1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Power Pages

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1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Power Pages

Dynojet Dynamometer Provided By: Mark Dibella, MD Automotive
1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Pros:
Cheap, rear-wheel drive, 50/50 weight distribution, independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, lightweight, low center of gravity, fun to drive. Miatas are the most commonly track raced cars in the world for good reason-they perform well in many important areas, except for one.
Cons:
Power-the early generation Miatas are known for producing very little of it. In fact, looking through the 2NR archives, 76 whp is by far the lowest baseline number recorded in any installment of Power Pages we could find. Pretty sad.
Notes:
The early generation Miatas aren't muscle cars, but even still-76 whp?! We knew something was drastically wrong. Not that we were expecting the car to squeal tire off the dyno at full throttle, but with a 116 flywheel hp rating, factoring in at least 20 percent drivetrain loss means the car should've made around 90 whp, especially since it had been given a full tune-up, two weeks prior. We checked compression, timing, checked for vacuum leaks, and so on...and were left with one possibility.
Jackson Racing SS High Flow Catalyst/K&N Performance Intake Kit
Pros:
As we had suspected, the cat had gone bad. Replacing it earned us over 13 whp off the bat. The Jackson Racing unit features full stainless steel construction, meaning it should far outlive OEM equipment, and features increased piping diameter for better flow. Adding a K&N filter kit brought almost four additional ponies. The kit includes everything you need to feed your engine heaping gulps of cool, clean air, including an insulator to shield it from the nearby header keeping hot air away from intake charge. Both components are CARB approved, for the win.
Cons:
None. The cat and intake delivered exactly what they promised and kept our car legal while doing it.
Parts:
Catalytic converter, gaskets, hardware; Intake filter, heat shield, brackets, hardware, and MAFS adapter.
Tools:
10-, 12-, and 14mm sockets, extension and wrench, 10- and 14mm open-end, Allen key, PB Blaster, breaker bar or impact gun, Phillips and flathead screwdrivers.
Installation Time:
60-90 minutes
Notes:
Looking at the poor excuse for a catalyst that came out of our stock Miata, we could see where power was robbed. The unit was a poorly adapted universal cat, which we suspect was designed to fit a smaller car; its piping diameter measured less than the exhaust surrounding it. On top of that, it was severely rusted inside and out, meaning that loose rust particles were becoming lodged against the honeycomb catalyst material during operation, obstructing exhaust flow and killing power-this is a common problem with older cars.
Greddy Ti-C Cat-Back Exhaust
Pros:
Full TIG-welded construction, smooth mandrel bends, lightweight and perfect fitment-what was there not to like? The part bolted on in minutes, made power, fit the profile of the car perfectly, and increased the exhaust note without adding any dreaded raspiness, Japanese construction and performance at its best.
Cons:
It's a little on the loud side.
Parts:
Exhaust, gaskets, and hardware.
Tools:
14mm socket, extension, and wrench; 14mm open-end; PB Blaster, breaker bar or impact wrench.
Installation Time:
30 minutes
Notes:
Like most aftermarket Miata exhausts on the market that actually make power, the GReddy unit has an aggressive tone. Unlike the others, though, the increased acoustic output doesn't include any annoying harshness. Louder, yes, but deeper and meaner sounding above all. Even with the included silencer in place, drivers of naturally aspirated cars may find the exhaust note a bit obtrusive. But isn't that what roadsters are all about?
Racing Beat 4-1 SS Header
Pros:
Looking at the merge point of our OEM header's collectors, we see a huge restriction that is replaced by a much larger, smoother merge point in the Racing Beat unit. Longer, equal-length runners also improve power, and stainless, TIG-welded construction ensures a lifetime of service.
Cons:
Because our Racing Beat header features longer runners than the OEM part does, the O2 sensor has to be positioned further away from the engine bay, meaning its one-wire harness had to be lengthened accordingly-a small price to pay for more power.
Parts:
Header and gasket.
Tools:
10- and 12mm sockets, 14mm deep-well socket, swivel, extension, wrench; impact gun or breaker bar; PB Blaster; 14- and 22mm open-end; wire, loom, and wire stripper; soldering iron set, Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers.
Installation Time:
60 minutes
Notes:
Remember the intake we just installed? Yeah-it had to come off to facilitate the header install. Additionally, cylinder number four's high-rise runner will contact the intake's heat shield, so you'll have to bend it a little-the heat shield that is. Most importantly, selecting a properly engineered header like Racing Beat's is crucial; with no flex piping or spring bolts in the Miata exhaust tract, construction has to be perfect, and we've actually seen poorly designed headers lose power over stock, in addition to not fitting properly.
Conclusion:
After four parts and nearly a 30whp gain, our Miata still barely cracks the 100whp mark...but is loads more fun to drive. Is it a Viper killer? Will it outrun a Vette? In the words of Marcellus Wallace: Not by a damn sight! But with its added power, the Miata will carve through a winding canyon road with ease. Throw some forced induction or juice into the mix, and you've got a recipe for a raw, low buck, real-wheel-driving experience not many cars can easily provide. Miatas are a dime a dozen, fly under the cop radar, and have been made into successful road race, time attack, and drift cars with little investment...only time will tell what's in store for ours!
Bankroll:
Jackson Racing High Flow Cat:
$169.96
K&N 57 Series FIPK Performance Intake Kit:
$203.80
GReddy Ti-C Exhaust:
$599.00
Racing Beat 4-1 Stainless Steel Header:
$425.00
MSRP Total:
$1,397.76
CONCLUSION HP Level +HP TQ Level +TQ BASELINE 76.8 77.0 JACKSON RACING CAT 89.9 13.1 81.7 4.7 K&N INTAKE 93.7 3.8 84.1 2.4 GREDDY EXHAUST 101.2 7.5 91.2 7.1 RACING BEAT HEADER 105.4 4.2 93.9 2.7 FINAL 105.4 28.6 93.9 16.9

Photo Gallery: 1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Power Pages

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