If I remember correctly reading about the Ford powered Miata, it did
have a fair amount of additional weight in the front, and the article on
it said that it did plow in the turns more than a stock Miatia. I think
a decently set up Tiger would give it a very good run for its money.
Larry
MWood24020@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 12/12/2000 3:54:58 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> theo.smit@intel.com writes:
>
> << A decent normally-aspirated Ford crate motor (or any other rollerized,
> aluminum-head 302) can easily push 400 hp. It also weighs about 75 lbs less
> than the original 260. Put an aluminum rad in front of it, and some decent
> front suspension components to further improve the weight distribution and
> handling, and I bet that mr. Turbo Miata would lose on all counts except
> perhaps aerodynamic drag and braking.
> Adding an intercooled turbo to an engine represents a minimum 50 lb penalty
> on the front end, and the Miata is no lightweight to begin with. Off boost,
> turbo engines suck (pardon the expression), so in any kind of road-course or
> autocross environment you're continuously left-foot-braking to keep the
> boost up, or else you have to try and predict exactly when the boost will
> hit as you exit the turns. Been there, done that... >>
>
> I agree, 18 psi probably means a pretty big turbo, pretty big lag and a very
> "non-linear" power curve...
> However, Miatas do handle pretty decently, much better than any Tiger without
> really extensive suspension changes, including geometry. In local SCCA
> autocross activity, it is really hard to beat the stock class Miatas even
> with my roller cam 302, konis, springs, posi etc. I guess twenty five years
> of advancement is hard to beat.
> However, the "all Tigers are POS" is completely off the mark....besides,
> Miatas are "chick cars" at the bottom line!
> Mike
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