MK1 Via Mk2 dilemma

[samuelt]

Hi All

As some of you are aware i have a 1991 MK1 MX5 fully stripped down and ready to be tidied up before starting to building my Exocet. The engine in this is not working so i have another engine to put in it.

My dilemma arises as i have just bought a 1998 Mk2 british racing green 1.6 to driver for the next 4-6 weeks, while my wife and I sort out changing her car (long story). I managed to get this car for £620 on ebay with 2 months tax and 3 months MOT. The guy has spend lots on it over the last year including new brakes, timing belt, water pump, leads and plugs. It also has some terrible painted orange wheels!

i now have the coice of completly breaking the MK1 and then starting to strip the MK2 and use it as a donner the plus side of the MK2 is that the engine works but it has been fully wax oiled undernath I guess this will make it more difficult to strip? and it will be visible when the kit is built.

Is there any real plus sides to using a MK2 over a Mk1? and will the Jap LSD from my MK1 fit the UK MK2?

The MK2 also seems to have better shocks and Springs the last owner thinks it is lower than the MK2 he has just bought.

Thank you
Toby

[Stiggy]

The MK1 1.8 engine produced between 94-97 produces around 130bhp whilst the MK2 1.8 produced from 99-01 produces around 140bhp. The VVT engine 01-05 does not fit under the bonnet due to the variable valve unit but can have a power bulge added. Hope this helps, Stiggy

[samuelt]

hi Stig, all the engines i have are 1.6L, I think i am going to stick with the MK1 1.6 Jap car as its chassis is the best of the lot! Using the 1.6 engine i bought to put in it. I plan to ebay the Mk2 later this year when i have sorted my Wife and I's cars out as we are in the middle of changing them both, this is why i have ended up with a cheap Mk2.

I have now removed the orange wheels and put on the new wheels that were on the JAP car (to be used on my kit) it looks so much better! now to get rid of the orange wing mirrors.

[Deleted]

Toby,
as far as i can tell, the mk1 and mk2 chassis' are pretty much identical. theres a slightly different top mount on the shocks, and an additional brace on the rear subframe and thicker roll bars, but in terms of slotting a mk2 engine onto a mk1 chassis, no problem at all! the only reall visible changes to the engine was the mass air flow sensor going from butterfly valve on the early mk1 to an electronic unit on the mk2. and a different routo for the air pipework. id recomend using the mk2 wiring lume with the mk2 engine. as all the lights and switches will be almost exactly the same. pretty sure you can also use the import LSD with the mk2 engine. the measurement to the rearmost part of the gearbox should be identical on mk1 and 2, so if the diff is slighly different just swap out the drive shaft. ABS may come into play depending what specs on both cars. I'm in the process of swapping my completed exocet for an unstarted kit, so the next one will have a 2.0l 323 engine dropped in. just researching the details now.

[samuelt]

thanks alex for the advice going to see ifthe MK2 will pass an MOT easily if it does i will just sell it on ebat if not i will have to decide if i use it or not or sell it as parts.