high performance Miata

If I'm not mistaken this pic is of the 9 second 1/4 mile Miata's engine from years back I have ranted about in the past, I had the mag years ago and it was a beast. Stock intake manifold with possibly some inside smoothing ie extrude honing yet a simple T4/T3 with upgraded rods and pistons of course.
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Mazda sold a Mazdaspeed version in 2004-2005, came with a factory turbocharged setup - though it was only good for about 180 hp, about 40 more than stock.

There are quite a few well-engineered boost options out there, though - turbocharger setups from www.flyinmiata.com , or a very cool cold side supercharger system from www.fastforwardsuperchargers.com, that get you to 190 - 240 hp reliably. The stock 1990 - 2005 Miata engine was based on a turbocharged engine, so the engine itself is strong and can easily handle that power - and 240 hp in a 2400 lb car is pretty quick. The turbo systems can easily get you to 300 - 350 hp, but additional engine and drivetrain work is definitely needed then.

Beyond the stock 4 cyl engine you can go to the V8 conversions, the 5.0 small block Ford was quite popular, but the hot setup now is the LS2 or LS3 GM engine (aluminum block, instead of the iron block LS1). An easy 400 hp, there are several conversion kits available, and Flyin Miata offers turnkey conversions.

 

The V8 option is ok but it totally screws up the handling which is the Miata's 'bread and butter'. Also in regards to the massively expensive turbo and supercharger kit's offered one could put together their own turbo system for half the cost, I know as I did just that with my first turbo upgrade on my '92 MR2T. Also if I'm not mistaken the Miata ecu can be accessed to adjust fuel and timing parameters which is not/was not possible with the Toyota ecu.

 

Been there done that sooo....

1. A T4/T3-T63 $800 US excluding shipping (previous customer I am)
2. A T4/T3 flange $50 US max. (previous customer I am)
3. A salvaged FMIT (front mounted inter-cooler), maybe $100 US but barter.

I could go on and on and on but the point I'm trying to make is you can add performance additions that can/will still give you a reliable sub-12 daily driver without screwing up what the Miata is known for with a V8.

 

Turbos and superchargers add torque; if you want a high rpm power monster you can size a turbo for that with plenty of lag etc., but all of the off-the-shelf kits add a lot of torque all the way through the powerband.

Texasmr2, sorry, but you are repeating a few myths and erroneous statements. The stock Miata ECU (90-2005) can not be reprogrammed, but the 06+ one can. Aftermarket full programmable ECUs, not piggybacks, are available for $600 - $2000. The Miata FI kits are not that expensive, not in the context of a Ferrari forum at least! $2.5K - $5K will get a very well engineered solution. If you want to save money and piece together your own solution that is certainly possible, but you trade time for money .

The V8 conversions don't actually ruin the famed Miata balanced handling. Total weight gain for a V8 conversion is typically around 200 - 250 lbs, and a third of that is at the back for the heavier differential and axles needed with the much higher torque. There are plenty of suspension setups that, with the proper selection of spring rates (which are well understood), can keep a Miata handling at a very high level with excellent balance.

Check out the forums at www.Miata.net , especially the Power Modifications forums (separate for Supercharged and Turbocharged) for more details; also check out their Marketplace section, vendors to look at are Flyin Miata, Fast Forward Superchargers, and BEGI Bell Engineering.

 

Actually Gordon I never said they can be reprogrammed I only assumed that, I did not KNOW if they were accessible, I had an Autronic on my MR2T so I'm not a newby to the standalone EMS or the cost of an EMS.

 

He was mostly referring to the idea of the V8 killing the handling of the Miata (same BS misinformation that V8 RX-7s suffer from).
Even the iron block small block Chevys didn't upset the handling of the RX7, as the weight difference is minimal, despite Mazda's marketing about the lightness of the rotary. The basic rotary is lighter than the old iron SBC, until you add in all of what's necessary to keep it alive, and especially in the EPA's good emissions graces - it's basically a 6 cylinder 2-stroke, with several large plates of cast iron that go bottom to top.

