Mobius

iTrader: (2)

I've been known to get a nut out during a break as well.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Should I be satisfied with 34mpg @ 78-80mph with the headlights up? I don't know what else to do now.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

I would be.

Personal best on my '90 is ~ 30.5 MPG @ 65-70 with the hardtop on, windows up, and a mix of headlights up and down.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

best I've done is a few miles over 300 on one tank all highway, with the 1.6, pre turbo, basically stock '92. Not sure what that equates to, guessing using a gallon or so less than the 1.6 tank capacity? It was on E for a good 40 miles before I got off I95.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for the input. Up next is an R-pack lip, mushroom pan, possibly tire spats, and I may "close" the front control arms with plastic to clean air going under them. I suppose I could also close-up the trans tunnel to clean some air going under the car.

I desperately wanted 40mpg, I don't think its going to happen.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Fuel economy should get better in the summer, right?

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

Using A/C?

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Of course but we're not considering that at this time.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

I get better MPG in the summer.

Can you deactivate injectors while cruising, see if that helps at all?

y8s

iTrader: (8)

my 197 hp mini should be capable of 34 mpg at freeway speeds and it's shaped like a box.

does this miata still behave like a miata at other times?

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

And your mini must cruise at ~14.7. Hustler is a master tuner and he probably isn't at 14.7. I hope.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Oh yeah, I tracked-it on Saturday before attaining these figures.
16.1:1 is the target. I have no idea what I'm doing at this point, this pis fairly uncharted territory for use MT tuners.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

You might need to remove two of the pistons to achieve that.

I'd say you're doing pretty well. In the city, my '90 routinely gives me 19-20 MPG, which is ironic as this is considerably worse than the turbo '92. It probably doesn't help that, with no turbo on an aging 1.6, I have to treat the throttle as though it was an on/off switch. The terrain around here is quite hilly, and the lack of power on this engine really shows.

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

Problem solved.

1990 Mazda Miata with 3 cylinder Suzuki engine.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

What the hell?

That just ain't right.

I owned a '91 Metro LSi convertable for about a year. It was a fun car to drive in city traffic (it's smaller than a Miata) but it was the second most horribly gutless abomination that I have ever owned. Acceleration was absolutely glacial, and the Metro only weighs 1,750 lbs. I can't even begin to imagine how bad that engine would be in a Miata lugging around an additional 400 lbs of excess bulk.

Let me put this into perspective: The G10 engine is rated for 55 hp and 58 ft lbs. That's only 5hp more than a 70's vintage VW Beetle. Hell, the turbocharged version (Yes, Suzuki actually built a turbo variant of this engine) makes 70 HP. 70!

I mean, maybe if you really built up the engine, ran it on E85, and boosted the **** out of it, you MIGHT be able to get up into the powerband of a bone-stock NB with low compression and fouled plugs.


I remember making a joke on M.net a while back. Some guy was asking about installing carburetors on his Miata. I sarcastically said that while he was at it, he should also cut a hole in the firewall so he could run the mechanical distributor from a 323.

Here is a hole in the firewall:




Here is a distributor sticking through a hole in the firewall:




Both of these images are from the build thread of the Miata in the Craigslist ad.

(?!?!?!?!)




On the other hand, I just looked up the original specs for a 1990 Miata, and I see that it's rated for 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway. I don't feel nearly as awful about 20 / 30 in mine now.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

That is my plan for whenever I source a cheap or free engine or car. Yank 2 cylinders. Add the GT1544 in my attic. Get 31mpg. Drive it to the junkyard.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

Pick up two KL engines while at the junk yard. Machine an adapter to connect the back of one to the front of the other. Find a chassis to install it into. Drive it to the junk yard.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

Then find another hobby. Something simple, like watching tv.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

14.7 is for emissions, 16.0 is for economy.

Scrappy Jack

iTrader: (2)

I really need to Pbox or dyno my heap. I don't think I ever saw better than 25 MPG in mixed driving. Granted, turning 4300 RPM on the highway is probably not helping with that.

It's still about 10 MPG better than I get with the 3-series, so it's got that going for it...