Top 10 Best CHEAP MX-5 Miata Engine Mods!

[@Bbeavis]

Need help with your MX-5 Miata, I have a heap of technical guides here: kzbin.info/aero/PLongVur9FFho3xHKJjbWPyYBQK0N9ADO5

[@santiagocolt2574]

instaBlaster.

[@yowie0889]

No mention of "painting things red" or "adding stickers"? Disappointing.

[@Bbeavis]

I like to keep my performance suggestions to be real world actual power/speed gains, not "stance" performance. :-P

[@ohboyotero]

@@Bbeavis Everybody knows a Type R sticker is worth at least 10 hp.

[@Bbeavis]

@@ohboyotero But I thought that only works for Hondas!

[@jonathangozzo3737]

BEAVIS Motorsport a sticker on any car adds at least 10 horsepower.

[@hairyviking6047]

Hey hey hey, steady on there mate! We're not getting into advanced tuning here.

[@TheCarPassionChannel]

It might not add much in terms of power but I've always loved having a super light flywheel. On an n/a 1.8L you can hook up a 1.6L Fidanza flywheel and unprung organic clutch, total weight is around 16lbs including the clutch, compared to 32lbs+ for stock 1.8 gear. Revs are so much faster, shift speed easily cut in half and easier on the synchros with the lightweight disc.

[@Bbeavis]

I remember reading an article a few years ago that actually calculated the true power gains from lighter clutch/flywheel components. So, it's not just about being more 'revvy', there genuinely is a power benefit. I agree though, all my cars get a lighter flywheel whenever I do a clutch change. Can get pricey, around here a clutch and flywheel set is ~$1000 Thanks for watching Greg, and congrats on the recent 100k milestone.

[@billy6690]

What's goin' on Greg, it's your sub... Oh umm... Really love your channel!

[@raulcanalesvelazquez1170]

Is there any benefit of goinh 1.8 flywheel on a 1.6? Wondering as I have to change mine soon on my 1.6 M45 na soon and I know the previous owner installed the clutch with a 1.8 flywheel.

[@TheCarPassionChannel]

@@raulcanalesvelazquez1170 The only real benefit is that the 1.8L clutches hold more torque because of the larger diameter. If you get the Flyin' Miata Happy Meal thay actually only offer it in 1.8L sizing

[@susi33bjj]

Why unsprung?

[@sync232]

My mod is to lose some of my own body weight. Imagine the gains!

[@Bbeavis]

Haha, I endorse your chosen mod! Stay healthy :-)

[@Bbeavis]

Gotta make the mods achievable for everybody lol.

[@pelayorico]

+1

[@just-dl]

I applaud this. Dropped (in stages) from a career-high 245 to an adulthood low of 185 this week. Still got a spare tire to get rid of.

[@bakerXderek]

Getting a 92 supercharged Miata soon and can't wait. This car's a dream.

[@Bbeavis]

Awesome, hope it serves you well! :-)

[@williamzhang8397]

supercharged？

[@SilviaLover2012]

@@williamzhang8397 jackson supercharged miata from factory

[@Adam.Piper62]

As an mx5 mk1 owner, I can really appreciate this video. To me the MX5 was never about stupid levels of power, so those that engine swap or supercharge ruin the character it you ask me, but your improvements are great. There subtle, don't have any negative effects and can give you that nicer exhaust note and even restore the engine to as sweet as it was 20+years ago. Great video.

[@Bbeavis]

Thank you for the kind words Eclipse. Even an MX-5 with standard power is awesome. These tips wont suddenly make it a power monster, but adding up to say 30hp they do add to the driving experience, it's not until you are in the realm of adding say 50hp+ that the car start to feel different.

[@Alstrak]

Not exactly an engine mod but the legend says, that if you turn the headlights off in a race, you will unlock the car's true potential and still lose. Note: Only works on the NA Miata

[@Bbeavis]

Flawless logic. Press A/C button for a turbo like boost of power also.

[@benekGC]

You must be Fujiwara to win this way

[@shehzad5922]

Try to do a gutter run .

[@Soggy_Toasts]

FOREVERRRRR

[@rxivild]

@@Soggy_Toasts TOGETHEERRRR

[@rhiantaylor3446]

At least in the UK, the cool intake mod is normally assumed to go together with timing advance - to avoid pre-ignition of course.

[@Bbeavis]

Good point. And certainly the weather in the UK is generally pretty cold anyway, so the risk of pre-ignition isn't as great as some other locations around the world.

[@mousse34]

@@Bbeavis Prejudice !!🌧🤣🤣

[@BrettHart27]

@@Bbeavis When I look at my NA8 engine and bay I wonder why Mazda routed the air filter plumbing to the exhaust side. There must be sound reasons. Can a small air filter be fitted directly to the throttle body?

[@Bbeavis]

@@BrettHart27 There is theories around the length and size/diameter of the intake system having impacts on power/torque curves. I think the simplified logic is that a very short intake such as a filter directly attached to the throttle body, would result in less torque, or dips in the torque curve, but possibly a more "revvy" engine.

[@Thee_Sinner]

Imma just stop the video at 0:04, thanks for the pick-me-up

[@Bbeavis]

LOL

[@mr.adventure559]

A standalone ECU with tuning is very popular and really does make a difference. Swapping to the exhintake or the MSM intake cam on the NB engine head with an ECU upgrade is also good. ITB's with tuning and other engine mods are also done (not very often though).

