Could anyone enlighten into how tunable the 1.8 nb is with bolt ons such as manifold,itbs etc. What power would that get the car up to and at what cost. DIY and also a pro to do the job.
On the other hand how much am i looking at going down a diy turbo route, how labour intensive as i only have basic mechincal knowledge?
With either of these would it need an aftermarket ecu. I feel turbo would be very fun but itb maybe more reliable and involving to drive. Coming from 2 BBR ncs it will need to be something special.
Hi.
I suspect you may get a plethora of answers to this topic across the whole spectrum.
Cost will be a factor.
I explored the option of ITBs for my car.
It’s possible to build a set on a budget using motorbike components. ECUs vary in price and spec. The ones I looked at were in the £700-£800 range.
Specifically designed ITBs can be had from BBR. When I last looked they were iro ÂŁ1500.
Jenvey are probably the best known but a set from them for the NB were about ÂŁ2500.
The car will need a day at the tuners for whatever that costs.
Power increase on ITBs alone could push the engine to 160+bhp but more work and extra expense will be needed to get to anywhere near 200bhp.
It would sound epic though.
Forced induction is a more cost effective option.
Either supercharging or turbo charging.
Can’t really help with those paths though, sorry.
Good luck and please consider sharing your journey with us here if you go ahead with your project.
Cheers,
Guy
Hi thanks for the informative feedback. I only have vasic mechanical knowledge, i would love to do it myself though. I am leaninf towards itbs but again may be disapointed by the lack of power. I dont suppose you know the differnece between those kits as i havent the slightest. I wonder how much a diy turbo conversion would total to
Hi Christopher.
If power is your goal then the turbo route is likely to give you the most “bang for your buck”. There are quite a few YouTube video series on installing turbos at home. From what I’ve seen there is greater support and general knowledge on turbos for that very reason so you’re likely to get answers to your questions.
I found difficulty getting anywhere with installing ITBs as it felt like they are more motorsport biased and people in that world expect you to know what you want and how to fit it. Like you, I am not experienced in this area but there seems to be little in the way of step-by-step to follow for a novice.
I did speak to BOFI racing and they were helpful but only up to a point. I just couldn’t get quite the knowledge I needed to be brave enough to pull the trigger.
YouTube has some build series but they are fewer than those for turbos. Given the potential outlay (more than my car is worth) I just didn’t have the jewels to proceed.
Have a search through these forums because someone on here has just installed the supercharger from a modern Mini to his car and seems happy with the result. You could pick his brain a bit perhaps?
Also, just for fun and entertainment, have a look at “TheCarPassionChannel” on YouTube. Greg Peters has built a 500+bhp NA MX-5 on his driveway…
Going back to your earlier question, I suspect the main difference between BBR and Jenvey or any other ITB kits is name. BBR are known for their turbo kits, Jenvey are known for ITBs. There are other brands available too that sit somewhere in between and even lesser known kits for less money.
When I was considering the conversion I set out what I wanted to achieve. ITBs appealed for the sound and drama. Ultimate power and speed were a low priority for me bit I dreamed of something resembling twin carbs when I opened the bonnet. A set of Jenvey’s heritage ITBs would have been perfect aas they look exactly like twin Weber DCOEs. Regrettably those don’t fit their MX-5 manifold.
I hoped to be able to add ITBs for a sensible sum but sadly soon discovered this wouldn’t be the case. Neither turbos nor superchargers appeal because I’m not fond of the gasping, gurgling or whooshing sounds they make. (For other folk that is exactly their appeal. )
So in the short term I have shelved the idea. I keep a casual eye on classifieds in case a set ever turn up at a reasonable price and who knows what the future holds? Perhaps I’ll come into some money and be able to pay someone to fit them for me?
I do hope you get further than I did and manage to get a set of ITBs on your car. If and when you do I hope you share your journey here. It may inspire those of us standing on the precipice to take the jump.
I took these two pictures of BBR’s ITBs at last year’s MX OC Show as I thought they might be something to add to my car. The graph is possibly on BBR’s website but shows a power increase from 136 BHP standard form to 142 BHP with an ME221 ECU and then 162 BHP with both the ME221 plus BBR ITBs.
Costs listed at that tme (agan on the graph picture) were ÂŁ1095 + VAT for mk2.5s and ÂŁ1195 + VAT for mk1s and mk2s. The ME221 price was not listed, but the BBR backing plate and filter was listed as ÂŁ125 + VAT.
As an aside a JDM mk2.5 makes (or did new) 160 PS via (from memory) a higher rev limit, a different exhaust cam and a differenct ECU - maybe sourcing one of these miight be a cheaper way to go given the costs of converting a standard UK car, especially if you’re not keen on a turbo or supercharger.
BBR do not make the ITBs they are bought in items.
BBR developed the manifold idle air system and installation set up.
I have changed from a Danst set up to the BBR set on my Eunos 1800 which has a few other mods done to it
Its Asbo with a straight through 2 1/2" system on a Simpson racing Manifold running an 8000 rpm limit at the moment.
Its an expensive game fo small gains compared with turbocharging.
The Rotrex supercharger is another option to investigate.
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