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

 

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.

 

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 will share knowledge to you if you share knowledge to us of your swap!

 

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.

 

No, I want miata guys experience with there radiator size, as it is a shorter radiator. If you guys are having cooling problems then I certainly will, if you are not then it is worth giving it a shot.

As for the pistons and all the other internals for that matter they are forged and there are plenty of boosted stockers running about.

 

Hey leave my sweet chrome intake alone besides why spend money or time on a part that is going to end up in the trash once the turbo is on?

 

You still haven't said what your doing with the car.

 

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.

 

sorry 499,

it will be a weekend hotrod and will see track use once in a while.

 

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

 

trackspeed engineering / savington is making an awesome radiator. You'll need to make ducting too.

 

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

 

ill give that a big OL phat +1

Knowledge! give it to me!

 

I almost didn't open this thread because of the completely useless title.

"F20C/S2000 swap - radiator advice?" would have been better.

Welcome!

 

Cool swap, there a kit for the mounts and k-member? Got more pics?

 

I would highly recommend upgrading the radiator then.

 

intake? I thought you might be using the radiator fan for boost...

 

Great, just great, thanks for pointing out my speed secret to everyone

If you guys are interested I can start a write up in the build section.

 

yes please!