[@Bbeavis]

I totally agree, an ECU is great for opening up an engine's capabilities. However usually an ECU isn't something I'd suggest as cheap, because the cost of the unit is relatively high, and then the cost of tuning can be $500-$1000. There are some very cost effective ECUs for the miata MX5 nowadays, and if you know someone who can tune a car for free/cheap, then it's a great option. I'm just hesitant of suggesting "cheap" tunes because it can very quickly break a motor if people don't know what they are doing. Exhintake is also a good tip I hadn't considered, thanks for the idea! I've often found ITB's add a great sound, but unless the installer knows what they are doing they don't get the full potential out of them.

[@mr.butterworth]

ITB’s are not a cheap modification either, in fact they’re among the more expensive naturally aspirated solutions. Plus the intake noise they make is entertaining, but very loud, which effects the civility of a street car.

[@HavocJr-gb5kx]

Thank you so much!!! I’m planning to get this car for my first, I’m 18 now so imma go after it. This video is exactly what I need cuz I’m definitely gonna modify it the tuner way.

[@Bbeavis]

Thank you Havoc, good luck with your future car experiments, keep it safe and please don't go all stance and wreck your miata/mx5's perfect handling!

[@HavocJr-gb5kx]

@@Bbeavis 😂😂 I wouldn't dream of stancing a miata since it's already low enough. I'll jus get some good coilovers and adjust to a ride height that would agree w both me and the pavement

[@heidi_homsestol2728]

@@HavocJr-gb5kx don’t know if u wil answer, but did u get it? What mods have u done?and how are u doing? Hahah give me a update if u are willing

[@alexmessina3383]

Great review. Takes a huge amount of guesswork and trial end error (especially error) out squeezing HP out of the 1.6. Personally, I love the willing 1.6 and it just craves to rev out and live about 4.5K RPM. Thanks for this!

[@Bbeavis]

The 1.6's are still great fun to drive, I love to re the guts out of mine. It's not 'fast', but it is fun.

[@martinmiazga2025]

Throw a 1.8 in there with the biggest turbo you can find. Strip the interior and get rid of unnecessary weight. And now since miatas have no down force, you have yourself a plane.

[@Bbeavis]

So many kids these days think that they can go that route (silly big turbo power on the cheap), but then do a shitty job and either break things like a rod out the block, or end up in a ditch.

[@martinmiazga2025]

@@Bbeavis yeah a lot of people also think a 1.8 can handle more boost than a 1.6 which isn't true. And then they snap a rod

[@wholelottamiata6976]

If you do all of these minus boost you’ll have spent $2000 and gained 15hp 😂

[@Bbeavis]

Exactly, but that's 15hp on a small car that only had 15hp from factory haha

[@wholelottamiata6976]

BEAVIS Motorsport you will barely inch on a stock miata. Also you won’t really capitalize on bolt ons much without an ecu

[@wholelottamiata6976]

BEAVIS Motorsport also I will say these are still some of the best lower cost engine mods you can do for the miata. They just won’t be very impressive like some people may expect which is kind of just the nature of the beast

[@barhoom-yh1hu]

15 gain on a miata is not a SMALL GAIN

[@oj8868]

Upgrading pretty much everything else before you stick on the obvious is usually good practice. Sticking the biggest turbo you can find into the Miata you got off craigslist 15 minutes ago is not a good idea.

[@jacobpage3865]

Valve springs. Exhaust cam intake mod. Plug and play speedy ecu. All cheap and all will push more then these mods together. Will go amazing with all mods in video aswell as these mods ive added.

[@Bbeavis]

Usually an ECU isn't something I'd suggest as cheap, because the cost of the unit is relatively high, and then the cost of tuning can be $500-$1000. But, the speeduino's are very cost effective, and if you know someone who can tune a car for free/cheap, then it's a great option. I'm just hesitant of suggesting "cheap" tunes because it can very quickly break a motor if people don't know what they are doing.

[@joshuacraven6206]

@@Bbeavis I second this rebuttle. The cost/time/benefit ratio of an aftermarket ecu is rather low. 8/10 of the mods in the video are require low skill/time/cost investments that don't jeopardize the reliability of the car.

[@Bbeavis]

@@joshuacraven6206 Thank you Joshua, that's a very eloquent way of putting it. Exactly the point.

[@petermad7476]

Already save the video when I buy my first Miata ❤️

[@Bbeavis]

Fantastic, good luck with your new/used miata search my friend!

[@petermad7476]

BEAVIS Motorsport used, but here on Puerto Rico are expensive af. Thank you sir

[@Shazzkid]

Cold air intake is good yet 99% of every installed cold air instake kit gets installed next to the exhaust 😂

[@Bbeavis]

Makes the car sound fast at least :P

[@mazdaman6634]

Mine is but I bought it used

[@stockND3]

And on a 1.6 you gotta get a ECU for anything lmao

[@martynwhite3811]

You forgot to mention "Add lightness" converting from PAS to a manual rack will save 8.4kg A/C removal even more. Increase the power to weight ratio for free also better braking.

[@Bbeavis]

Adding power makes you faster in a straight line. Removing weight makes you faster everywhere.

[@mr.butterworth]

Taking the juice out of a power rack just doesn’t seem like an attractive option in terms of a car for street use.

[@jakeguitarbass7209]

Lightened flywheel could be considered a cheap mod if found second hand when doing a clutch job?

[@Bbeavis]

The effort to get into the box can be quite high, but certainly if you are lucky enough to find a cheaper lightened flywheel, it can make a nice revvy engine even more revvy. :-)

[@madmaz8890]

Exeedy clutch and a lightened fly wheel make a great pair

[@tonymorfin8750]

A second hand is definitely a must if you're doing just about anything more complicated than an oil change, and it's 'handy' there, too.

