side by side radiator and intercooler setup
 

Well, I got lucky at the tear a part and found an 87 Shelby Z. I snagged the radiator/intercooler combo out of it and am thinking of running it in the new Miata. The radiator core is quite thick and would run both fans in a front and back, push and pull setup. The IC is good up to around 270whp according to a local turbo Dodge geek. I figure if I make an air scoop, the side by side setup would get plenty of airflow. And if the IC doesn't work well enough I will just keep the radiator and run a larger fmic with an around the radiator or v-mount setup. Here is a link to what the stock configuration looks like http://www.theturboforums.com/car_im...ntercooler.jpg
Another option would be the Probe turbo intercooler in place of the Shelby one.

If it works it would be a very clean setup, save dicking about with IC piping under the car and you could probably keep all of the original ducts and undertrays. I like :bigtu:

That's probably the most ideal setup I've ever seen. The inlet/outlet's are perfectly positioned for a Miata application. The IC is on the small side (how thick is it?) but should be fine for a low-boost application. A few datalogging sessions should give you a good idea on effieciency of IAT's. A cool-air-box behind the drivers headlight and a NACA duct would ensure you're starting with the coolest air you can.

I'm still way up in the air about the IC setup for my impending '99 build. A side-by-side setup isn't out of the question using a 3" Honda radiator and a CXracing 3" IC core.

I'm assembling a gallery of over-the-top setups and might go with one of those ala TrackDog at 1/5th the price.

Are there any other OEM side-by-side applications?

I think it'll work, but asking much more power from it might be beyond it's limit. There's only so much space up there, and even though you get the advantage of improved exposure to air flow you do run out of "real estate". You're only means after that comes in the form of thicker exchangers which also reach limits.

I'd say to be safe you should proabably start at whatever your wastegate pressure is... maybe 8psi and get some IAT's. The earlier Bell/FM IC's were not that much bigger, but they may have been better designed. This one will also be behind the AC condenser. Hot days may not be kind to IAT's.

The concept is awesome as long as it's got the flow capability/efficiency on hot days.

Im intrested to see how it fits also. I have a feeling the sway bar might interfere with the lower inlet on the IC.
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do it!

I'll try to have a mockup on my parts car and pics by end of the week.

And I would probably run a small turbo fan behind the IC.

the IC isn't that small, but it wouldn't hurt to improve airflow

This guy has a writeup on it:

http://diymiata.com/honda.htm

I'm going to do something similar by the end of the year when I redo my I/C setup. I already have a probe IC and the temp. delta at 8 psi is about 25 degrees over ambient. I suspect this is because my air filter is directly behind the radiator. So, the intercooler is not a bad one.

This guy went to the other extreme:

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...RX+INTERCOOLER

I will start with the 10psi wastegate that's on there now.

:werd: nice tho

IIRC, he got a ebay honda rad + WRX stock IC on the cheap and did the fab work himself so not really bad if you can fab a little or have someone that can weld. Hard part is the time and effort spent in making it fit, the brackets, and welding.

Beautiful work too.

all right all right that was a brainfart. He did a great job I agree with that. But its too much work.

Isnt there some guy on M.net using a converted WRX intercooler and a honda radiator in the same exact configuration as above? He also has a dedicated fan on the intercooler.

uhhh Sam...that link is to the Mnet guy...

Whoops:( I missed that link, and the 3 or so posts discussing it.

Im gonna go back to work now.

Isn't that exactly the guy you're speaking of?

That thread really doesn't show the benefit in all that work... I think it'd take a real scientific approach to prove that there's any greater advantage over the traditional approach. There's a lot of things that aren't immediately obvious when first considering it the setup. Most are immediately blinded by the advantage of direct exposure to both exchangers (or only having them covered by the condenser). But then you've introduced the IC to engine bay (header/turbo) heat exposure that it didn't have before (and so on).

I am sticking with FMIC, it's easier, cheaper, and works...nough said!