Like with horsepower, torque NUMBERS don't matter so much; It's the torque curve. The FM turbo kit for the Protege pops the torque up by about 65 ft/lbs, but if you look at the dyno, the torque hits it's peak at 3500 RPM, when the turbo spools in all the way. While that's not like a drag car, where it spools in fully at, say, 6.5k RPM, it's still not right from off the line. =) The if you look at the baseline dyno, too, you'll notice the car is producing 108ft/lbs, but it starts at under 2k, and stays nice and flat 'till 4.5 - 5k, where it drops off. A supercharger, due to it's nature, creates a more flat torque 'curve'. =) It's nice to have that, for sure.
But then again, if it were all about torque, we'd all be driving cars with electric motors.
The torque curve is... Flat, to say the least. Hehee. Just a few thoughts for those who tout the idea of turbos over supers. They're simply a different animal.
Personally, I'd like to go with a supercharger, if just for the fact that not everyone has done it. =)
Another thought, though... I beleive the JR supercharger bolts up to the lower intake manifold... If that's the case, I do know the lower intake manifold on the Miata would bolt up to a FS-DE 2.0 block, but I'm not sure of the extra valves in the intake manifold, but the bolt pattern is the same on the head. =) Maybe it's an option, but who knows!
What numbers is he pushing in his now??
I'd want to know the price/timeline/specs before committing to anything.