[@Dudeman9339]

Honestly the best option is to just find a nice shell with an LSD already in it and put The Answer in. The Answer being as peppy a K20 as you can find... and maybe a snail. If you're handy and have a good relationship with your mechanic you could easily put a K20 in an NB for less than $10k. MY dream is a 400whp turbo K24 (s2k dash) into a white NC2 with custom carbon hardtop bits and blacked out tint, nice flush bronze six spokes with some Pilot Sports, an inch off the height with some mid-lvl C/Os, front lip back tail no skirts.

[@Bbeavis]

A honda powered Mazda is always something i've been interested in.... but not really in the realm of cheap for me.

[@theodoun]

Your videos are fantastic Brendan! Giving me the confidence to install a turbo kit in my own na8. No hands on experience, but I am a 3rd year mech eng student, so I have a small idea of how things work! I'm from Melbourne myself so hopefully bump into you at an mx5 event one day :) cheers

[@Bbeavis]

Nice mate, appreciate the kind words. Being a mech eng student you probably already know more than me! For sure I've no doubt we will cross paths, when they let us go outside again!

[@Bbeavis]

Be sure to check out 'Roadsterzoku' if you haven't already for Melbourne MX-5 meets.

[@pauljohnson7382]

Fantastic update!...I have done everything on your list except for #8...and that's next. Previously advanced to the supercharged/intercooled route (Absolutely LOVED This) except the SC mounting brackets didn't share the love...back to N.A. Now having a ball rowing the gears, but, between #8 and maybe a Haltech, kinda going back to the roots of the car and seeing what happens...sticking to what can be done on pump gas...It's all about the journey right? 👊 🍻

[@Bbeavis]

We all have different needs for our cars, and all like to do things 'our' way. As long as you enjoy it, that's what matters I suppose. :-)

[@boobsthechemist2067]

My 07 MX-5 has a 160bhp 2litre engine as standard & is more than enough power 😀 I’d recommend a 40ml suspension drop & a full stainless steel exhaust. The perfect RWD sports car. Great fun 😀👍

[@Bbeavis]

Good to know!

[@alessiocarlevaro6934]

Nice knowing that apart from the AFM mod i did everything up until the head skimmking. But i'm waiting for an MS2 to get rid of that piece of junk so i'm almost there!

[@Bbeavis]

MS2 would be a nice upgrade. Good luck with your build Alessio!

[@jeffsloane8628]

Good list. I would do light weight flywheel, under drive/lightweight pulleys, high flow cat and/or shorter rear end gearing before the header as many dynos have proven there is not much to be gained by replacing the stock unit.

[@Bbeavis]

Oh good one, I should have included light weight flywheel! I love that revvy feel and it does translate to an increase in horsepower.

[@HieHie72]

When I get my first car I will get a Mazda Miata. I’ll make sure to use these mods

[@Bbeavis]

Great choice of car!

[@tonymorfin8750]

It's fun without 'em. Please don't rice something that's already nice.

[@jeanmenard7986]

By adding more HP put a lighter Fly Wheel and you need more Torque origin is only 125 ft/tq change the clutch for a 170 or 190 ft/tq depending af the extra HP you have. Was a good video.

[@Bbeavis]

Thank you.

[@WitcherJaxk]

i’m about to get a miata soon i’m so hyped

[@Bbeavis]

Awesome, hope it treats you well.

[@ChutneyInc.]

Maybe i missed it but a tunable ecu will be my first power mod on every one of my future project cars. Besides a muffler. When doing my nb2 miata, i began with headers and intake and high-flow cat. Then resonated mid pipe and muffler. The muffler was the biggest improvement over everything installed. None of the rest makes any extra linear power without a computer in my opinion. It will be my next purchase because i may go turbo in a few years. I love my miata still after 8 years. Its mine.

[@Bbeavis]

8 years is a great length of time to really get intimate with your car, glad to hear you have stuck with it for the long haul! Fair point, I wouldn't say I missed an ECU, I just didn't think it quite fits in the top 10 "cheap" category. Generally they cost at least about $1000 depending on what you get and where you are in the world, and then they cost another $1000 or so to setup and tune properly. Obviously theres so many different ways to build a car, and everyone skills vary so costs of parts for some people are different to others.

[@ChutneyInc.]

@@Bbeavis very true. My journey with Matilda began when i left the navy and persued automotive technology school. It taught me so much. All i knew back then was the rotary engine and forced induction worked. I learned pistons with this car

[@gravit853]

Tire pressure. Just filling mine up to 30 psi made it feel so much faster.

[@Bbeavis]

Yeah anything less than 30psi would be very low, I'd run ~34psi on a street car usually.

[@danielthomas8507]

Flying Miata suggest 26psi, makes the car feel a lot more planted and the handling is much better, anything above makes the the car a hard ride it may be slightly faster but less enjoyable

[@tonymorfin8750]

I run 35 PSI and I live in a city with crappy roads. I had it up to 40, but I let some air out for safety. The tires are about half life and wearing out pretty evenly. Just a tad more wear towards the center, but pretty close to normal. Just under 30 PSI would probably be perfect for nice grip around corners, but worse for fuel efficiency.

[@just-dl]

Upgraded suspension and adding stabilizer bars. Don’t add directly to performance but, less time braking and re-accelerating is a boost. And adds fun. I suspect better tires could help in the same way but I question if it would be noticeable to any but the most top tier drivers. Wouldn’t mind hearing from others their thoughts. Imma outta my depth on tires.

