Correct, the NB8A does NOT have ABS.
And I can confirm that a Mania style intake does fit, the only difference from the NA style ones is that you need to cater for the air temp sensor, which is as simple as drilling a hole on the intake (from memory about 10mm) then pushing the sensor in there. I think the ones from MX5 mania come pre-drilled and ready to go.
I used to have a mania style intake, and while it sounded nice I personally felt no power difference, and got sick of having to remove it and shake the leaves out of it every few weeks.
I now have a coldside intake behind the driver's headlight, sounds nice, and doesnt collect leaves from the cowl.
Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
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- hks_kansei
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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
1999 Mazda MX5 - 1989 Honda CT110 (for sale) - 1994 Mazda 626 wagon (GF's)
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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
Think you really need to plan a bit further.
Yes you can spend 1,500 to 2,000 on exhaust/ECU but is it really good value for that 15 kw?
Or you could buy supercharger components and double your power and increase torque for around the same money.
I know this is not what you stated in your original post but 1500 is a fair chunk of money in my book, so I thought I'd advise what I think you're better spending your money on.
Mine cost me 1500 and I know where there is one such kit available if you are interested.
Yes you can spend 1,500 to 2,000 on exhaust/ECU but is it really good value for that 15 kw?
Or you could buy supercharger components and double your power and increase torque for around the same money.
I know this is not what you stated in your original post but 1500 is a fair chunk of money in my book, so I thought I'd advise what I think you're better spending your money on.
Mine cost me 1500 and I know where there is one such kit available if you are interested.

NA6 turbo - 140kw atw - not the most powerful but so much fun 

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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
As mentioned it really depends on what you want to achieve. Will you be happy with a 10-15% increase in performance in power or would you rather a 35% or 50+% increase in power? In my case I am just about to finish having the exhaust and intake done and I feel that im well and truly there in terms of giving the extra punch I felt that my stock na8 was lacking. Also as I am not expecting major gains by any means, alot of emphasis was placed on getting the right sound for my car while I was at it, so that was one of my goals. If you're going beyond an exhaust and a intake, you'll be spending alot of $ for little hp, for which you could also a build a sweet n/a monster but lets not forget that a turbo or supercharger would yield much better hp gains per $. So I guess considering how much you want to spend, the options are all there. Food for thought !
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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
Thanks for all the replies guys !
took me awhile and i figured what CAI is haha !
the reason why i didnt take into consideration super or turbo charging was that of the price
cause i saw on automotiveplus it was like 7k for the kit ! and that was way over my budget
what CAI would you guys recommend ? at the moment i dont have much to spend but would like to continue doing this car for a period of time ! hopefully long long time ! wanted to start on exhaust and air modules just for aesthetics but would love to have increase power output and stuff !
as for mufflers and straight pipes where abouts should i go to do them ? im not too handy with cars, can do oil change and stuff but beyond that im a complete dud ! im located in brisbane
took me awhile and i figured what CAI is haha !
the reason why i didnt take into consideration super or turbo charging was that of the price
cause i saw on automotiveplus it was like 7k for the kit ! and that was way over my budget
what CAI would you guys recommend ? at the moment i dont have much to spend but would like to continue doing this car for a period of time ! hopefully long long time ! wanted to start on exhaust and air modules just for aesthetics but would love to have increase power output and stuff !
as for mufflers and straight pipes where abouts should i go to do them ? im not too handy with cars, can do oil change and stuff but beyond that im a complete dud ! im located in brisbane
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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
speed wrote:Think you really need to plan a bit further.
Yes you can spend 1,500 to 2,000 on exhaust/ECU but is it really good value for that 15 kw?
Or you could buy supercharger components and double your power and increase torque for around the same money.
I know this is not what you stated in your original post but 1500 is a fair chunk of money in my book, so I thought I'd advise what I think you're better spending your money on.
Mine cost me 1500 and I know where there is one such kit available if you are interested.
Wheres this glorious kit you talk about ! Haha i always tot to super charge it will cost me upwards of 5
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- hks_kansei
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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
Bolt on mufflers your most cost effective options will be to buy one secondhand, they pop up on the forums from time to time in the sale are, otherwise check out ebay/gumtree.
If you want new just go to an exhaust shop and discuss what you want, most will happily custom make one.
Intake you can either buy a pre-made one (common NB ones are MX5 Mania, or DDMworks) but you'll be looking at a few hundred for either one. I used to have a mania style one and while it sounded ok I personally didnt like it (always filled with leaves from the cowl)
I ended up making my own coldside intake with a few fittings, total cost I think was about $80 in the end. I could have done it cheaper if I bought the parts online, but I wanted to be able to measure each part in person.
If you want new just go to an exhaust shop and discuss what you want, most will happily custom make one.
Intake you can either buy a pre-made one (common NB ones are MX5 Mania, or DDMworks) but you'll be looking at a few hundred for either one. I used to have a mania style one and while it sounded ok I personally didnt like it (always filled with leaves from the cowl)
I ended up making my own coldside intake with a few fittings, total cost I think was about $80 in the end. I could have done it cheaper if I bought the parts online, but I wanted to be able to measure each part in person.
1999 Mazda MX5 - 1989 Honda CT110 (for sale) - 1994 Mazda 626 wagon (GF's)
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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
tjongster wrote:speed wrote:Think you really need to plan a bit further.
Yes you can spend 1,500 to 2,000 on exhaust/ECU but is it really good value for that 15 kw?
Or you could buy supercharger components and double your power and increase torque for around the same money.
I know this is not what you stated in your original post but 1500 is a fair chunk of money in my book, so I thought I'd advise what I think you're better spending your money on.
Mine cost me 1500 and I know where there is one such kit available if you are interested.
Wheres this glorious kit you talk about ! Haha i always tot to super charge it will cost me upwards of 5
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Haha. I think HKS and others have given you some good advice.
If you do go SC or turbo later you will want at least a 2.5 inch exhaust, another reason why I mention this now.
If not SC or turbo you would probably only go up to 2.25 inch exhaust.
I paid 900 for SC with inlet and outlets and 10 psi pulley, brackets, bigger injectors, 500 for 2nd hand ecu, 15 for stock SC intercooler, about 100 on piping and less than 50 for the air temp sensor and npt fitting to screw it into.
So happy with the improvement in TORQUE and acceleration and I do love the whine of the supercharger

