Review: Racing Beat Elbow

[Andy]

I purchased a used racing beat elbow intake and I did not care for it. It removes all possible use of a strut tower brace. I compared it to my jackson racing intake and power felt less. There was no fun at 4,500 rpm.

It also changed the sound of the car and I was not particularly fond of the sound. The closest thing I could come up to a description was a wet fart.

It sounded raspier, than it did a growl. This was because the air filter was no longer shielded and was exposed.

Out of a ten I would give it a 5. Not that great but if you want a different sound then go for it.

[— Phatmiata —]

I had one of these at some point. It's actually a good intake. I like the fact that it moves the air filter a bit farther away from that hot header. I think they make a bracket now so that you can run a strut tower bar as well.

[Andy]

Seems like some good info. For what it is worth I was also using my turn signal induction lights to channel as much air as physically possible into the intake and I was still not satisfied with it over my jackson racing intake. The sound it made was also not what I felt a miata should make.

[— Phatmiata —]

The Jackson Racing intake was actually first designed by RS-Aizawa Japan. They had a true ram-air setup that incorporated a front bumper with center intake.







But yes I would agree the Jackson was the best intake money could buy however not sure if you bought yours new or used but when new it was close to $600 so the Racing Beat was a better priced option for me back then.

[Andy]

I bought mine used for around $120 shipped. You can buy it new now for around $300. Racing beat new is $240 ish.

Used the racing beat goes for around $120 to 80. Figured for just a few more get a better intake.

By the way that blue intake can not be used with the oem ecu, it required a full standalone as it no longer uses the afm.

[WASABI]

The Racing Beat intake looks better (IMHO), yet is prone to heat soak with it's proximity to the headers. The Jackson intake takes up a lot of engine bay space.

[Andy]

I want to disagree with that statement because the Jackson racing removes the crossover pipe.

[BoBo]

I remember having this intake on my 92. There was a small improvement on a stock motor, but once I got the matching headers and exhaust, it opened up the top end. Later on I added a standalone ecu and integral stage 2 cams on Rebello built head. I was able to hit 138 on the mustang dyno.I think the RB intake would have bigger gains on the 1.8 NA motor, since the 1.8 uses similar style air box as the 1.6.Thanks for the review BTW.

[WASABI]

I want to disagree with that statement because the Jackson racing removes the crossover pipe.

I guess I mean to say visually, to me. If you have an aluminum radiator, the Jackson intake covers a lot of it.