Good Luggage Crew - Turbo Eunos Roadster NA

[B.Egan]

Right so this is a project I've talked about and wanted to do for a long time. But for one reason or another it just never happened...untill now.

MX5 engines are basically turbo engines without the turbo. They can handle up to 260bhp roughly on standard internals. Considering also that they have always been regarded as one of the best handling sports cars out there, are great fun to drive as standard, are fairly light at approx 900 kg, and importantly for me are a bit different and retro, with alot of potential styling wise, I see this now as the car I'll stick with for a while. Plus the fuel and running costs are very small when driving normally, but yet I'd say it could give alot of bigger cars a run for their money when driven hard, either straightline or more so on track.

So firstly I decided it would be better to buy a mx5 that had already been turbo'd and built properly from the UK (as not many done over here) and to then sort out the looks side myself. Plus theres alot more value for money over there.

So about two weeks ago I travelled over to the UK and picked up this absolute minter and drove it back.

The car was built by Front Row engineering apparently and imported through Newera imports. Since in the UK its had two middle aged owners and I have a massive folder of every receipt, MOT and even original for sale ads.

I have to stress that this really is "mint", with absolutely no rust and still on its original paint in perfect condition.

So heres the spec as it stands at the moment:

1990 V spec model
gt2540 garrett turbo from r32skyline refurbed with steel internals 360 bearings blueprinted to engine.
front row engineering custom pipework with two extra injectors.
t house engineering intercooler (huge)
racing beat air inlet & k&N
LA motor co. oil pump &pipes ,oil cooler
walbro fuel pump
3 paddle clutch & new slave cylinder
hks ecu & hks computer for injectors
hks superdrager exhaust system no cat.
strenghened conrod bolts

enkiel s racing 15" alloys refurbed, toyo t1rs
mk 2.5 sport brakes new discs green stuff pads, new fluid, all 3 handbrake cables replaced.
bilstien struts ebach springs.
mazdaspeed strut brace
lower brace under gearbox

carbing tow hooks
garage vary front lip
smoothed & polished rear lights.
racing beat california speedter deck lid in brg (very rare)
cabin brace
harness bar
KG works dials on passenger side
greddy turbo gauge in vent
Nardi Torino
original roadster mats
alloy roadster speaker covers
roadster sill covers
new speakers in headrests & doors jvc headunit
headlight flash mod
zoom filler cap
new cambelt & tensioners ,camcover gasket
roof replaced 18 months ago

It is apparently 220bhp, running .8 bar. It certainly feels very quick but I will be getting it dyno'd anyway to see what it actually is pretty soon.

Some pics taken by previous owner:




And so mechanically its pretty sorted. Has loads of power, brakes are massive and more than enough. Suspension seems very good, although I'll probably be changing this for coilovers pretty soon anyway.

Future Plans:
So its more the aesthetics I'll be sorting out pretty quickly. Wheels have been ordered today from the US, hardtop in the next week or two and a few other bits and pieces that I think will make it look well (dont worry all the chrome will be going). Basically it will have stance, plus a few trick and different ideas I have for it. bt I also VRT'd it obviously.

At the moment its out at the workshop and will be getting a full service in the next few days, aswell as getting the diff welded....which should be interesting lol! Also the turbo, manifold etc generate alot of heat, and with the filter where it is its currently probably sucking in hot air more than anything else. But plans are afoot to sort this out and lower the intate temps alot, which should in turn help the performance.

This will be used every day by me, but I'll also be getting it out to as many track or drift days as possible.

I'll also try and organise and streamline this thread a bit more over the next while. bt

[alan opel]

bad ass! dude thats gona be sweet as! thats three turbo mx5's in galway now! and the second green one

[Fredericks Balls]

Sweeeeeeeet!!! I like

[B.Egan]

bad ass! dude thats gona be sweet as! thats three turbo mx5's in galway now! and the second green one

3 turbos in galway? Didnt know that. What they look like? Any quick ones? Although I'm up in Maynooth now myself anyway, so wont be movin in on their turf lol!

[Stevo]

Wooop as i said already sweet as fuc project trixta

[titey86]

very nice...nice to have all that engine work done as a base,
takes very little to make them look awesome!
best of luck

[subzero]

very interesting look forward to seeing what you make the car...


have you seen yer man "mints" one , not turboed but a mental car non the less.

[C-Rex]

Ha just talking bout MX5s the other day with one of the lads.. Serious potential when dropped and on deep wheels..

Turbo is nice though, makes it a proper sports machine.. What wheels have ya planned for it?

[B.Egan]

very interesting look forward to seeing what you make the car...


have you seen yer man "mints" one , not turboed but a mental car non the less.

Yeh I know the one. Very cool car, although maybe a bit ott for what I'm looking for at the same time. A matte respray was on the cards originally, but now I think the paint is in too good condition to do it. But this will be a long term project I'd say, so I'm sure it will go through a few different looks.

Ha just talking bout MX5s the other day with one of the lads.. Serious potential when dropped and on deep wheels..

Turbo is nice though, makes it a proper sports machine.. What wheels have ya planned for it?

Well I was hoping to get work equip 03s in the silver/black and then powdercoat the dishes black, but just cant afford that at the moment and still get the other parts. So for the moment it will be rocking some Bassett deep dish steelies in black (very similar to diamond racing ones, just a bit lighter and better quality) in 15x8 et 0 on the front (as need a 10mm spacer to clear the calipers) and 15x8 et -12 on the rear.

[C-Rex]

Does it work out expensive getting steels in from america?

As long as they are deep they look the job, equips are savage but very expensive to get anything near the fitments youd need

You gonna get 185s stretched or 195s?