Performance Head Build
 

I've had my new to me Miata for 5 weeks now. Thinking about building a head to run on my biottome end. I have NOT done compression or leakdown tests yet but will before this gets underway....let's pretend it's all good..mmmkay? It's a 2001 Special Edition with 106k miles ... stock bottom end ... performing daily duties as of this week... I have installed a 2.5" roadster sport midpipe and cobalt twin tip muffler. Car has 10:1 CR. My thoughts are:

MS3 Pro PNP ECU
Shave 20 thou, 3 angle valve job, port/polish
Supertech Dual Spring Kit
Supertech SUB Lifters
Skunk2 Throttle Body
Skunk2 Intake Manifold
Tomei Cams 252 deg intake 256 deg exhaust
Racing Beat Header
New Injectors
New Fuel Rail
Will be running 93 octane pump gas

My questions:
What ballpark HP can I expect to get out of all this?
What size injectors?
Why are VVT intake cams so expensive? ;)

Thanks...Loving this little car.
Dale

You can do all that and gain maybe 20-30hp. Or for about the same money put a turbo on your bone stock motor and double the hp.

Welcome to miatanaturallyaspirated

Sounds bad.

Skunk 2 throttle body and intake manifold wouldn’t be a bad idea. When he goes turbo those would carry over. MegaSquirt also wouldn’t be a terrible idea. Op, I wouldn’t change injectors unless you had a need for them. Stick with stock for now.

Bad as in good? Or bad as in no bueno? Please elaborate

I was under the impression that increasing flow would create the need for a little larger injectors....you're saying the stock injectors can keep up? What about adding MS / Throttle Body / Intake to a stock motor? Could the increased airflow give me some gains? It'd be nice to do this in stages over the summer and take the winter to make a bigg(er) change.

I might to F/I at some point but just want to tinker for a bit....plus I do like the idea of "massaging" power out of a motor.

I'm new to 4 cylinder cars but I've built plenty of muscle cars over the years....forgive me ;)

~Dale

doesnt psyberoptix have basically this same head for sale, with the addition of being CNC ported?


but yeah, 3k for 30 hp....that sounds terribad



8 cylinder engines.. you got 200% more out of any mod compared to a 4 cyl.

miata engines suck. If you want big na power and have it actually stay together, then put a K series honda engine in it.

Sounds like a bad time. Lots of work and money for very little gain.

The only money I would put into a naturally aspirated build is stuff that could be carried over to a turbo build, so the skunk2 intake manifold, their throttle body so you don't ingest a plate screw, and a megasquirt. You could fab up a cheap 949 racing style intake as well for under 100$, it would be decent power/dollar compared to other N/A gains according to emilio. Take some time to learn to tune it naturally aspirated, then go for a turbo. The benefit to this is if you blow the engine, you don't need to build one up again, just pull a junkyard one and put it in. I am only keeping my car N/A as I can't sacrifice reliability too much.

Link to the head for sale? I didn't immediately find it in the for sale section.

Dale

I'm interested in this option.....I may do that and think about it for a bit. Come winter, I may do a turbo. My wife likes the blow off valve sound ... lol

Dale

If your plan is to turbo in the relatively near future, I'd skip most of the stuff you have listed save for the intake manifold (a EUDM Squaretop manifold is another option), ECU, injectors, and the throttle body. The rest either doesn't help when turbocharged (RB Header), or can be compensated for with MOAR BOOST. ECU and injectors would be needed when turbocharged assuming you get the ones you need right off like FlowForce or Injector Dynamics.

Signed: A guy who arguably spent too much money on his head for the marginal benefit received.

I'll spend $500 8 times before I let go of $4k ... call me crazy ... lol

Sounds like making power with a Miata is not for you.

Meh...just trying to find my footing. I'll figure it out. :skid:

Step 1: Vomit all the money into an n/a BP.
Step 2: Realize it sucks and you wasted money
Step 3: Vomit more money into turbo setup
Step 4: Drive sometimes. Break often.
Step 5: part out car
Step 6: buy new car
Step 7: Turbo again, but do it right this time
Step 8: Drive on track
Step 9: Realize that care and feeding of a turbo miata on track sucks
Step 10: Part out car
Step 11: buy new car
Step 12: Do step 1, but less, because you don't want to waste money, then spend the rest of the money on safety equipment
Step 13: N/A track glory
Step 14: Sing "The Circle of Life" by Elton John.
Step 15: K swap


The question is: Will you spend the $20k up front to skip to Step 15? Or will you take the long, way more expensive, and way more annoying path.

There is so much truth to this it hurts.

Not interested in a K Swap. I'm thinking about turbo now though...That damn Quin and his all motor 185whp monster ... lol