So, is this still The Way to mount IATS? Has something better came around in the years since I last did a build?

I really appreciated this for the cleanliness and solidity it offered, but this was originally based on a 2010(?) post. It's been what, a decade and a half, has the community decided on a better IAT placement?

 

Nope, that's still a good location. I hate unplugging them, so I make a ~12" lead with another plug on the end. That way I can unplug it from the engine bay when removing the engine, valve cover, timing belt, or whatever.

 

Holy crap. That's a fantastic idea. Thanks Curly!

 

So, I've got a complete NB2 AC system. This is a '94 NA. It seems I cannot fit the condenser in any way in front of the radiator stock (If you look at the different condensers, different mounting systems).

Is there any reason I couldn't just fab together a mounting bracket that converts between 1.8 NA and NB2, and mount it that way? Assuming it uses the NB2 rubber mount points and I don't hard mount it, I should be gucchi right?

 

Of course.

 

Okay, it's been a long time since my last post. I got busy. Some of these pictures are going to be super messy since I'm in the middle of building this, and frankly, Curly made me feel guilty about not posting any updates.




I now have the front end together. Ended up with 5mm aluminum mounts for the oil cooler. There are only two parts left from a first generation miata in this cooling stack, the sheet metal, and modified radiator brackets. I'm using NB bottom mounts, and NA top mounts for the radiator. Everything else is some variant of custom fabbed, including using some NB mounting parts.



Back shot, yes, I have made the move to brushless cooling. Thanks to the modified mounting position, the brushless fan fits with plenty of room. With the stock mounting points, it was impossible to fit with my setup.



Shot of the engine bay as it sits. There's still a bit to do, primarily wiring, but it's starting to come together.



Wiring is a mess. This is a custom Link FuryX with two PDMs to control everything in the car. I've ripped out all stock wiring and it's all being replaced with a custom wiring job.



Had to replace both doors. Once I really dug into them, there was too much rust to deal with. It's not worth dealing with hugely rusty doors when you can get ahold of relatively inexpensive used doors. I did look into buying stock doors from Mazda, but they were only a couple hundred away from just buying carbon doors, so...



The eagle eyed will note that, yes, indeed, this is a NB fuel system. Full conversion over to AN. I just need to finish running hose. Oh lordie, so much hose to run.



Another door that had to be replaced. Too much rust, ended up going in and epoxying the hell out of the inside of each door. I don't expect rust to be an issue ever again.



I love these tails. The fitment is very good for an aftermarket part. Not sure I'd recommend buying anything from this seller, they sent me the completely wrong parts initially and I had to throw a huge fit to get the right ones. Massive delays in getting the right parts.

Overall...Tons of progress, at least for me relative to the time I've had available, and not far from being at the first start. Primary things left for first start are just wiring and hoses, plus a few minor things out and about.

 

Hey look, progress! Nice work. Wiring can be very messy. You're also usually using about a dozen different plier based tools. Strippers, crimpers, flush cuts, needle nose, etc.

With the size of the garage it looks like you're working in, why not leave the doors off for easier access to the interior?

 

Taking off the doors is a brilliant suggestion. I didn't think of that.

I was originally fitting them and making sure everything fit right. I'll be removing them today or tomorrow and they can sit on a shelf while I get things done.

 

Not a lot to report on. Most of what has been going on is me building out AN hosing to everything. Few things are below.


Fuel filter lid is done, powdercoated, and converted from the damn screws. Been on a slow crusade of removing all the screws possible on this car and replacing them with bolts, to me, this is highly satisfactory. I wish I could swap out the screws holding the fuel pump assembly in, but I don't think that's possible.



Fuel filter and charcoal canister's first mounting. 2mm aluminum hangers, same place as the regular fuel mount, this is the best mounting I've been able to figure out. Keep it? Throw it away? I suspect the 2mm aluminum strips I am using to mount this are significantly stronger than the stock plastic mounting, but this is my first time doing a lot of this stuff, so I'm not sure if this is the best or even an acceptable long-term mount. I have to fit both of them here sadly, no other places for it unless I put it somewhere on the bottom of the car.

 

Not quite 100% finished, but close. Pretty happy with the fit of the can gauge for the ECU.