MX5 Owner-To-Be, with some Engine Questions

General Discussion Forums MX-5 Chat
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Hi All,

 I’m going to be out on the market soon looking for a tidy Mk1 for myself, I currently own a lil’ VW Polo with quite a built-up engine. If I’m moving onto an MX5, it would be of great pleasure to have something similar in my new car.

 My Polo was carb’d, cammed, etc, and in the world of VW’s there are characteristics of certain engines which can go for and against such things - For example, the 1.3’s are crossflow, yet the 1.8’s in golfs are not, making them awkward for which to add certain stuff and not as efficient. In the same respect I gather that the 1.6’s and 1.8’s of the Mk1’s may have some differences between them - be it under-bonnet space, heat problems, oil issues, anything like that.

 The bottom line is: Is the 1.8 the better choice for someone looking to modify the block to a moderate degree, or is the 1.6 more friendly/reliable?

 If there’s any rules or exceptions that you knowledgeable people have come to know, I’d love to hear about them -

Thanks,

Dan.

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Hi Dan

To partly answer your question, as neither of my 5’s are modified past zorsts and suspension. The MX5 1.6 engine was originally from the 323 Turbo so is good for 220-230 bhp without internal mods… cams etc I don’t think are worth doing, if you want more power them FI is the way… you can Turbo both 1.6 and 1.8 also you can supercharge both however there is more likely to be second hand SC’s for the 1.8 than the 1.6.  There is a modification section in the garage, have a look there and it will answer lots of your questions…

You will enjoy the driveability of the 5 over anything you have driven before… enjoy.

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 Buy one first. Drive it.
Then decide what it really needs -  I bet you go for suspension first (with full geo setup), you’ll be amazed what these can do!
Then, when you’re tired of superb handling start thinking of more bhp.