Miata cooling system thread
#542
If you cut the rear underside of the black plastic bumper support in front of the metal crossbar it will open up additional flow from the topside of the mouth opening, over the metal crossbar, and to the top of the radiator. It is already designed for air to travel that way from the factory but a little extra trimming in a place nobody sees can open up many additional square inches of flow path.
I'm going to be doing this soon on my car.
From the factory, there is a styrofoam wedge that gets taped to the top of the bumper support that helps seal this area and further supports the cover -- this piece is often missing.
#543
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Thank you for digging up those pictures. I guess I should have take some more showing what I have done more recently. That oil cooler is OEM to a Lotus 907 2.0 engine in a 1975 Jensen Healey. I had it left over from a part out. I may be going to an RX-7 oil cooler in the same location at some point for additional head room for future power increases. We have very few e85 stations here so I don't have the benefit of being able to run a little cooler burning fuel.
#544
Hey guys, I'm trying to copy the FM's spal fan kit and do it diy.
One thing I can't get is how FM's cfm rating of 2700 is equal to the spal's combined spec of 2200~ cfm?
I found out that the high performance curved blade is 1292 cfm and the low profile pushes 909.
Are their numbers misleading or am I missing something?
One thing I can't get is how FM's cfm rating of 2700 is equal to the spal's combined spec of 2200~ cfm?
I found out that the high performance curved blade is 1292 cfm and the low profile pushes 909.
Are their numbers misleading or am I missing something?
#546
I am trying to avoid the power surge that the high performance one draws.
And the medium sized draws pretty much the same amount.
Can two low profile of 909 cfm each can pull enough air for a street turbo car?
This:
A1 Electric Online Store: Spal 30100467 12" Low Profile Fan
And the medium sized draws pretty much the same amount.
Can two low profile of 909 cfm each can pull enough air for a street turbo car?
This:
A1 Electric Online Store: Spal 30100467 12" Low Profile Fan
#547
I would put big fans if you're going to swap out the stock fans. The stock fans are almost a guarantee to move more air than those low profile fans, even though they are SPAL fans. Yes big fans that move more air pull more power, that's just how that works.
Also beware that there are knockoff SPAL fans, so buy carefully. I'd buy from SPAL directly if possible to be sure you're getting the real thing. I would only buy the high performance ones myself, as I would always rather have 50% more fan than I need, rather than not enough. If that causes problems in the electrical system, then I'll fix them too.
I run a pair of 12" spal extreme performance fans myself. 40A of current EACH.
EDIT: A pair of these: https://webstore.spalusa.com/en-us/p...p-12v-pk4.aspx
They are hot nasty fans, and it was a pain to install them and I had to upgrade to a bigger alternator and new wiring. It's overkill, but that's how I like my cooling system.
Also beware that there are knockoff SPAL fans, so buy carefully. I'd buy from SPAL directly if possible to be sure you're getting the real thing. I would only buy the high performance ones myself, as I would always rather have 50% more fan than I need, rather than not enough. If that causes problems in the electrical system, then I'll fix them too.
I run a pair of 12" spal extreme performance fans myself. 40A of current EACH.
EDIT: A pair of these: https://webstore.spalusa.com/en-us/p...p-12v-pk4.aspx
They are hot nasty fans, and it was a pain to install them and I had to upgrade to a bigger alternator and new wiring. It's overkill, but that's how I like my cooling system.
Last edited by patsmx5; 07-18-2016 at 04:31 PM.
#550
When I had the a/c condenser/big intercooler/radiator/oil cooler all in the front with a stock bumper/stock hood, my car would not run thermostat temp on the hottest of summer days in Houston when driven hard. Big fans helped, but moving the a/c condenser made a much much bigger difference.
#553
Some cheap ebay 2.25"
I had to knock the condenser tabs over, beat on the upper support a little for some more clearance, so it wouldn't rub. The side brackets allow for adjustment, enough that I can move the rad forward enough to fit stock fans, but the stock 1.6 swaybar is probably 1/8" from hitting fan cage...
I believe I can cut the flanges off the stock fans and move them another 1/4" closer to the radiator, when I finally get a new sway bar.
Guess I probably should have bought a not fat radiator.
I had to knock the condenser tabs over, beat on the upper support a little for some more clearance, so it wouldn't rub. The side brackets allow for adjustment, enough that I can move the rad forward enough to fit stock fans, but the stock 1.6 swaybar is probably 1/8" from hitting fan cage...
I believe I can cut the flanges off the stock fans and move them another 1/4" closer to the radiator, when I finally get a new sway bar.
Guess I probably should have bought a not fat radiator.
#558
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Save yourself the fan/sway interference issues, these days you shouldn't be running a big fat radiator anyways - The CSF cores are very affordable and will outperform all the traditional thickness-over-efficiency rads. Go with the standard vertical flow unit or the Supermiata crossflow, depending on your cooling needs. Only guys who should be running a thick radiator and dealing with a bit of fan clearancing these days are those with ALLOFIT cooling needs (TSE radiator).
#560
Speaking of CSF . . . they've built a bunch of Miata radiators with integrated oil coolers for Jackson Racing. Haven't seen them released yet. Is Goodwin going to carry those? Any word on release date? Really interested in one of those for the Silver car as I'd like to restore my OEM AC fan.