supercharger

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ron - 08 Oct 2006 13:26 GMT

Anyone got suggestions on which supercharger I should place on my '02
Miata? Mine is the LS model with 26,000 miles. It is stock with no
modifications. The Jackson seems price competitive, but I am open to
suggestions. Thanks. Ron

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Chris D'Agnolo - 08 Oct 2006 23:19 GMT

I would just mention that it depends hugely on your goal for the car. The
JRSC reportedly adds a nice extra punch (some say exactly what the car
should have originally) but some of the newer / more radical setups push
allot of HP. If you're planning on keeping the other systems stock (brakes,
suspension, tires) I think I'd rule out the big HP setups. TONS of
discussion is no doubt available for review on miata.net but keep in mind
big increases generally require upgrades on ECU, fuel injectors, exhaust,
possibly even brakes and cooling system. The beauty is everything is
available from minor to radical, just keep in mind that the more radical,
generally (I said generally) the less likely to be reliable or at least, the
more likely to require continued tweaking / modifying of the systems that
were designed to work with the stock setup.

Honestly (and I obviously know nothing of how much you are into this car and
driving in general) I'd spend some time at a performance driving school or
in the passenger seat with an excellent driver in a stock miata at an
autocross to make sure that you're getting all that you can get out of your
car before you decide for sure that you want to upgrade. These cars are so
bulletproof in normally aspirated form, I like to stay with it if possible.
If you're looking strictly for straight-line performance, disregard this
paragraph.

good luck,
Chris
99BBB(na with intake and header)

> Anyone got suggestions on which supercharger I should place on my '02
> Miata? Mine is the LS model with 26,000 miles. It is stock with no
> modifications. The Jackson seems price competitive, but I am open to
> suggestions. Thanks. Ron

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pws - 09 Oct 2006 03:09 GMT

> I would just mention that it depends hugely on your goal for the car. The
> JRSC reportedly adds a nice extra punch (some say exactly what the car
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> Chris
> 99BBB(na with intake and header)

Excellent advice.
It is also easy to really take it far in cost, my
engine/turbo/exhaust/computer combination cost more than double the blue
book value of the car.
This can be a big factor regarding insurance and replacement costs if
the car gets stolen or destroyed.

Pat

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Carbon - 10 Oct 2006 14:52 GMT

> Excellent advice.
> It is also easy to really take it far in cost, my
> engine/turbo/exhaust/computer combination cost more than double the blue
> book value of the car.
> This can be a big factor regarding insurance and replacement costs if
> the car gets stolen or destroyed.

I have a 2004 Mazdaspeed MX5. There's about a $2000 package for it at
flyinmiata.com--cold-air intake, downpipe, exhaust and larger intercooler.
It's supposed to be good for about 50 rear wheel HP, theoretically with no
effect on reliability. That doesn't seem too bad to me, considering. But I
wonder if a modified car would be worth even as much as an unmodified one.
On the other hand, I love this car. If I keep it for a long time the
resale is moot.

The other issue is that I still have nearly two years left on the factory
warranty. I may take the plunge after that. I'd also throw in the O2
signal modifier and an A-pillar boost guage. But that would be it! ;-)

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ron - 09 Oct 2006 13:16 GMT

Thanks, Chris.

Really what I'm looking for is a boost in performance. Something with
an extra punch, comparable to the '06 model which I understand is rated
at around 170 HP. No plans to race my car. Ron

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L Bader - 09 Oct 2006 21:01 GMT

Ron -

Remember, 170-hp in an NA is different than the NC. -- Make sure
*all* of your variables are quantified in relation to each other. ie:
if you have 170rwhp on otherwise an stock NA against an otherwise
stock NC, you will still have a power to weigt advantage in the NA.

Consider gearing, transmission type, fuel management, etc. they are
two similar, but different animals.

That said, look into a freer flowing intake and exhaust, minor head
work and some suspension work and you will most likely have more car
on your hands than you will need. (Until you do decide you want to go
racing...)

