So I've just returned from a 3 week Japan trip, returning trip was good to get back there, had an amazing time. Was going to update what part I bought over there from a EF9 but theres something a little more disturbing that has occurred with the lunchbox since I'm back.

Last night I pulled her out of the garage after sitting in there for 3 weeks, keen beans to drive it. Got snapchat ready for the perfect '1st start up' vid, but when I turn the key it doesn't start. All that seems to happen is starter turns really fast, can see the crank pulley spinning but the motor itself isn't really cranking, or rocking back and forth as if you were cranking.

Sent a vid to a few mates, they believe theres a possibility the timing has somehow jumped a tooth or two. Tomorrow we are going to remove the rocker cover and investigate. Hopefully it hasn't, and if it has its done no/bare minimal damage..

UPDATE on motor

Two days later, taking a look at the motor again, ugh.. when I was moving my dizzy and leads back from my daily DA9 to civic (had issues on DA9 with dizzy or leads, so was attempting to pin point what was wrong) I managed to somehow put the dizzy in the wrong way, as it was night time and dark all I saw was the upper mounting point of the dizzy touching the motor and they aligned flush, so I assumed it was in correctly and tightened everything accordingly.

In doing so, when attempting to start the car, it locked the intake cam in place, which pulled the belt off of it. Result was I skipped 5-6 teeth, yep.. we thought motor was most likely stuffed, well definitely the valves. Anyways with nothing to lose, re-did the timing, obviously put the dizzy in correctly and started it. First initial start out it did sound like bent valves, tried again in case it was just because the car hadn't been started in a while and what do you know, idle picked up normal as it always does, motor also sounds fine when revving it.

Took it for a spin to check it, the seat dyno confirmed it still pulled the same spinning 1st, 2nd and half of 3rd gear. Driving normal was fine too, no hesitation, detonating etc.

So I'm very happy no valves were bent and no damage done to motor, miracle for sure! Time to enter the lotto..

Possible new track wheels? ~ 5/3/2017

Now.. regarding the whole track wheel ordeal I've been on about for some time.. A friend lent me his Buddy club P1's to test fit, and if I like I can purchase from him for cheap.

They are a 15x8 +32 which makes them no poke as much compared to my Work Equip 01's, slightly. But then I thought what about using my Works for track? I was once told NOT to use multi piece wheels as they will snap/buckle/explode due to the bolts + dish. But a friend who has a ED track car just did a track day on SSR MK2 which is exactly what I was told not to use in regards to multi piece wheels and they said there was no issues!

So I did some googling and turns out a lot of MX-5 owners apparently use the Work Equip 01's on track and have no problems either, and others use different multi piece wheels on track, even the Osaka JDM use their own designed muli piece rims on track. From more researching and also asking Barrel Bros, back in the day people would run multi piece wheels mainly around if the rim gets damaged, usually from wheel to wheel racing, it's easier to replace a outer lip vs an entire wheel.

Barrel Bros did ask why I wanted to run them, for me mainly looks BUT I'd also have the option to build custom specs to suit bigger tyres, wider track at the front etc. He gave some other useful info for me to think over regarding wheel choice. Time to think..

Here's some pics with the P1's on car (if i do end up using the Works for track, I'll probably buy the P1's still but use for daily, they look quite neat).