Miata Mailing List: September 1997, Message #120
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From: 	Richard Dekker <dekker@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>

Subject: Re: charger/turbo input

Date: 	Mon, 1 Sep 1997 21:55:29 +0000



On Mon, 1 Sep 1997, Scott Chamberlain wrote:



> What I  am looking for is just a decent increase in power, with the

> fewest possible side effects. Frankly, I could proably drive Thumper

> just as he is forever, but it would be nice to have maybe 30 or so hp to

> call on.



Scott, the GReddy may be what you're looking for.  As a 30-40bhp increase,

there are only two kits, the GReddy and the Sebring.  Being that you own a

1992, there are no crank problems to worry about with installing a

supercharger, but the GReddy kit is nearly a $1000 cheaper in the US.

Here, I got it for $1770 Canadian, whereas a Sebring would have come in

near the $4000 mark. Granted, it's not as nice looking under the hood,

maybe not as complete a kit, but it does improve the car greatly.  The

highway manners are most noticeably improved, with passing not even

requiring a second thought, or a downshift and a run at it.  The turbo

delivers peak boost just prior to 4000rpm, with a noticeable whallop.  Low

end driveability doesn't suffer either, what with greater lowend back

pressure (from the turbo) giving the car more torque that it had before.

Overall, it's nice to drive in the city now too, as it has enough grunt to

pull away where it didn't before.  As to performance, the car gets better

mileage now, in all conditions, city, highway, on boost, etc...  The

install took 3 hours, with an additional hour for the J&S knock sensor (a

must, or at least a MSD unit) as I think the kit would be a dog set at 4

degrees BTDC timing without any ignition modules.  As with any kit, boost

requires extra vigilence, but save for tightening the odd hose clamp or

two, nothing's gone amiss in nearly 5000 miles.



Being that it's an oil-cooled turbo, you will need to let the car idle for

a while after hard driving, but with a turbo-timer, that's taken care of.

I haven't put mine in yet, but haven't found it too difficult to live with

so far.



Regards,



Richard Dekker, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, M-CLUB #90, MCofA #41997

Founder & President, Wild Rose Chapter - Miata Club of America



1990 MX-5 Miata - Mariner Blue with double white stripes & GReddy turbo

Team 1:1, 1:10, 1:18, 1:24, 1:60, & 1:87 Miatas