(cool) Nice work LordWorm...I'm glad you took this idea and made it into reality...Looks like there is some really healthy discussion in this thread already (thumb)
Keep the thread alive guys...How much do you estimate the overall cost would to achieve this goal??? No doubt a lot of engine work would need to be done and some serious EMS tuning but most of all a few loose marbles in the `ol noggin and a lot of patience will separate the winners from the losers...Good Luck to all!
Cheers man, i'm canvasing some support to "sponsor" the idea - not sure how well that'll go, since no performance parts will be spared on these builds, so offering a performance part as a prize will sort of be wasted!
Cost...well...not sure in USD
but i've been quoted:
$6k for engine rebuild to hold the power
probably about a $1k upgrade to my already insane ignition system
about $2k of head work
plus the cost of custom manifolds, exhaust system, and all the associated SAFTEY parts (brakes, suspension, etc)...so not cheap
But yeah - you're right - the winners and losers will be seperated by a factor of craziness
I think the KLZE idea has merit - the KL will support more power out of the box, insane rod ratio means a love of revving, get some strong rods, headwork to support the flow and you'd be half way there.
Other options for the NA noggins to think about:
FE3 - this motor is arguably the best piston engine mazda ever built. Kia have the design pattern now, so you can lift the motor out of some Kia's and have a brand spanking new motor that was mazda designed to hold ballistic power.
the good ol FPDE - the poor cousin of the FSDE - but you only need about 180hp to win the challenge, and piston speed isn't going to bite you in the backside when you start running the RPM you need to run (an FPDE would make 180hp at the wheels on pump gas... FSDE will probably need race gas of some description to pull it off).