Miata Mailing List: March 1993, Message #83
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   From: (none)
Subject: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
   Date: (none)

Jeff Maurer writes:
 
>Kenneth writes:
>> personally, i just as happy the car isn't too fast - IMHO,
>> every second you cut off the 0-60 time is one second less
>> worth of enjoyment (well, within reason :-)
 
>Normally I would agree, but in the last year I've been beaten off
>the line by a Cherokee (V8?) and had to work hard to stave off
>some kind of Voyager mini-van thingy.  ...
 
Personally, I don't have a problem at traffic lights. I *know* I can beat a
'91 Z28 at a light; there's this guy who still tries, and still loses .
Neither of the vehicles you mention is gonna beat a Z28 up to 40 or so,
where he starts to catch up to me. An occasional full-scorch run up to 60 is
*not* going to hurt your engine or drivetrain.
 
>I have to admit that I'm addicted to the sound of the 4 banger.  When I
>was in school it was the Fiats, Alfas, 510's, and Lotus' that caught
>my ear when they went by.
 
>It doesn't seem like it ought to be that hard to get 130-150hp out of
>the engine.
 
One reason Mazda isn't putting a rotary (not the only reason, but *a*
reason) into the Miata is that it doesn't have what they consider the proper
power curve for a LWS, which is one where the acceleration increases through
most of the power band. This is called "jerk", and is what makes you feel
like you're getting pushed down into the seat when you accelerate hard. The
rotary engine is too smooth.
 
As for pumping more horsepower out, it's not *too* hard, up to around 130.
The combination of a Jackson Racing air intake (the new one, without the
computer) and a good exhaust should get you close to 16 additional
horsepower, for around $700 plus installation labor. Beyond that, you
apparantly have to go for hotter cams and similar not so mild bolt on stuff.
That will be good for another 8 or so horsepower, and at that point, it's
time to bolt on a turbocharger as well.
 
Of course, if you go much beyond 130 horsepower, you need to take a good
look at brakes and suspension as well.
 
Ken Warren