The Miata's block isn't exactly light, much of its weigh carried high, vs. the aluminum LSX V8s, which carry their weight lower (another handling advantage over the rotary, also).
The handling is very minimally affected, and in the RX-7, even improved a bit by moving the battery to the rear to give a slightly rearward weight bias (vs. stock 50/50) to make better use of all the new torque - most scale within a few pounds of a stock car.

 

Ton of info on miataturbo.net (i think)

Some guy on another forum just picked one up that makes 300 wheel...... should be a fun car.

I just think id hate the gay jokes I'd have to take for driving one. (I think id rather have an s2000, with better resale)

 

With a bunch of boosted torque, they're a blast. <ba dum-bum>
Mine was SCed, an early Corky Bell still finalizing the details, and would light the tires in 2nd on command. Pissed-off Camaros and Firebirds, and the occasional Vette, all the way up to redline in 5th (about 130, IIRC), and then they'd just keep going if they were still hanging in there.

If you're secure in your manhood, the gay jokes won't bother you. The girls, however, will think you're non-threatening and have a cute car, until it's too late....hehehe.

 

I always enjoyed the look I got as I walked away at 130mph+, boost baby boost!!!!

 

Just.........needed.......one.........more..........gear......!!!

I always wondered just how much more that little four could do if it had the gearing. Still had enough pull nearing top to give a handful of drivers the "WTF?!?!?" moment, for sure.

 

I love that look at 130mph+ as you walk away, smiling of course!

 

It's your money but if I were you I would build it myself and go with a turbo, I did it and it was actually fun. One thing you MUST understand is the difference between a supercharged engine and a turbocharged engine. I do not feel like typing a book so do some research.

 

my favorite cars of all time, based on price vs perfomance and reliability are my turbo miatas. they have done enduros, track days, sprint races and do it way cheaper than anything else that runs similar lap times

 

I allways wanted to build a Miata , but since i grew up racing all the RX cars , my build would be a Miata with a 13 b ( 4 or 6 port ) i don`t care which , secondary bridge port , with dual webers, or a Holley, or dellordo , no turbo, , with that setup there should be nothing that could really touch it except maybe a turbo rotary, or of course a rare Lambo or a very fast Ferrari or Porsche turbo.

 

Lets talk crazy Miata engine swaps. When I do purchase one I'll get alittle whacky if I do not stay with the base engine and my choices are these three engines, naturally I would want the third engine but $15-$20K just for the engine would hurt my budget.
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Meh. If you're going to the trouble of an engine swap, why go for another 4 cylinder? The stock Miata engine is plenty strong for 250 rwhp. I like the recent LS3+ swaps, an easy 400 - 600 hp in a 2600 lb car!! The wildest Miata swap I've seen (pictures) is a Jaguar V12... that one needed a bit of firewall work to fit, but WOW!

It all depends on your budget, power goals, and if you want to be driving or fiddling with it all the time. You can DIY, some guys have built excellent setups, many more have built crappy hacked together setups, it does take some knowledge, experience, and skill to DIY a decent turbo setup! If 250 hp is enough, then a good enough will not need any engine work, the transmission will hold up, the diff (in the 1.8 cars, 94+) will hold up. If you want to track it, then you might want a brake upgrade, otherwise good pads will handle the extra power just fine. Suspension is always going to need an upgrade, the stock shocks are worn out after 40K miles.

I'd only consider one already modified if I knew the kit installed and got a sense that the installer was competent. For me, a lot of the satisfaction was in the selection of components and in the build, so that's the route I chose (I have a 96 Miata, supercharged, standalone ECU, Ohlins suspension, etc etc.)

 

flyinmiata.com

 

Having owned a couple of these "chick cars," this is what I would do. Frankly, adding much more than 150hp would ruin the car and make it into a freak.

Dale

 

let's see....no v8, 250hp, one more gear, minimal upkeep......put a S2000 engine & gearbox in the little bugger and there you go.

 

T4/T3-63 and see ya S2000.