Coolant Reroute Options
 

So I've read some posts, and searched quite a bit but can't find any product reviews for the FM coolant reroute, or the Qmax coolant reroute.
I'm looking at getting the reroute done before I turbo my car(again). I have a full FM turbo kit going on a 97.

The only thing I found appealing with the FM reroute is the turbo lines being right there.
I saw one post where Deezums says it's a shitty copy of Qmax and more money and more problems.

Both have a bleed valve, both have a spare 1/8 NPT.

Does anyone have experience with both? pros and cons?

Maybe I'm just looking into this too much, any reroute will be better than the OEM routing.. but I'd rather do it once and do it right.

I have the Qmax installed, and another friend that has been running one for 2 seasons and has had no issues. Really nice piece, I love the orange, I installed mine with engine on a stand and it was painless -- we did my friends while it was in the car, and while it was tough, it wasn't impossible. Realistically I think that will be an issue no matter what just based on the location, but the Qmax has recessions to be able to get tools on it near the firewall. Can't speak to the FM one, but I have seen some people run the Kia neck successfully as a superbudget option. Definitely one of those pieces that you can do for very little money if you dont care about aesthetics and it will likely function exactly the same, so I agree with that sentiment.

That said,
1 vote for Qmax

https://revlimiter.net/blog/2017/09/...oute-shootout/

https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thr...3/#post1551137

Couple people posting about the QMax

QueMacks is hands down nicest kit.

I, like others, have noticed that unless it's sweltering hot outside, it does make the car quite cold-blooded.

That aside, it's still the only reroute on the market i would buy in 2021.

Another one posting about the QMax
https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-pe...2/#post1592226 relevant as OP is in Ottawa which is a cooler climate

Yeah, that's the one where I read criticism of the FM one, but nothing to back it up.

Thanks for that!
Read both and didn't see anything about the FM reroute.. Based on RevLimiter's review I'd be tempted by the Qmax, going to need to find out how to delete the water neck and retain coolant lines for the turbo.

thanks for the help and info so far!

I used a freeze plug and placed the QMax plate over the top. For the water lines, I ran a hose behind the cam timing plate from the TB to the mixing manifold.

Qmax could be literally perfect if they got rid of the design flaw. Bypassing the thermostat in such a way does not increase the cooling capacity of the car under any conditions, it just breaks thermal regulation sometimes for no reason other than misunderstanding how a thermostat regulates temeprature.

The miata is open bypass, going through the trouble of maintaining proper bypass location only to shit all over it by drilling a fcking hole in the thermostat is fucking dumb.

There's also nothing about it any different than a DIY reroute when it comes down to it. If I were to do it again that's what I'd be doing since it seems the design flaw is there to stay. IOW, absolutely nobody is solving their overheating issues by swapping a proper DIY to a qmax.

So, Qmax is better than no reroute, and DIY reroute without the bypass is better than Qmax. So, I guess my question should be reformulated to what is the best bolt-on reroute solution. Based on what I've read here though, I may just go with the qmax.

Overall thermal capacity is unchanged with any reroute; the goal of a reroute is to get better coolant flow to the back of the head. IMO they all work about the same, but they are a ball ache to install with the motor in the car and the Qmax is the least achey in that regard.

My biggest headache putting reroute on engine in car was cleaning the 20YO gasket off the head.

iTs nOt A dEsIgN fLaW iTs A fEaTuRe

- E, probably

The excuse given is the bypass relieves pressure before the thermostat opens. That's literally retarded, as the miata is open bypass and the low pressure suction from the pump through the heater core, turbo lines, and whatever the fuck else is what keeps there from being too much pressure. Have we all seen a miata water pump? It's a pinwheel in a cast iron hallway. It ain't generating significant pressure against a dead head in the first place.

You could delete the heater core and cap it's lines and you still wouldn't have a problem with pressure, might cavitate sometimes but I highly doubt even that. Remote thermostats are fine, as of the post the day before, I bet they are a touch slow the first time they crack open, then they are indistinguishable from any other reroute.

Next time my reroute is off I am filling the retard hole with silicone. Probably going to have to let it cure before reinstalling, but whatever. If you drive in the cold (like 50's or less) then you probably should, too.

This seems very important to you.

Just more parts that don't work as expected I've bought from suppliers that should know better.

If it were Tom from FFS or even Corky and his racer reroute this thread would look a lot different.

There's still nothing on the supermiata site about the qmax overcooling and the need to block the radiator off. Strange.

Be patient. I'm expecting 949 racing branded Qmax radiator block off panels to be announced any day now. Site will surely be updated at that point.

You're really just experiencing Miata ownership.

Attempting to assist others in a less painful miata ownership...

@deezums @twopointwo Check our updated instructions for the note added about overcooling. https://supermiata.com/Supermiata_Qmax_Instructions.pdf

A link to these instructions is found on the main product page: https://supermiata.com/supermiata-qm...mx5-miata.aspx