Turbo / ITB's which is more reliable?

  1. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a
    #1
    Afternoon saxo folk,

    This isn't regarding a saxo but the same principles apply. I have two options with the MX5 now. Either an entry level turbo charger running on megasquirt, or Jenvey throttle bodies running on megasquirt. I'm not looking for stupid power, its fun enough at 115bhp but id like to see 170/180bhp reliably.

    Am I better off with the bodies or the turbo option? It's a solid engine and i'd hate to cause issues with an otherwise perfect engine just for a power gain.


    Ta, Tom.
  2. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jun 2006 Ramsey st marys, peterborough Posts: 8288 Saxo's, Corsa (Daily)
    #2
    depends on how it biult i would say, wouldnt say one more reliable than the other, other factors can apply.

    would say there more to go wrong on a turbo, but done correctly shouldnt have too much problems on both setups.

    but to get a n/a engine from 115 to 180 would cost alot more i would say, and would need wilder cams than a turbo engine.

    a low boost setup most likley get you 180 bhp, but to get 180 n/a out the same engine would need wilder camshafts, maybe pocket pistons, head work ect.

    cost vs bhp then turbo wins hands down.

    easier to get more power out a turbo aswell in future also.

    depends on what you want, can afford ect.

    hope that helps.
  3. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a
    #3
    Cheers for the advice Andy.

    Apparently the mx5's internals can easily handle 200bhp as it's the 313 turbo engine just without the turbo. I'll look into the turbo option in more depth I think. As much as i like the appearance and noise of tb's I think a turbo would be the sensible option.
  4. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jun 2006 Ramsey st marys, peterborough Posts: 8288 Saxo's, Corsa (Daily)
    #4
    yer not too clue up on them :/ but if that the case then sound like the best option for pound to power

    200bhp mx5 will be good fun round the track
  5. Established Member Joined: Feb 2011 Scotland Posts: 1191 02 Saxo Vts
    #5
    The turbo conversion is a hell of a lot cheaper
    Most of the parts you can get from the 323 turbo
  6. Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 west mids (dudley) Posts: 1201 cammed 106 flatty
    #6
    both are reliable yes.

    more things to go wrong on a turbocharged setup though as there are more components. just do it right first time around and reliability wont be an issue for either.

    personally id go turbo, more power is easily achievable. and if the above is correct then making a saving is always a win win.
  7. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2008 Birtley Posts: 22253 VTR Turbo, 106 xsi track slag, Transit recovery, B
    #7
    the mx5s are said to be fine on standard internals and comnpression ratio(so no decomps or removing head) up to about 250bhp

    so id go turbo, as its basically just bolt on, be faster, and more fun
  8. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 3068
    #8
    Thomas go turbo!

    If you feel the need to hear ITB's screaming just come over and drive mine!
  9. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a
    #9
    DIS IS GONA B WELL FAST BRUVS!!!

    Good stuff lads I'll get scouring the mx5 classifieds.
  10. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2008 Birtley Posts: 22253 VTR Turbo, 106 xsi track slag, Transit recovery, B
    #10
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nk....c0.m270.l1313
  11. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2003 Scotland Posts: 3380
    #11
    you are not going to get 180bhp by just fitting t/bodies + ecu --must be cam changes and other things to lift it by near 50% other than t/bodies
    but a boost conversion , turbo or s/c will lift it to that no problem
  12. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2009 Rack City, Isle of Man Posts: 4127 GS300, MK1 VTS, Katy M 1190
    #12
    A mate of mine has boosted his Mx5, to see cracking results.

    He's got a decent/complicated set up now, but he was telling me when he first boosted it on a low spec set up, he did it for less than £500, and saw 160bhp+ ...How much of that is fiction, I don't no. Lol

    its really reliable too. Only thing that goes wrong now, is the gearbox. He's changing them every 6months or so due to running about 260brake through them.
    Stupidly fun car though.
  13. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2007 Shropshire Posts: 9994 Moonstone Blue 106 GTi
    #13
    you can easily boost a mx5 for a budget of around 1000 could do it for less easy with right bits I know when I priced it up all in 700
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  14. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2008 Birtley Posts: 22253 VTR Turbo, 106 xsi track slag, Transit recovery, B
    #14
    Id say easy under 1k in these as there's no extra costs eg gaskets and belts etc, simply bolt on and go

    Could easily get a mk1 Pred and s loom and wire it in yourself if you had a pin out for both cars, the mx5 is a pretty basic engine aswel, but mega squirts for them cant be hard to find anyway management wise
  15. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2007 Shropshire Posts: 9994 Moonstone Blue 106 GTi
    #15
    don/t actually need to map it either if its a mega basic 6psi setup retard timing 6 degrees btdc iirc and just need an o2 clamp on it something along them lines
  16. Super Moderator Joined: Feb 2004 Tonbridge United Kingdom (England) Posts: 38236 Vtr, 172, throttle bodied track slut
    #16
    The Mx5 tends to respond to being turbod well tbh.

    Still for me the sound of bodies owns all, so much infact I just had to go out and run the car for a few mins to hear them
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