looking for some advice
01-04-2010, 08:30 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Denver
Posts: 904
Total Cats: 14
looking for some advice
Okay guys,
I am brand new to this forum but not new to miata's, wrenching, or fabrication, and I have a few questions, please don't refer me to the search feature. If you don't want to share your knowledge with me in this thread I respect your position but please respect mine as well. I find open communication with people of exxperience the best way to gather information. After all, when was the last time you asked your doctor a question and had him respond by saying "use the search button" you guys have knowledge through your experience. So, please share.
What I have is a 91 miata with an F20C engine conversion under the hood. For anyone who does not know the nomenclature, it is a engine and tranny out of a honda s2000. Here is the question. I am going to be turbocharging the engine and am concerned about the cooling system. I am currently running as s2000 radiator but it is a bit tall. For those of you that are running FI with after market radiator, are you having any cooling issues? I am thinking about a Ron Davis radiator then moving the inlet of the upper radiator tank to the passenger side. I am also contemplating having a custom radiator built. Obviously, we are not comparing apples to apples as the larger displacement and higher HP output 320-350 low boost and 440-470 high boost will generate more thermal energy than the miata engines do. So if you guys are having cooling problems than I will need to rethink my approach.
Thank you in advance for your responses.
Respectfully,
Little Bill
I am brand new to this forum but not new to miata's, wrenching, or fabrication, and I have a few questions, please don't refer me to the search feature. If you don't want to share your knowledge with me in this thread I respect your position but please respect mine as well. I find open communication with people of exxperience the best way to gather information. After all, when was the last time you asked your doctor a question and had him respond by saying "use the search button" you guys have knowledge through your experience. So, please share.
What I have is a 91 miata with an F20C engine conversion under the hood. For anyone who does not know the nomenclature, it is a engine and tranny out of a honda s2000. Here is the question. I am going to be turbocharging the engine and am concerned about the cooling system. I am currently running as s2000 radiator but it is a bit tall. For those of you that are running FI with after market radiator, are you having any cooling issues? I am thinking about a Ron Davis radiator then moving the inlet of the upper radiator tank to the passenger side. I am also contemplating having a custom radiator built. Obviously, we are not comparing apples to apples as the larger displacement and higher HP output 320-350 low boost and 440-470 high boost will generate more thermal energy than the miata engines do. So if you guys are having cooling problems than I will need to rethink my approach.
Thank you in advance for your responses.
Respectfully,
Little Bill
Reply
0
0
01-04-2010, 08:38 PM
#2
Elite Member
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Renton Washington
Posts: 1,731
Total Cats: 4
What are you going to be doing with the car? Just driving it i think you will be fine. Tracking OTOH you will most likely need an upgrade. Id get a godspeed or something then relocate the coolant bung.
Wouldn't this question be better suited for the S2000 forums under the FI thread?
Id be more concerned about those High Comp pistons.
Wouldn't this question be better suited for the S2000 forums under the FI thread?
Id be more concerned about those High Comp pistons.
Reply
0
0
01-04-2010, 08:40 PM
#3
Cpt. Slow
iTrader: (25)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 14,184
Total Cats: 1,135
Well I'm not sure searching would of done you any good, I'm not sure there's more than a few F20C swaps in existence, let alone visiting this board.
We do however, turbo charge our engines and upgrade our cooling systems, so you would've found plenty of help there, so yeah, search.
I have a question for you: are the miata radiator mounts modified?
If you're easy on your turbo system, the answer is usually a radiator from an automatic miata, which is slightly larger and all metal.
If you're a little harsher and even tracking your turbo miata, A LOT of us use $160-$200 mishimoto/godspeed/cxracing all aluminum radiators. Coupled with good ducting and sealing around the entire radiator (which should be done with ANY radiator, even the stock one), we can stay cool for easy track days and aggressive street driving.
For the serious weekend warrior, either v-mount intercooler/radiator setups with lots of ducting or something like Savington's (look up his build thread) ginormous triple pass radiator will be required.
We do however, turbo charge our engines and upgrade our cooling systems, so you would've found plenty of help there, so yeah, search.
I have a question for you: are the miata radiator mounts modified?
If you're easy on your turbo system, the answer is usually a radiator from an automatic miata, which is slightly larger and all metal.
If you're a little harsher and even tracking your turbo miata, A LOT of us use $160-$200 mishimoto/godspeed/cxracing all aluminum radiators. Coupled with good ducting and sealing around the entire radiator (which should be done with ANY radiator, even the stock one), we can stay cool for easy track days and aggressive street driving.
For the serious weekend warrior, either v-mount intercooler/radiator setups with lots of ducting or something like Savington's (look up his build thread) ginormous triple pass radiator will be required.
Reply
0
0
we will share knowledge to you if you share knowledge to us of your swap!
01-04-2010, 08:43 PM
#5
Elite Member
iTrader: (28)
Join Date: May 2008
Location: St. Augustine FL
Posts: 2,299
Total Cats: 2
that's an awesome Autozone intake 
we have cooling issues because mazda's design for our cooling was retarded, you should talk to hyper he'll help you out in all honesty I'm not sure too many people on this forum know about the s2000, ask Pdexta he's had a few.. that's all I can say.
we have cooling issues because mazda's design for our cooling was retarded, you should talk to hyper he'll help you out in all honesty I'm not sure too many people on this forum know about the s2000, ask Pdexta he's had a few.. that's all I can say.
Reply
0
0
01-04-2010, 08:56 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Denver
Posts: 904
Total Cats: 14
As for the pistons and all the other internals for that matter they are forged and there are plenty of boosted stockers running about.
Reply
0
0
01-04-2010, 09:09 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Denver
Posts: 904
Total Cats: 14
Curly,
I know about tracking and all the little tricks to make a car last on the track and under hard driving conditions. hopefully as evidenced by my pic!! As for the current radiator I just unbolted the stock lower mounts and fabbed up a mount for the honda radiator. it is welded to the side rails of the miata frame. The radiator sits on rubber feet located on the lower tank and I used locator straps over the lugs on the upper tank that are then bolted to the core support.
I know about tracking and all the little tricks to make a car last on the track and under hard driving conditions. hopefully as evidenced by my pic!! As for the current radiator I just unbolted the stock lower mounts and fabbed up a mount for the honda radiator. it is welded to the side rails of the miata frame. The radiator sits on rubber feet located on the lower tank and I used locator straps over the lugs on the upper tank that are then bolted to the core support.
Reply
0
0
01-04-2010, 09:15 PM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Denver
Posts: 904
Total Cats: 14
Just want to give you guys a quick shout of thanks!! I have been a little reluctant to post here....don't know what I was afraid of. Will check back later to read posts.
Bill
Bill
Reply
0
0
01-04-2010, 10:09 PM
#13
I won't be any help, but could you writeup a post in the build thread? I'm very curious about what you did to make this work. How simple or complex? What would you estimate the build cost to be? What engine management are you using?
That is a very solid and reliable engine even under boost. I think it could make for a pretty trouble free ride.
Thanks
That is a very solid and reliable engine even under boost. I think it could make for a pretty trouble free ride.
Thanks
Reply
0
0
01-04-2010, 11:03 PM
#14
I won't be any help, but could you writeup a post in the build thread? I'm very curious about what you did to make this work. How simple or complex? What would you estimate the build cost to be? What engine management are you using?
That is a very solid and reliable engine even under boost. I think it could make for a pretty trouble free ride.
Thanks
That is a very solid and reliable engine even under boost. I think it could make for a pretty trouble free ride.
Thanks
Knowledge! give it to me!
Reply
0
0