[@Bbeavis]

I'm not really well "tuned" to suspension feel, but I've never personally felt anti-roll bars are a high priority change. But coilovers, yes, one of the first things an MX-5/Miata benefits from.

[@Bbeavis]

That said, tyres are a huge consideration. There's lots of options on tyre compounds and their performance will range hugely from rubbish (no-grip) to amazing (super grippy).

[@just-dl]

@@Bbeavis I feel like the village idiot on the subject of tires. Or tyres. I'm equal opportunity! 🙂 I enjoy driving, but, my comprehension of the physics is very lacking. I used to have '90 NA; I miss my little Mia. She was a sweetie. Purred like a kitten (with a bad attitude). I want to get another one; my wife says I can get another one if I grow up.

[@just-dl]

@@Bbeavis i added a "hard dog" roll bar to mine, and loved it. The windscreen frame will hold up the front of the car in a roll-over. And, the seat backs "can" hold up the rear/middle. But, at 5'7" my head is higher than the seat backs. (I could say my bald spot is from too many rollovers, but, that wouldn't be quite accurate!)

[@cyclefan1]

Pop the headlights up, disconnect 1 headlight motor, and your Na Miata now winks instead of blinks! It doesn't add horsepower, but does add pulling power😉

[@Bbeavis]

Yeah, if you wanna pull another Miata owner :-P

[@cyclefan1]

@@Bbeavis 😂😂😂 still counts right??😂

[@bondiggitti]

Naturally aspirated but high comp and ITBs. 😍

[@Bbeavis]

The only way to do ITBs is N/A and High compression, otherwise they just make noise.

[@JamesBailey123]

At 5:11 is the most stunning engine bay I've ever seen, I'd eat dinner there and pay a good tip. Do you have a reference or more info about that?

[@Bbeavis]

Sadly, I have lost that history, but I did a reverse lookup and found this: www.topmiata.com/top-10-mazda-miata-mx-5-performance-mods-and-upgrades/ and this: www.pinterest.com.au/pin/436708495111192981/

[@aygwm]

Show car….

[@1tsyourboymk]

Thank you so much for this video I’m 14 years old and I’m getting a miata soon so I can builds it into a drift build and idk where to get started tbh

[@gusrosevear5974]

Nice I'm fourteen too and hopefully buying one with my uncle in a few weeks

[@Bbeavis]

Thanks mate, good luck with your search for the right Mazda for you!

[@garageworm17]

If you have a NA 1.8 you can add a 64mm throttle body and a one pound crankshaft pulley from VMS and you can do the intake cam rotate mod which adds more timing and torque in the mid range power its easy and free but you need the 64mm throttle body because the idle will need to adjusted

[@Bbeavis]

Thanks for the tips garage worm.

[@MrXboxUser]

I have an entire turbo kit sitting around waiting for the day I can find the time to put it in :)

[@Bbeavis]

Good luck, I hope you find some time soon to play with the car!

[@evolos7323]

Lemme buy it

[@yousernameish]

Skimming the head might be counterproductive. Increasing valve overlap will make them scream at high revs (at the loss of midrange torque) great fun but high compression ratio at the same time would tend to make exhaust valves, and spark plugs get very hot.

[@Bbeavis]

Great point! I did address in the video that there is a need to compliment head work with other changes to make it work and get the most out of the changes.

[@spikespiegel2246]

DIY is best for cold air intake because you really need to experiment a bit to get the most of it and with DIY you can try different things cheaply and easily... It's a good idea to replicate an existing kit if it's a good one.

[@Bbeavis]

And in general, a DIY cold air intake is something that can be done at home for low cost and minimal need for special tools.

[@MrMattman0127]

My old itb setup 🙂🥰

[@Bbeavis]

I like to sneak in the odd easter egg :D

[@raikou889]

what CAI is that? Never seen one that goes into the windshield wiper toolbox 😂

[@Bbeavis]

Its just a pod filter enclosure with some tube to connect it to the firewall.

[@RKW2000]

Great video and very timely. My 1.6 is getting a few corona upgrades at the moment and when it's back together I'll have 1-7 covered. Next will be the head skim but that might have to wait a year or so. Love your videos and content. Keep up the excellent work.

[@Bbeavis]

Thank you Richard. Hope you are staying safe and healthy at this difficult time..... and keeping your MX5 healthy too!

[@donfinch862]

Yeh. Didn't know about skimming the head making that much difference, would've done it. But....getting rid of the ol' girl soon. Thanks for the post.

[@Bbeavis]

Sorry to hear about the impending divorce, I hope it is for positive reasons.

[@donfinch862]

Well, I've had her for 14 great years, but have the 350Z and too many cars. MX5 is wayway a truer sports car than the Z - but, I must be an arsehole :)

[@santaduke]

Top 10 Best CHEAP MX-5 Miata Engine Mods! Number 9: ENGINE SWAP I think our ideas of CHEAP might be a little different...

[@Bbeavis]

I addressed that in the video fairly clearly but obviously there's a difference between all the custom work of an "engine swap" such as an LS or Honda engine vs installing a $500 bolt in BP1.8 engine in place of what was an old 1.6.

[@calebdavies526]

supercharged my 1.6 for under $1500 :D

[@Bbeavis]

That's pretty good value. Well done mate, I'm sure it gives the car some good pep!

[@mustanguchiha2907]

How is the upgrade for you going??

[@le0redd104]

I have a 1.6 too just curious how's it holding up?

[@rolon-ew5kl]

A good complementing mod to these is a stand alone ecu combine it with a lot of these mods helps. You are going to need a tuner to do it.

