Turbo tuning

[Stuart1]

I recently bought a 1.6 Mk1 with a turbo fitted - HKS I think.

It could do with a better tuning and perhaps some upgrades to get the most out of the turbo - anybody know where I could bring it or who to talk to?

I live in Dublin.

Thanks

[Steve]

Hi, welcome to the forum.
Have you got photos? Is it running a programmable ECU?

[andrew]

Hi,

I have some experience with megasquirt ECU's if thats any help. I'm in Dublin too.

What have you got and why does it need tuning?

[Stuart1]

It has a piggy back ECU as per picture - seems to be a pretty common to HKS turbo kits. Is it worth looking into replacing this with something like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Megasquirt-Fu ... 53ff6dca63

Image of current ECU setup:
http://s14.postimg.org/dqjhro65d/IMG_2347.jpg

Here is a picture of the enginebay

http://s13.postimg.org/3paz7lm6v/IMG_2344.jpg

[rhysmate]

any more specs aside from that? do you have a wideband?

[Stuart1]

No wideband.

Car looks very OEM on the inside - no boost gauges or anything else to indicate that it has a turbo fitted.

Doesn't feel like the turbo spins up until later than I would have expected so power doesn't feel that dramatically improved over base in my opinion. Am happy to spend a few quid getting the best out of it - it wasn't a cheap purchase unfortuantely and perhaps I rushed into it a bit!

Original owner also suggested puting in a fuel pressure reg and a oil intercooler to get more out of her - opinions welcome.

Thanks for your input...

[AndyJF]

Id say a good megasquirt ecu tuned correctly would do wonders. Your setup is still using the maf sensor.
From what I have read a decent intercooler and full customisable ecu should put you in the ball park of 180 - 200bhp.
Id imaging your's is throughing out around 150 - 160bhp.
Been reading into this for a while myself as I plan to turbo my own.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[Stuart1]

Thanks for replies.

How easy is it to fit the mega squirt unit - is it reasonably plug and play or does it need experience.

Would like an intercooler but look very fiddly to fit due to space and sitcom etc - is there anyone around who does a lot of mx5 intercoolers or that users recommend for cost and fit?

[andrew]

Most megasquirts are plug and play, you just need to check the engine 1.6 or 1.8 and the year of the car. They don't come up for sale that often but have a look on mx5nutz.co.uk. There is only a little bit of wiring required and the seller should give you instructions how to fit. Tuning it is more difficult. You should get a base map with it to get you started. Depending who you buy it from this will base map quality will vary. If its good it will start and idle and all you need to do is tune the map by driving it on the road for a few hours with 'autotune' on. this will tune it 80%. For the last 20% you need a tuner with a dyno or someone who knows what to look for.

An intercooler is very valuable on a turbo car, it reduces inlet temp giving more power and more engine safety. Fitting is and easy to intermediate job. If you seen a install you would know its a do able job.

[Randy]

I would also be interested in knowing where I could get a decent IC for these cars. I'm starting to do up a list for the turbo build next year, and this is one part that I wouldn't be sure on who to go to about.

[scallan]

I would also be interested in knowing where I could get a decent IC for these cars. I'm starting to do up a list for the turbo build next year, and this is one part that I wouldn't be sure on who to go to about.

Check out universalintercoolers.co.uk they do an mx5 specific

[Randy]

I would also be interested in knowing where I could get a decent IC for these cars. I'm starting to do up a list for the turbo build next year, and this is one part that I wouldn't be sure on who to go to about.

Check out universalintercoolers.co.uk they do an mx5 specific

Cheers man.

[rhysmate]

Join miataturbo.net as well and read...alot..

You need a wideband that would be my firdt purchase

Then an ecu (not a piggyback)

Get an intercooer off ebay theyre cheap and you dont need a special brand

[Steve]

That is a GReddy kit, if not fiddled with it runs 5/6psi (they usually come with a FPR). Timing should have been set to 6 degrees when installing so it'll be a bit slow off-boost. I'd go for a megasquirt, intercooler + larger injectors for a start. My own setup was a GReddy kit once, just the turbo left from it now I think.
If going for 200+hp factor in : Megasquirt + intercooler + downpipe/exhaust + larger injectors + wideband + clutch + 1.8 diff

[Stuart1]

Thanks for all the replies.

Looks like there's about a grand worth of parts to be sourced - megasquirt accounting for majority!

My skills and time constraints don't make much of this possible to be done by me - any suggestions or volunteers??