NA6 turbo - 140kw atw - not the most powerful but so much fun 

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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
swung by the exhaust store today and got a quote for the stuff !
a custom catback system and a hurricane header and magnaflow high cat set me back about 1100
anyone have any experience with the robbliss custom cat back system ?
wasnt too keen on the SC or Turbo cause i thought it would cost like a million
but some youll did it for about a grand a half ?
im a pretty nutjob at fixing stuff onto my car.. suck at it.. where abouts would do such a thing in brisbane ?
went by automotive plus and was quote sub10k for a supercharger installed
a custom catback system and a hurricane header and magnaflow high cat set me back about 1100
anyone have any experience with the robbliss custom cat back system ?
wasnt too keen on the SC or Turbo cause i thought it would cost like a million
but some youll did it for about a grand a half ?
im a pretty nutjob at fixing stuff onto my car.. suck at it.. where abouts would do such a thing in brisbane ?
went by automotive plus and was quote sub10k for a supercharger installed
- slug_dub
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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
If you take a bit of time and hunt out some bargain parts from the community then you could possibly gather together much of a turbo or SC kit for a grand and a half, but really to do boost and do it well it will end up costing you more than just that, I can't imagine 1.5k will net you everything inclusive of a decent ECU, or intercooling, or any other supporting mods for bigger power (some of those aren't critical depending on the scale of extra power, but really lots more power necessitates better brakes or pads at least, a better diff, stickier tyres more often!
)... and to my mind things like a better exhaust are supporting mods for boosting anyway, so even though they are an expense for possibly not as much gain, they will support better application of boosting later, so I don't consider expenditure on an exhaust now necessarily a waste.

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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
slug_dub wrote: but really to do boost and do it well it will end up costing you more than just that, I can't imagine 1.5k will net you everything inclusive of a decent ECU, or intercooling, or any other supporting ... a better exhaust are supporting mods for boosting anyway, they will support better application of boosting later.
Slugdub is right in that there would be additional expenses. Namely clutch.
Didn't want to bang on about forced Induction but you need to know, it is not anywhere near as expensive as you believe.
Now to clarify some things.
1. You can go forced induction on a budget. I already listed the prices/parts that will double hp. The 1500 did include ecu, intercooler and piping but obviously I'm doing my own spanner work.
2. Xtreme extra heavy duty clutch kit set me back 280. (930kg clamping force, organic plate.) So, that will blow out the budget and you still have not got a larger exhaust!
3. I was not offering my own kit for sale, rather an identical kit that I'm aware of that is available. There is also an ecu in the classifieds for 500 but to suit Na8. (Just an example of what is available. A nb kit will come along...)
4. when I do go to sell my SC kit, will probably ask 900 and include everything except my ecu, hurricane headers and clutch!
5. Personally I think the OP should start with just a cat back (2nd hand for savings or new if he wants to) but my point being that you would want AT LEAST a 2.5 inch system if going forced induction later, meaning anything less will NOT properly support boosting later.
So IF going F/I later, get a 2.5 system.
If not going F/I, up to a 2.25 system will be fine. Suspect you could get 2nd hand bolt in system for 200 to 400.
Also, what are you going to do with a set of Hurricane headers if you go turbo? Probably forced to onsell them, just as I will be, in the not too distant future.
Do the cat back first and see how you like it or check out other people's. That's the best advice I could give here.

NA6 turbo - 140kw atw - not the most powerful but so much fun 

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- Fast Driver
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Re: Making upgrades to the exhaust system (newbie alert)
rob bliss make great exhausts 

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