[@Bbeavis]

While an ECU is great for opening up an engine's capabilities, generally an ECU isn't something I'd suggest as 'cheap', because the cost of the unit is relatively high, and then the cost of tuning can be $500-$1000. There are some very cost effective ECUs for the Miata MX5 nowadays, and if you know someone who can tune a car for free/cheap, then it's a great option. I'm just hesitant of suggesting "cheap" tunes because it can very quickly break a motor if people don't know what they are doing.

[@rolon-ew5kl]

BEAVIS Motorsport agree a bad tune will ruin the motor. If someone who doesn’t know what they are doing tries to tune in they will mess up the engine.

[@dha588]

You make it seem very easy to get these used, inexpensive parts but its really not that easy.

[@Bbeavis]

Yeah I suppose nowadays the rarity is becoming more of a thing, driving prices up a bit. But patience can pay off when shopping on a budget.

[@787brx8]

I personally would skip the intake modification and just use A factory replacement K&N drop in air filter. Next learn how to do the Gadgetman groove on the throttle body. Helps with the high end power but makes your throttle response different. Don't do this if you like to use cruise control or have an electronic throttle body. Adjusting the TPS can give you better MPG or more power depending on which way you adjust it. Just make sure to mark the original setting before moving the sensor. I also have A prototype that lets me advance the timing much more than everyone else without having problems with knock. It's for me only... Use at your own risk... The Initial Designer of all Miatas and many other vehicles...

[@Bbeavis]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing your thoughts 787b. I have not seen the gadgetman groove before, seems very curious indeed. Are you truly the Initial Designer of all Miatas?

[@787brx8]

@@Bbeavis Yes

[@Bbeavis]

In that case thank you very much for your efforts.

[@787brx8]

@@Bbeavis You are welcome!

[@oldtimerman59]

Thanks great vid , im loving my nb , what a truly enjoyable car to drive

[@Bbeavis]

Thank you, glad to hear that you too enjoy the little Mazda as much as the rest of us 'addicts'!

[@cre8tivegarage157]

great video for me at this time , while im building mines

[@Bbeavis]

Thanks Cre8tiveGarage, glad to hear I was in some way helpful!

[@joshd3043]

Okay, good. I'm not the only one doing a paper run

[@Bbeavis]

Loll

[@orbion2]

Should I paint my 1990 mx-5 white or black? The car was originally white, is currently blue and it's in dire need of a respray.

[@Bbeavis]

Do whatever colour YOU like, don't ask me what you want to do, it's your car! Personally, I'm a fan of white or blue, but not black.

[@orbion2]

@@Bbeavis thanks for the input! :)

[@Bbeavis]

@@orbion2 My pleasure. Thanks for watching my video :-)

[@Princess_kitty14]

"world best sports car" Integra Type R: am i a joke to you? kidding. i love them both

[@Bbeavis]

The Integra was always my go-to car in Gran Turismo. :-)

[@Princess_kitty14]

@@Bbeavis a men of culture i see...

[@Bbeavis]

@@Princess_kitty14 * sits by fire smoking pipe drinking cognac *

[@rubenm5138]

Awesome vid man!! Next mod for my car will have to be coilovers to go with my re003's and a cold air intake. However a buzzing sound coming from the engine just before 3k revs has me worried about spending money atm... cant seem to figure this one out. Any suggestions? Before i take it to the mechanic, covid has me not working so saving money is key for me rn

[@Bbeavis]

Thanks Ruben! coilovers add a great dynamic to an MX5/Miata. A buzzing noise is very hard to diagnose through the internet sadly, it depends on when it comes up, how, what speed, then maybe you can determine the cause.

[@rubenm5138]

@@Bbeavis oh it was actually quite simple, i just removed the exhaust heat shield (after i may or may not have overtightened one of the bolts 😅). Noise is somewhat gone, but the biggest issue is a ticking sound coming from the intake manifold area. Changes speed with rpm... i know its not lifter tick cause the 01+ has solid lifters

[@rubenm5138]

@@Bbeavis actually about to head to supercheap soon to make me the air intake 😉

[@maccarioandrea]

14° is possible for the NB too, you just have to make the timing wheel adjustable with a file

[@Bbeavis]

Ah, true, although a little more risky perhaps? And not as common!

[@brianalli1567]

I have a 1990 RX-7 convertible. The engine light is on. What should I look for to troubleshoot?

[@Bbeavis]

You may want to start with checking the detail of the error from the diagnostic port. fc3spro.com/TECH/HOWTO/ERRORCODES/KOUKI/kerror.html

[@PrimexDeluxe]

I’m building an NB track car. What type of alignment should I have? Any camber? I don’t know much about that stuff.

[@Bbeavis]

949 racing / supermiata website have a great guide on alignments: supermiata.com/miata-race-alignment-info.aspx

[@tyronicusmaximus4230]

That's all dependent on your preferences and the types of tracks your running. Tight tracks/autocross? A couple degrees camber and a bit of toe out will make your turn ins great. Long straights or faster tracks? A wee bit of toe in and lighter camber depending on the turns you're expecting. I'd go somewhere other than KZbin comments to do that kind of research though.

[@Bbeavis]

100% correct Tyconicus.

[@Teezy00740]

I might buy a project car for this summer any suggestions ? Nothing too pricy

[@Bbeavis]

This channel is 99% about Mazda MX-5's. So I suggest a Honda Prelude.

[@elizublin1945]

I just picked up an 87 bmw e30 nonrunning for 900$ that only needs minor work and started up with only a battery

[@Bbeavis]

@@elizublin1945 Cool, I've always wanted a simple tidy E30.

