Miata Mailing List: July 1998, Message #122

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I think it is important for pre-94 (1.6L) owners to realize that even a
total intake, header, free-flow cat, and exhaust system will not work majic
on their cars.  Although it will make your car MUCH more aesthetically
pleasing, you will not, IMHO, be $1,000 faster.  After having done all
these mods myself, I can speak from experience.  Currently, my car can
*just barely* keep up with a stock '99 miata in a side by side drag race.
(Of course my car is about to turn 100,000 miles and I have always
red-lined it several times a day.)  I believe the '99 miata dynoes at right
around 117hp, and I would expect my setup to match that figure, with
slightly less torque than the 1.8 can produce.  I will second the motion of
many others out there that if HP/$ is your goal, turbo is the only way to
go.  Either that, or swap the engine to a 1.8 BEFORE doing your NA mods.
This is what I am kicking myself for having NOT done long ago, especially
because many of my mods are not compatible.

At 04:23 PM 7/1/98 +0000, you wrote:
>I had a JR CAI installed in my 94C prior to getting the turbo bug and the
>difference was night and day.  I've always felt that my car was unusally
>strong.  However, it'd seem to run out of breath above 5K.  W/ the CAI and
>14 degree bump, the tach definitely races toward redline w/ increased
>urgency.  I personally think it's a great product.
Kurt Summers                 
'91 Silver                   *Jackson Racing CAI
                             *Jackson Racing tuned header
-- _                 _ --    *Walker-Dynomax Super Turbo muffler
  \__-  _  ___  _  -__/      *Brospeed CHROME tip
      -__ /   \ __-          *CHROME cam cover
        {\ >(@)/}	        *Gab Superstroke shocks w/FM springs
          |   |              *Centerforce clutch       
          (  _)              *Polished Voodoo knob and handle
           `'O               *Clearwater speakers
                             *Mazda air dam, skirt, and mud flaps
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/5070
A legend in my spare time...