- L

>Thanks, Chris.
>
>Really what I'm looking for is a boost in performance. Something with
>an extra punch, comparable to the '06 model which I understand is rated
>at around 170 HP. No plans to race my car. Ron

'97 STO, "Chouki"

// Change TEJAS to TX to reply via eMail //

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Lanny Chambers - 09 Oct 2006 23:09 GMT

> Remember, 170-hp in an NA is different than the NC. -- Make sure
> *all* of your variables are quantified in relation to each other. ie:
> if you have 170rwhp on otherwise an stock NA against an otherwise
> stock NC, you will still have a power to weigt advantage in the NA.

Advertised hp can't be compared to rwhp. A standard 5-psi JRSC in an NA
should result in about 125-140 rwhp, depending on the year of the car. A
stock NC has about 145 rwhp. Also keep in mind that the NC's torque
curve is quite a bit different from the NA's. I would expect a stock NC
to have more pull off the line than the supercharged NA.

Past 5 psi, things get expensive in a hurry, starting with the need for
an intercooler, an aftermarket ECU or other timing/fuel control, and the
stronger clutch required to handle more torque. But there are certainly
several hundred hp waiting to be had.

Signature

Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

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XS11E - 09 Oct 2006 23:46 GMT

> Really what I'm looking for is a boost in performance.

This might be sufficient:

http://www.diamondmotorsport.com/greenmiatas.htm

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Leon van Dommelen - 10 Oct 2006 01:21 GMT

I have a JR supercharged 96 (6psi) as well as a 2006. Though I am faster
in the 2006, the power of the two is comparable. Like Lanny says, the
2006 is quicker to pick up but the JR seems to have a faster peak. (I did
not actually measure the differences.)

Note however, that my 96 also has an aftermarket ECU and a high-flow
exhaust, and it is a bit more white. If you are looking for oomph
like the 2006 for low rpm city driving, a plain JR is not going to give
it to you. A cold side 8psi supercharger setup might do it, I guess, but
they are considerably more pricey and more recent.

I love the supercharger whine when I kick it, though. When is Mazda going
to put out a supercharged version? :)

Leon

Signature

Leon van Dommelen :) Bess, the Miata :) Bozo, the Miata :)
rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata
The only thing better than a white Miata is two white Miatas

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Chris D'Agnolo - 10 Oct 2006 01:42 GMT

snip:
When is Mazda going

> to put out a supercharged version? :)

wouldn't that be a nice Mazdaspeed version! Come on, they have to do it, GM
has already readied their guns for the big blast with the Solstice /
Sky.Come on Mazda, do something serious with the miata (MX-5) for the
performance nuts!

Chris
99BBB

>>Thanks, Chris.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Leon

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Scott Streeter - 10 Oct 2006 14:00 GMT

The engine in the Mazdaspeed3 would be nice. They already have these
engines. Just pop it into a Miata. Would be nice competition for the
turbo Solstice and Sky.

> snip:
> When is Mazda going
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> >
> > Leon

Signature

Scott Streeter
ss@wpi.edu
http://www.wpi.edu/~ss/

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Roland Smith - 10 Oct 2006 16:21 GMT

Leo sez:

> I have a JR supercharged 96 (6psi) as well as a 2006. Though I am faster
> in the 2006, the power of the two is comparable. Like Lanny says, the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Leon

Ron,

The really hard part of adding a blower is knowing when to stop. I have a
'90 that I added a JR to when I bought it in '95. I thought it was all
the power I would ever need!!!

When I open the hood in 2006, I notice a shiney aluminim radiator, a water
to air intercooler, a bigger crank pulley, a JR header, cat back and dual
exhaust. Along with the engine stuff, the suspension got upgraded and the
brake rotors got bigger. I am pretty sure that the car has one of my
credit cards and goes online to vendors when it gets bored.

I love the end result but it gets a bit hard to rationalize on a logical
level. As others have mentioned, a well driven stock miata does not
"need" any of the above to be a fun car. Like Leon, when the tach swings
through 6 grand, the whine from the blower is worth the price of
admission.

Roland Smith
Wrightwood, Ca

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I do not speak for NASA and NASA does not speat for me!

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