MrStevo

Hi there,

I'm not sure if there are any guys on here from South Africa, If not say hello to newbie number 1!!

A bit about me. Well I'm 17 yeah, going to be studying mechanical engineering next year then do an mba. My dream is to be working in the automotive industry, motorsports would be even better. I am busy trying to get in through Toyota here, have a huge production plant here, however I want to be working on cars, not what makes them...anyway

So here I am, name is David (dont let the username confuse you) I have been searching around for the last year or 2 for a nice turbo mx5, after looking into many cars I found I just couldn't come around to owning one of them. I can't stand poor quality and lack of love in a car so I decided to buy a stock mx5 and hopefully do some work on it! It is a lovely 1995 NA 1.6 in red, completely stock besides the rims. I have owned it for a few months now and really it is amazing. One of the best mx5's iv been in.

I have been searching around this forum for many months, each day I'm here. Put up some fairly useless posts about cars I've looked at but I came down to earth...

Now I find myself falling for the white NB FLs out there, theres just something about them that I cant resist. However I'm sticking with my current car for now.

So my goals. I love the idea of a sleeper, understated and kicking boy racer asses when they try show off is just so appealing to me. So for that the car wont be changing much. Power wise I have been looking into a Voodoo II kit from FM, not sure on the costs to get it to South Africa though so I'm still saving the cash for that.

Here are some pics of my car, rims have changed because my brother got pushed off the road by a taxi when he was driving it, didn't even ask me if he could!! No body damage but the suspension cost over half the price of the car to fix!! Had the best guy around to fix it up, imported all new parts from Mazda japan, took long but was well worth it! Will be posting of the new rims shortly.











Hope to keep learning here and grow the mx5 fans here in SA. There arent that many but it is growing a lot in Durban where I live. Thanks to everyone for the amazing information up here, see you around! cheers

localtech

iTrader: (4)

Hello.

Your car looks very clean. I like it

Sean

iTrader: (12)

Your car is super clean. I can almost remember when mine was that clean years ago.lol The wheels look really good, and good luck turbocharging it. I personally would build my own kit and use a megasquirt and artech mani, but for easy installation and proven numbers any of the FM kits work great. They bolt on they work. You will want more after a while it is a sickness. Welcome to the forum.

Preluding

iTrader: (10)

wow, that is clean!

Apart from the alarm system horn in the engine bay, it looks completely stock and unmolested.

Beautiful example of a clean mx5

MrStevo

Thanks so much for the comments!! I have been a little confused as to what to do about the turbo, I want something I can just put there and not have to worry about for a good few years while I plan the next stage. The voodoo II isnt too hard to upgrade to the hydra so that is why I was thinking of that. I was also looking at getting the FM kit without electronics and getting a MSPNP. I just need something that will have the least problems due to the fact that I am going to be importing it all this way and this is my daily driver. But yes thats all for me to figure out with some good old research. Does anyone have an idea on the shipping prices outside USA for a kit? I know FM us UPS but there are some cheaper options, doesnt matter if it takes weeks

Sean

iTrader: (12)

If you buy the kit with no electronics and get a MSPNP you will be very very happy. The hydra is great but its not worth what is cost the MS is much more user freindly and works great plus there is a ton of people on here that can help you tune even from half way around the world. Voodoo II + MSPNP = easy reliable.

samwu8k

iTrader: (3)

damn rhd is the ****. good luck.

MrStevo

Ive noticed that the MSPNP is on sale at the moment with a good saving! always good news to know that you are getting quality for less. The FM turbo kit states that just the ECU and injectors are taken out. Is it safe to say that I would have 99% of the parts I need if I got the FM turbo kit, MSPNP, injectors and the IAT sensor kit?

Blindsay

+1!

ricers

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Have you seen the BEGi Shanghai kit? Get it without the RRFPR and add a Megasquirt, injectors, and a cheap intercooler and you can turn up the boost immediately.

Good luck.

MrStevo

I have seen the Shanghai kits, not too keen on the China turbo though, the rest of the kit looks nice but I need the best service I can being outside the country, I love BEGi products but I feel FM is better for my application. That said I could be completely wrong

MrStevo

Just emailed FM about the shipping price and RHD info, holding thumbs for a good shipping price

Sean

iTrader: (12)

Yea it would be a safe bet that you would be 90% there and injectors are easy to find.

MrStevo

so the shipping for the kit is about 1600 USD, which is a lot. total for the kit plus MSPnP with sensors and injectors all shipped to just over 6200 USD. That is without the miscellaneous things added so I'd say about 6500 USD. The hydra shipped plus miscellaneous comes to about 7000 USD. The fitting would be free as my mechanic and I would do it in spare time. A custom exhaust would be done, already have boxes and the DP in the kit so won't cost too much. I have a upgraded clutch already and wider tires, brakes are healthy. Replaced the radiator when I got the car so cooling should be fine, has never been an issue anyway. Is my maths way off here? Would the hydra be worth the extra 500-1000 USD for its performance and reliability? any comments will be greatly appreciated here. btw the car has >75000 miles on the clock, should be fine right?

MrStevo

and does anyone have any idea on what the shipped weight of the hydra kit would be? and the size? trying to see how cheap I can get the shipping through a friend. Will email FM otherwise for this info

Pen2_the_penguin

iTrader: (4)

Dont refuse a chinacharger so quick, they can be really good. Hydra is a good ECU, but if your worried about price, go Megasquirt.

matthewdesigns

iTrader: (8)

Clean car for sure. Welcome.

The shipping quote sounds too high to me. I use to be the shipper for a local shop and at one point I shipped an EvoVIII transfer case and rear diff to Israel by Fedex, the box weighed about 100lbs, was about 24"x24"x20", and it cost about $600. I know S. Africa is a lot farther away, but $1600 sounds ridiculous. Based on my shipping experience, US Postal Service tends to be cheaper for int'l shipping than UPS/Fedex up to a certain size, so if you have a friend in the States maybe he could break a kit into smaller packages and get it to you cheaper.

MrStevo

Thanks for the info. I was expecting just over 1000 USD for shipping. Time is not a problem for me, I'm not sure if FM would do special shipment for me though, I will ask though because at that price it would be inside my budget. I think I am set on the hydra. I know a cast manifold isn't the best and some of these parts are expensive but I want the safest and most reliable kit. They have a boost rating of 12psi for the 1.6 kit with an estimated rwhp of 235, I would have it turned down slightly to about 180 if those estimates are correct, get used to the car a little as it is my first turbo then turn it up and see where I land up. It is a DD so max power isn't a must, I just want a top quality and safe fast car.

John W

Hi David

The MX5 net spreads wide and far. There is a MX5 owners interest group in Durban with the aim of finding out if there is sufficient interest to form a club with possible affiliation to the Mazda Owners Club of South Africa. I have sent you a private message with further details however if you do not get it please contact me through this forum.
Any MX5 owners from the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa who might read this message are also asked to please contact me through this forum or alternatively look us up on Facebook.

MrStevo

Hi John,

I have a few people who will be interested, when I get the PM I will forward it to them. Thanks for the info and welcome to the forum