[@arkabul9107]

how much hp increase is there for a ac and power steering delete.. Both are pretty useful especially the ac it gets hot where i live

[@Bbeavis]

As an approximation: AC: 4kW (5hp) Alternator: 5-6kW (7-8hp) Water Pump: 10kW (13hp) Power Steering: 2-4kW (3-5hp)

[@RyosukeTakahashiRX7]

RX7 afm i can't recommend. Maybe it's because i also live in a colder region but idle rpm got unstable. Stock afm much better unless you intend to have a redline party every ride.

[@Bbeavis]

Fair enough, I think it's one of those things that can be good if you are into tinkering and trying little cheap tricks.

[@RyosukeTakahashiRX7]

@@Bbeavis It does have its usage which starts at around 6000 rpm but then again, how often do you really drive it over 6k? Maybe for a dedicated AutoX build or when you're using the car as drift missile but your average driver won't need it and it'll lead to more problems.

[@That_clean_Dodge__]

You forget the rims bro 😎 + 5hp

[@Bbeavis]

Well, could add racing stripes and a NOS sticker too! But I wanted to make this video about 'real' horsepower :)

[@artemartem1134]

What is considered "run low boost" on a 1.6? 10? 15? What's the weakest link in the chain - pistons, crank or block?

[@Bbeavis]

It's obviously an opinion, but I'd say probably anything under around 8psi.

[@Bbeavis]

Usually, conrods bend first. But.... who knows!

[@spicymiataguy9115]

Some stuff for the NC and ND engines. I have a NC1 with a 2.0L engine

[@Bbeavis]

Sadly I don't personally have enough detailed experience in playing with the NC and ND too much beyond a standard street car.

[@alexmessina3383]

The cold air intake sounds awesome and easy, but I'm looking under my 1990 NA6 bonnet. I'm thinking: you really have to take the intake out of the engine bay - as some do, that means punching a big hole through the bulkhead into the wiper arm channel. I hate hacking like that. Bult if don't do that I don't see the advantage? Maybe i've got it wrong. But look at what the Mazda engineers have already done. The stock intake is routed as far as possible from the exhaust manifold, which already has a heat shield. Can I improve on that without hacking? It doesn't look like it. Thoughts anyone?

[@Bbeavis]

Good point Alex, you are on the right track. There are other solutions, adding ducting/hose to get cool air in somewhere. Routing the intake down to the front bumper somewhere. None of these are super easy/simple. But there are many possibilities. Certainly, just slapping a pod filter next to the hot exhaust is not a good solution.

[@alexmessina3383]

@@Bbeavis im going yo look at the "Extended factory routing" method ... 😆

[@rileyj7820]

Head skimming: do you need aftermarket engine management to get the benefits?

[@Bbeavis]

Like anything, it depends on how much you want out of it, but ideally yes.

[@maccarioandrea]

Considering the car needs it from stock... I'll say not much more than stock.

[@dilumwimalaratna4149]

Thanks for the vid Brendan! so looking forward to doing up my current 1.6 NA . I have used Bosch super4 spark plugs in my previous NA6 very noticeable power gain.

[@Bbeavis]

No worries Dilum, great to hear that fresh spark plugs did help another MX-5 owner!

[@timspencer520]

Do you need to have anything to be able to handle a supercharger on a 1.8 stock? Like will the engine completely shit itself or will it handle it really well?

[@Bbeavis]

It is mostly related to how much boost, low boost = less chance of issues. General rule is anything under about 10psi should be fairly safe.

[@timspencer520]

@@Bbeavis Idk much about cars- I’m assuming adding a supercharger forces more fuel (or is it air) into the engine? Hence the psi reference?

[@Bbeavis]

@@timspencer520 No, they add more air. Maybe watch some videos on how superchargers work.

[@Adrian-ue7uk]

Hi mate, are these tips and upgrades will works on the NB 1.8?

[@Bbeavis]

Sure most of them definitely will.

[@Adrian-ue7uk]

@@Bbeavis great, ty and btw u making cool stuff

[@TechnoVault67]

If I were to get an aftermarket ecu and use the base map and tune everything except spark table would I still see gains ? Engine tunings looks very expensive where I'm from

[@Bbeavis]

I'm always hesitant of suggesting "cheap" tunes because it can very quickly break a motor if people don't know what they are doing. That said a mostly standard car is hard to break with an aftermarket ECU, and if you practice enough you can get a more powerful "stock" engine.

[@ryanmccormick]

Squaretop, megasquirt and cooling reroute 😀

[@Bbeavis]

Not bad suggestions, perhaps the MS is not exactly so cheap!

[@modshop1828]

explain the "squaretop" … thank you

[@fabianamok872]

@@modshop1828 as far as i know its a better intake manifold, as in better flowing

[@redey1290]

Mod Shop it’s an intake manifold found on the NB 1.8 iirc and basically it’s more free flowing and whatnot and it has a flat top to it

[@ThijsVanDalen]

@@redey1290 Only European and Japanese MX-5's with the 1.8 vvt (BP-Z3) came with the flat top intake manifold, so it's quite rare too

[@maccarioandrea]

With the 1.6 NBs we feel a bit left over, no exhaust manifold, can't do the RX7 AFM swap, the head is quite good flowing, no really improvement with a muffler nor a cat delete... And with all that goodness it's making only 110hp. I did the 5° additional timing, I plan on doing the head skimming (≈0.9-1mm), but there is not much else right?

[@Bbeavis]

Yeah you are kinda outta luck unless you start spending real money on lots of custom parts.

