So how much weight does a Turbo/Supercharger add to the front of a Miata? 40lbs doesn't seem that much….and a manual rack would lighten that some. Hell, I need to loose 40lbs from my chassis.
So how much weight does a Turbo/Supercharger add to the front of a Miata? 40lbs doesn't seem that much….and a manual rack would lighten that some. Hell, I need to loose 40lbs from my chassis.
I didn't think to weigh my turbo when it was out of the Subaru, but weight in hand feels similar to a 20-25-lb kettlebell, but shape can change perceived weight. That's not including the other bits (intercooler, piping, etc)
I saw the ecotech Miata running at a trackday 2 weeks ago. Pretty sweet looking. My 99 Miata has around 240,000kms on it so its getting abit late to be tossing a $6,000 FMII kit on it... I've been in contact with the Mionda guys (J35 kits referenced above) the kit looks pretty damn nice in that you can drop a 'stock' motor in that you can DD with all summer, 25-30mpg, Honda reliability... and still get 240hp for those non-dd trackdays ... BUT.. the transmission concerns me.. The ecotech guys are local to me.. for the price of the j35 kit I can likely get 200whp from an ecotech installed....
nvm there's my brother pushing me to to do a 1uz swap.. if he wants to do the work and spend the $$ sure!
Need to decide before spring...
In reply to MartynD:Check the compression to see if it's low. If it is, you can buy a low mileage or re-manufactured engine for a good price.
Mr_Clutch42 wrote: In reply to MartynD:Check the compression to see if it's low. If it is, you can buy a low mileage or re-manufactured engine for a good price.
I am noob to most of this Mr_Clutch, but I was told regardless of what the leakdown and compression test show, there is no test to see the state of the main bearings which should be my biggest concern with en engine at this stage in its life when adding boost ? thoughts? The Miata will use oil if given an excuse to get hot... doesn't take much with an Miata, which leads me to believe I'm due. The 99-00 engines usually come at a premium price, and as I am looking for more power.. means a new engine + the FMII (I ain't exactly handy) which is what drew me to these kits in the first place. Both of them, the ecotech and the J35 Honda kit.. add decent power, at a lower stress level. The J35 results in a engine probably much relieved after its past host, and the ecotech is also powering a lighter chassis... so I can get the 200-250hp I desire at potentially less risk, when compared to adding boost to the factory engine. new or used.. well maybe..
Most of the time, the only thing you need to know about your main bearings is if you have oil pressure. 
In reply to MartynD:
all else fails. FM LSX miata swap kit.
I like that you don't have to butcher the chassis to put the J in, and technically could return it to stock of you so desired. All at a really good discount to the LS/LSX install.
Uh oh..... guess who's bringing home a Miata!
http://www.miataturbo.net/engine-performance-56/vtec-j32-miata-megasquirt-first-one-first-drive-81495/
Video in thread
Running a Squirt too! 
A little more info on the Eco kit with expected pricing
Some track time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US_xqHMb_wc
Not Shanonville Ontario?
Yep
kevlarcorolla wrote: Yep
WOW, that track has changed a lot. Last time I was there was in 1981. Five of us rented the entire track in October for like $800 for 6 hours. It looked nothing like that. I was driving the MG Midget with a Fiat 1600, there was a New Mustang, a Triumph Spitfire, a Corvair, and a BSA motorcycle with a weird gear driven rocker assembly.
Must of been before the invention of lawyers, cause we showed up, guy opened the gate and left, we beat the crap out of our cars, spun, broke,no flags, had way too much fun, and drove home. No track staff or ambulance or anything in sight. One of my best car-day memories.
Track is for sale,wish I had some cash to spend.
People who film videos in portrait mode should have their internet revoked.
I was really jazzed about this swap untill I started hearing about how weak the trans is. How much power or torque can a 1996 5 speed safely take out on track?
From what I understand its less about HP and more about TQ that kills miata transmissions. Once you get into the mid 200's?
That's about right. 225-250 tq at the wheels and you're in the danger zone.
A datapoint I saw recently said about 50-100hrs on track for 200-250tq... for the 6 speed.
So a bone stock 3.2L 260bhp motor might actually be safe? IIRC, someboby here said the stock 3.2L put down around 190hp at the wheels and similar torques, so considering six hours of track time a year I might not have anything to worry about for a decade.
Oh yeah, will street use with these torques also shave life off the trans, or is it torque plus the heat of sustained abuse that is the problem? It's aslo my DD and you just know I'm gonna have fun passing & playing on highway ramps.
What I'd like to see: 10,000mi/year spirited street driving plus 6hrs/year track time times at least 5 years of no driveline trouble
Be honest, is this the right swap for me or should I go in for that Ecotech 2.4L in a milder state of tune?
How much power do you "need?"
In addition to that what kind of power do you like? Do you want to wind it out and use a lot of RPM like the stock car?
I have a different question, assuming tracking the car with the v6 isnt "safe" what are your options for beefing up that weak link? Are you looking at needing to try to go to T5 or a different trans at that point?
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