Hi Magnum,
Looks like a nice car, clean and well looked after…a few cosmetic mods already there that will save you a few quid.
I’m deep into upgrading mine at the mo, I opted for Spax springs (Moss) and adjustable AGX KYBs (MX-5 Parts) along with flo-flex poly-bushes (eBay shop) along with the obligatory de-rust and full waxoil of the underside whilst everything is off and access is improved. The joy of just having spent 5 months in Iraq is I now have a month off to get down and dirty, with the car of course!
I’ve already fitted shock tower braces front and rear (Il motorsports, MX-5 Parts), these make a real difference to the 65mph shimmy you will grow to know and love, and then the little cosmetic things like clear side markers (wired into the side-lights) and clear side indicators (all pocket money prices from MX-5 Parts) and found these make a real difference to the overall look of the car.
I ordered a Hard Dog Deuce through MX5MAD but they phoned me and said they were struggling to import due to the recent drop in the £ against the $, food for thought maybe? If your looking for a ‘proper’ roll-over bar then you won’t go far wrong with the deuce and if, god forbid, an MX-5 flips the result is far from pretty (have a look on the Hard Dog website in the US for an example of what happens to the front screen). MX-5 Parts do a pretty substantial bar that replaces the cross brace Mazda added to the 1.8s for increased lateral stability and is made of 60mm rolled and stainless steel, this looks great and whilst not a ‘true’; roll bar is clearly significantly built to add a modicum of protection…it’s certainly the way I’m thinking of going, half the price of a deuce too.
The Rota RBs are great, again I’ve been looking at the stealths at 16", 17" and above can cause real tramlining issues; MX5MAD seem to have a magical contact as they seem at least £100 cheaper for alloys than anywhere else I’ve managed to find.
Save yourself a few quid on the exhaust and go for the MX-5 Parts own stainless twin pipe, I’ve fitted it along with a Jackson Racing header (Moss) and fit a stainless cat bypass for track days/in between MOTs…the sound is superb and whilst it's still only a straight 4-pot making the noise, it still has a real grumble - nearly as much as Mrs E’s when I start it in the garage at night!
I’m over in Boroughbridge, Ripon, so maybe we can get together at a local event, I had planned to join a day out a good few months ago now but got stuck at work so am myself a club virgin when it comes to events. I trust you’ll be heading to Elvington for the spring rally, the track there is pretty good and will give you a real feel for what your car can do, plus there is the track day at Croft 16 Aug, I’m planning a day up there with my son to give our car (father and son project / mid-life crisis all in one!) a blow out.
Anyway, enough from me, I hope this helps. In summary your wish list is on the numbers, though it never ends there, trust me! I've spent hours whilst away looking at various options and even as I am fitting my bits & bobs, am wondering if I’ve gone the right way.
By the way, Louise and I are both into cycling too (me a Trek boy, her a Colnago chick) so maybe a run out?
Hope this helps buddy.
Jon