[@andrewking3502]

Would you make a video on NB Passenger Airbag Module replacement

[@Bbeavis]

Sorry to advise that is not currently on my to do list Andrew.

[@Andrea892991]

Which rims are those? I love it!

[@Bbeavis]

Axis OG Banzai 15x8

[@mr.adventure559]

What about an exhintake cam swap, a tuned standalone ECU with ITB's?

[@Bbeavis]

Yeah certainly a potentially good option if you have the skill to implement these in a cheap and effective way. ITB's are often not well executed and result in a poor gain for the time and money.

[@guidosaur7506]

Forgot the exhintake cam swap for the 1.8 people. Super cheap for some noticeable power

[@rubenm5138]

Huh?

[@Bbeavis]

Good suggestions, for anyone wondering here is a discussion on the topic: www.miataturbo.net/engine-performance-56/definative-exintake-swap-cam-timing-thread-no-questions-only-answers-27294/

[@rubenm5138]

Okay, so i cant do it on my vvt motor then? (01-05)

[@guidosaur7506]

@@rubenm5138 I don't believe so, sorry 😢. It's the basic 1.8s without anything fancy.

[@rubenm5138]

@@guidosaur7506 got me excited there for a second hahaha. All good mate, ill resort to painting the lettering on my engine red for the time being

[@TommyAnderson-d1o]

Miata is and will be the answer!!!!!

[@Bbeavis]

😝 Exactly!

[@Workrategetschingy]

Hands down the best looking MX5 miata I've ever seen them rims look sexy with the paint job 😍

[@Bbeavis]

Thanks mate :)

[@hooshangmaster]

i thought it'd be like gran turismo 1. ecu -> intercooler -> port polishing -> save for a stage 1 turbo

[@Bbeavis]

For me it was tune a Midnight Purple R34 GT-R, win every race. Sadly can't afford one of those in real life.

[@MrAudi220]

Wonder if a nc 2.0 engine swap would be doable into a 1.6 chassis?

[@Bbeavis]

Its doable. if you have the time/money/skill.

[@MrAudi220]

@@Bbeavis Thank you for the reply👍✌

[@letsgobrandon329]

Stock exhaust breaths very well.

[@Bbeavis]

It sure does, for most models. There are some years that had restrictive headers. Plus the extra noise of aftermarket items is certainly a way to make the car "feel" fast.

[@steelwitness]

i definitely wouldnt call the miata the greastest sports car of all time but it is one of the most popular

[@Bbeavis]

What is better?

[@steelwitness]

@@Bbeavis fundamentally cars like older porche 911s are more balanced with better power while still maintaining reliability. Miatas are awesome but there are definitely better examples of a sports car to study. Miatas are cool, I own an NA6 and an NB, but the power to weight ratio alone ruins its shot of "best sports car of all time".

[@holzwurm_hd7029]

I think the first thing Id install would be ITB's

[@Bbeavis]

Good for sound, but you gotta know what you are doing to get a real performance benefit.

[@ciovicaalexandru]

i am still a novice and i was just wondering , since he included the turbo option... well wouldn t cam shafts be a better mod? or is that more expensive than a turbo. or even a ecu remap/map

[@Bbeavis]

Hi Ciovica, generally camshafts require finer tuning of other components to compliment them and get the most out of them, along with a good knowledge of the rights cams for the use. While yes, a turbo is costly, the net gain can be very high. Meanwhile, and ecu and tune is usually not cheap... particularly if you account for the cost of a proper dyno tune, which is something many people don't account for, or cut costs on. Personally I don't think a 'cheap' tune is a safe choice.

[@ciovicaalexandru]

@@Bbeavis thanks for the help , also what s your opinion on coilovers as a fist mod or what would you prioritize in a fun miata that should be reliable and daily drivable

[@Bbeavis]

@@ciovicaalexandru General maintenance first, makes sure its running right. Then maybe good tires, stronger brake pads, then coilovers, then intake/exhaust. But that is really up to you and what you want from your car, I cannot tell you how to prioritize your own choices.

[@CharlieRomeoKiloSix5]

The VTEC sticker didn’t add nearly the HP I expected

[@Bbeavis]

Need to add more ramen in the glove box.

[@mpharr2]

Replace the ECU with a Programmable ECU especially if the 1.6 was replaced with a 99 1.8 .

[@Bbeavis]

I totally agree, an ECU is great for opening up an engine's capabilities. However usually an ECU isn't something I'd suggest as cheap, because the cost of the unit is relatively high, and then the cost of tuning can be $500-$1000. There are some very cost effective ECUs for the miata MX5 nowadays, and if you know someone who can tune a car for free/cheap, then it's a great option. I'm just hesitant of suggesting "cheap" tunes because it can very quickly break a motor if people don't know what they are doing.

[@zeco_vlog]

@@Bbeavis I recently bought a 1990 Miata with engine swapped to 1998 1.8 with ECU "ECU-Master". Tuned to 145 hp. Runs perfectly but guys had a problem with rpm that goes too low when you release accelerator when switched to neutral. It goes so low that it can die. Prev owner told me it should be fixed with a slight more tuning the ECU, but my concerns that it sucks air somewhere. The original airbox was removed and an airfilter was installed. However it was installed badly and I have a hot air intake. I own this car for 3 weeks now and after i change all liquids, and fix the e-brake so i can pass the MOT in my country i will start looking at the engine. Btw, if anyone have an idea what else can make the revs low down, i would really appreciate that

[@ohnobo14]

Very informative

[@Bbeavis]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@giannikho1532]

Is the Miata a everyday car or a weekend car?

