fixed and delay the project.

I always knew I'd end up modifying it so I was less concerned about consumables, I just wanted a rust free shell as a basis.
 
Wow nice project.

I thought i was amazing when i managed to change my spark plugs in my car :P

Something like that though... Wow i couldn't attempt it. Unless it was on a car i didn't need to use daily.
 
Vigoro said:
You might want to budget for some proper management if you are putting in that kit you linked.
Click to expand...

They claim the Supercard they provide is all you need, it was one of my concerns as I'm aware of the cost of aftermarket ECUs and mapping. We'll see how it goes...plenty of these engines about for not much I guess.....

@Diagro, one of the reasons I chose this kit and decided to try and do it myself is that most of it is just taking a few bits off and replacing them with others....I hope.

I did a load of reading about FI on these and though the block is designed for a turbo anyway so it has oil feeds for the turbo already, on that you'd have to drill oil returns from the turbo which started getting complicated. With this the oil system is self contained and you just bolt it all into the engine bay.

It seems if you're going to go FI on a non FI car, this route is probably the easiest way for a beginner.

If it all goes wrong it's not going to kill me financially either, I can get a 10 minute bus ride to work and we've lived with 1 car for a year before I got this project so he who dares might win. ;)
 
wesimmo said:
They claim the Supercard they provide is all you need, it was one of my concerns as I'm aware of the cost of aftermarket ECUs and mapping. We'll see how it goes...plenty of these engines about for not much I guess.....
Click to expand...

The card will make it work, but how well it makes it work is another thing. You need to at least have a wideband gauge fitted, so you can see what the AFR's are like from the supercard, as if it is sitting at 13 or higher in boost, it will be damaging your engine. Also, you won't be getting the best out of the supercharger, as you will be producing less torque.
 
I can't claim to do much with cars, but I tinker with a lot of things and the advice I'd give since you're learning a new set of skills is in line with the comments above of take it slow - make sure you have a way to put tools down, cover it up, and leave it.

The reason I say that is if you get yourself into a mess you can't resolve, you want to be able to just put the stops on it, and leave it until you can get advice from your mates. To that end, invest in a good full car cover, and get stuck in :).
 
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