E/ P or F/P why use 1.6 engine

T

tubbshs

Member
I am looking at building either a Limited E/ P Miata or Limited F/P production Miata. It appears it is easier to obtain a competitive engine horsepower using the 1999 engine and head. the 99 head will flow better than a 1.6 head and since you are restricted to the amount of head work as far as porting, what would be the advantage of running a Limited F/P car?

Minimum weight for 1999 Miata in E/P is 2075 and you have 240 more cc in the engine. Where as weight F/P using a 1.6 is 2075 lbs also. I am confused , can anyone offer some opinion on this ?

Thanks
 
tubbshs":23f2aufu said:
I am looking at building either a Limited E/ P Miata or Limited F/P production Miata. Minimum weight for 1999 Miata in E/P is 2075 and you have 240 more cc in the engine. Where as weight F/P using a 1.6 is 2075 lbs also. I am confused , can anyone offer some opinion on this ?
Thanks
Click to expand...

The easy part of your question is:
There is a desired lap time difference between the F and E car.
 
I looked at the times for E & F production and they are very close. When the classes run (Limited and unrestricted) is there two winners based on the pre of the car in the same class, such as E/P( Limited & unrestricted) or is there just one winner for E/P?
 
I looked at the CenDiv times, 1-3 seconds which is a race lap time and in 25 laps a consistent 1 seconds per lap in 25 laps on a two mile track would 25 seconds behind and that is a good distance.
One winner per class.
 
You can't just put a 99 motor into any miata and run EP or FP. In order to run the 99 engine, you must run a 99-02 car - including tub, subframes, body work ,etc. And that combination is EP only.

The 94-97 1.8L also runs in EP. If you run a level 2 94-97 in EP, you must run the 94-97 motor (different head mainly) which is known to make less power than the 99... and also gets to weigh less.

The 1.6 liter can also be run as a full-prep motor in an EP miata, body must be 89-97. One of those qualified on the pole at RA last year.

Now, if you want to run FP, the 1.6L motor has far less prep available. Less cam lift, less compression, stock rods, no dry sump or intake manifold allowances.

So the 1.6L FP cars are thousands less to build.... and there are an absolute ton of FP miatas running around the country.

Time wise on the track, we say two seconds a lap from the fastest FP (like Eric Prill) to the fastest EP (like Matt Reynolds) on a two minute track. Shorter tracks, less time difference. Shorter straights and more turns, less time difference.

HTH
 
tubbshs":agqzxkse said:
I looked at the times for E & F production and they are very close. When the classes run (Limited and unrestricted) is there two winners based on the pre of the car in the same class, such as E/P( Limited & unrestricted) or is there just one winner for E/P?
Click to expand...

I think this is where you're confused. FP cars are roughly 2 seconds a lap slower than EP cars - at least the fastest examples from both classes are.

There is just one EP winner, and just one FP winner. You pick the combination you think is best, for the class you want to run.

As I said before, FP cars are thousands less to build. If cost is no option, EP cars are certainly more fun with the extra power.
 
I've looked at the rules and regulations for the F/Production car and I believe that the transition from Spec Miata would cost less due to the cam restrictions and the port work on the engine. I have been told that a good F/P engine will produce 165 to 170 hp. Do you think this is possible.

As I may have sold my Spec Miata, does any know of a F/P car for sale other than the one Frank Fisher has?

Thanks
 
tubbshs":3jrwm4ws said:
I have been told that a good F/P engine will produce 165 to 170 hp. Do you think this is possible.
As I may have sold my Spec Miata, does any know of a F/P car for sale other than the one Frank Fisher has?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Better than 165/170 hp IIRC. A Spec Miata 1.6 makes 128 hp and a 99 makes 131 hp.

Check the for sale on this site. There is an F car without engine for $12,000.00
 
"The 1.6 liter can also be run as a full-prep motor in an EP miata, body must be 89-97. One of those qualified on the pole at RA last year"

That car is running the 1800 engine
 
I was actually refering to the comment about the 1600 being on pole last year. That car is now running an 1800
 
prodracing.com - Come for the love of the category, stay for the factual information!

:lol:
 
Harold nice talking with you last night. Feel free to call any time.

Good luck with your project and hope to see you out there this year.
 
I finally understand F/P Miata requirements. When you read the first part of the production class rules it refers to limited and full prep cars. I interpreted this to include Miata's. It does not!!!!!!! A 1.6 Miata from 1990 to 1993 can only run as limited in F/P. None ot the directives for building a full prepped a car applies to a Miata.

Thanks to all that gave input on this subject.
 
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