[@Bbeavis]

YES

[@OdenShilde]

Anyone know what the "cold air intake" shown is? looks randall style but isnt a randall

[@Bbeavis]

Its just some generic pod filter housing intake made to fit in the car.

[@aaronmatuszny8856]

I think I did a thorough tune up on mine...and skipped right to adding cylinders.

[@Bbeavis]

Haha, nice straight to V8?

[@aaronmatuszny8856]

@@Bbeavis Jag 3.0l V6

[@Bbeavis]

@@aaronmatuszny8856 Very cool!

[@wellingtonbruh3756]

In this case, to be the most efficient with ur money spent to power gained, wouldn't I just want to get a cheap Miata with a good body and engine swap with a new 1.8 then turbo it? I wouldn't need to deal with the issues that come with an old engine and spend the money and time in fixing or upgrading the old engine to perform just as good as a new 1.8.

[@Bbeavis]

Well I suppose ideally, the "cheapest" way to get a "quick" MX-5/Miata is buy one that someone else has blown all their money on already!

[@wellingtonbruh3756]

@@Bbeavis ah but the whole fun is building lol 😁

[@tylerh5435]

What lip and side skirt extensions are these?

[@Bbeavis]

Lots of clips of cars in this video so going to assume you mean for the car in the first scene? Pretty common and easy to find, search "MX5 GV Lip" and "NA MX5 side skirt".

[@DmDetails]

I just detailed one of these and recorded it. Awesome car for sure!!

[@Bbeavis]

Very cool! I hope you get to drive them sometimes too :-)

[@jersey3686]

if you’re gonna do an engine swap why not do a Honda K-series…? I heard the K20 fits like a glove

[@Bbeavis]

A Honda motor swap is not going to be cheap, compared to using a motor from the same family. Updating to a 1.8BP is essentially bolt in, so the ancillary cost is minimal. Making a Honda motor fit an MX-5/Miata requires a lot of other components to be replaced... which is somewhat outside of the topic of this video.

[@jorgearzate275]

Can anyone tell me if this would work on automatic mx5 asking for a friend

[@Bbeavis]

For the most part, yes certainly.

[@ryuman757]

Was honestly curious. I didn't realize until a bit ago that my '04 NB apparently has a high-flow cat (was getting check engine light that would go on and off after some time) after my local tuner explained why my cat isn't shot simply because I added an air intake (since that's what a Mazda dealership said). So they did the trick with the O2 sensor to keep the light from coming back on. I mentioned to them about me upgrading headers in the future, and they told me that that would probably send me back to the original problem with the light coming on? I have no plans on doing anything anytime soon because #TooBroke, but just never got around to figuring out what would need to be done to get headers to work out, and it seems like most people say upgrading to them is just a great thing to do in general for more noise. Thankfully I don't live in Cali, so my emissions test aren't that bad (was able to pass when my light went back off for a a short while, and then came back on right after 🤙), but just wasn't sure if any of this would essentially be bad to the car/any components.

[@Bbeavis]

The NB MX-5 Miata is not quite modern/advanced enough for something relatively trivial like changing the exhaust headers to be able to cause any damage. Even the chance of triggering a O2 sensor warning is very low.

[@ryuman757]

@@Bbeavis Word. Definitely seemed weird the tuner mentioned it to me, but I'll be asking them about it again when I go back, since they're still good peoples. It'll just be chilling while we save up for a house, and then after I trade in my Mazda 3 for a new Miata RF to have a stick as a daily driver, so I'll be coming back to your videos when that time comes. Bless 🤙🔥

[@one234569and10]

Im honestly afraid to go over 5k rpm - sounds like the little guy is gonna blow its brains out. Anyone else worried about this? 114k miles on original 1.6 (and sadly... an Auto). I don't wanna hear flack about the Auto, its "technically" not my car... I just do all of the work on it, and am the only one that drives it. lol!

[@Bbeavis]

The car will mostly not be able to kill itself if you rev it out to the ~7k rpm limit. Don't be afraid to do it sometimes... but also don't do it ALL the time.

[@mysterytour5983]

Change car might be better than doing all this! I kept mine original and i have enough power! 😅 if you are racing on tracks or living in Germany ok but like in North America going fast cost speeding tickets!😂

[@Bbeavis]

If an MX-5 Miata is too 'fast' for you, I worry about what other options you have.... they have gotta be one of the slowest cars out there. :-)

[@mysterytour5983]

@@Bbeavis it is not too fast for me it is too fast for the speed limit! Where i live it is 100km on hwy and the car goes to 140km and not even floored! So what the use if i get it modify and dont race? Nothing!

[@elgar6743]

Don't forget the Ford 5.0L V8 engine swap...it's an NA thing...as in North America.

[@Bbeavis]

I do apologize, I have let you down Elgar.

[@TheIvabigun]

And that adds what 40 horsepower and a shit nose heavy handling characteristic

[@awacs337]

Do you have a vid on how you did that cowl intake mod?

[@Bbeavis]

I do not sorry, it came on the car when I purchased it.

[@ohboyotero]

Not the same, but a couple vendors (like Flyin Miata) sell cowl intakes: www.flyinmiata.com/na-randall-cowl-intake-duct.html (they have an NB version too)

[@awesometester55]

Hey man what’s your tire and wheel specs? Also what are those wheels called lol?

[@Bbeavis]

There's lots clips of different cars in the video, but I am going to assume you're referring to the car at the start and in the thumbnail. Axis OG Banzai 15x8 +25 Tyres are 205 50 15