HR 4715 to fix the EPA shenanigans

[Pat Conlon]

House Resolution 4715 is a start on the fix.....many questions will remain.
http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/rpm-act-would-protect-racing-series?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Image+-+Combatting+the+EPA:+Congress+Proposes+the+RPM+Act+of+2016&utm_content=3/26+CT+Digest+117&utm_campaign=03/26/2016

[fj1289]

If I understand correctly - the EPA reg is based on the "copyrights" of the software/firmware in the manufacturer control units?  If so, then there shouldn't be any issues with replacing the ECU with MOTEC, etc.....but I'm sure that's too logical

[Pat Conlon]

Good question re: reflashing the ecu. I don't know what's going to happen to those vendors
'Till now, the work around has been the ability to easily re-flash back to oem specs any time you need to have dealer warranty work or the 2 year smog dyno test.

The concern is now there is a hard counter in the ecu that records the number of times the ecu has been flashed. Something the dealer can review or worse, the smog technician.

Mazda left some meat on the bone on the new 2017 Miatas. A simple reflash shows impressive gains.

[Firehawk068]

Are those factory Mazda exhaust headers?
If so...........Impressive!

[Pat Conlon]

Nope, they are aftermarket.

[Firehawk068]

So, an aftermarket header and a re-flash netted 30 horsepower, and 19 ft/lbs of torque on a new Miata?

That is pretty impressive indeed.

Years ago, when I lived in Arizona, when my rear diff in the Firehawk needed a rebuild, I changed the ring and pinion from the stock 3.42 to 3.90:1
The computer needed a re-flash so that the speedometer would read correctly. We decided to also flash a new tune that would slightly lean the fuel out on the top end. (I was told the LT-1s were programmed slightly fat at WOT) Net gain was 6 horsepower, and 8 ft/lbs of torque. The LT-1 in stock form is so efficient, that there is not much left in the tune. It even passed smog test by a mile with a non-functioning EGR valve.
The actual gain was probably slightly more, but I was told that switching to a lower gear ratio would lower the dyno reading slightly.
It ended up with 290 horsepower, and 308 ft/lbs of torque at the rear wheels at Phoenix altitude, on a 90 degree day. That's through stock manifolds and y-pipe, single Cat, and single 3" exhaust out the back.

I would say that a 30 horsepower gain on a brand new Miata engine is a surprisingly big gain..........................Now when is the turbo going on? 

[Pat Conlon]

The turbos on the new direct injected Skyactiv engines in the Miata are still a couple of months out.
Early reports say that due to the high compression/lean burn engine design, even with a reflash to add fuel and pull timing, there will be a limited amount of boost these new engines can stand..6 to 8psi.~220rwhp for a consertive street tune. http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=601891
Again, it's still early but the same 2.0l Skyactiv engine has been out for over a year in the Mazda 3 so there is some history.

There's a company who is developing an electric supercharger system, low boost, good for ~200hp
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=594960
A 24v auxiliary battery pack to run the blower should give around 30 seconds of boost before it needs recharging.
Obviously not the system for track days, but for the street, 30 seconds is a looong time, as in Jail time.

Our old iron block BP 4 bangers could stand boost pressures well above 20 psi putting out over 400 rwhp.
Here's a dyno plot, note that 245 kPa is around 35 psi of boost:
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=577559

I recall Randy's son, Ryan had his Miata in the 20psi region, until he decided to put an all aluminum Chevy LS-1 engine in.....
At the Colorado Rally, have Randy tell you a story about Ryan and his Miata....