^^^I completely agree, why "limit" your radiator setup w/ a half radiator unless it is for a specific plan/purpose such as running a oil cooler mounted next to the radiator, although there is space else where depending on the size, or a water/air intercooler. In the end do what you think works best for you but just be sure to have a plan and that it will work because there is nothing worse then doing the same thing twice due to poor planning or "cheaping" out this first time around.

 

The problem with making statements like that is 90% of the clueless kids will see your post and immediately assume that some ebay honda half-rad on their otherwise stock cooling system thrown in without shrouding will "totes work, brah".

So you are both right, in a way.

 

So when I say you need a well designed system built from quality parts and what works on my car might not work on yours.....I'm clearly saying "don't go buy ebay junk, slap it on there and expect to be ok....and if you do, do so at your own risk"

I just have a problem with absolutes....especially when they aren't absolutely accurate. The better statement from Sav would have been "I don't have any direct experience with a half width radiator working on a Miata"

I guess I will add the disclaimer that I wouldn't run my cooling system the way it is "just because." I did it at first to save weight (which it really didn't save that much, the 3 core holds only slightly less water than my old 2 core and the new intercooler is heavier than the old one), to move weight back from the nose by eliminating the IC and pipes hanging out there, and to greatly reduce the lengths of the IC pipes. The hot side IC pipe is about 8" long and the cold side is about 18" long.

I am not and will not advocate that people do this AND if they do it is at their own risk.....but to say that it absolutely will not work is just not accurate.

 

lol I'm not disagreeing with you.

I have however, experienced directly the result of a kid that did this exactly how I described, cause he brought it to me just a week after to rebuild the toasted engine with warped head and blown head gasket haha

 

What we know is that many people have been successful with the usual choices. A small handful of people claim to have been successful with half-radiators. If you think are looking to bolt something up and go, I would suggest going with what the crowd is doing. If you are capable and willing to do some R&D work, perhaps you can join that handful of people that are being successful with the "non-standard" system. The important thing is to be honest with yourself about how capable and willing you are to do the R&D work.

robert

 

Thanks again for everyones input! I went ahead and verified there was a CSF radiator in stock and Goodwin Racing said there was ONE left so I placed my order for it and the Flyin Miata silicone lower radiator hose, thru FM, to get rid of the factory metal tube and remove two failure points. Will probably go ahead and get the remaining coolant hoses from Rosenthal($99.95 for all coolant andradiator hoses) unless someone has a lead on a better deal and will just sell the radiator hoses since I think I am going to go ahead and do the reroute.

 

The radiator/oil cooler combo you talk about was an exclusive product of Flying Miata. I believe it was tested in one of their race cars, just FYI

 

Inaccurate statement is inaccurate. I will qualify my statement with "in anything except a purpose-built autocross car". I've seen half-core cars overheat where stock radiator cars wouldn't/didn't, so unless you are building a national-level autocross car, half-core radiators are the wrong way to go.

 

I wasn't actually referring to theirs, in fact I didn't know they made one till Hyper contact me about one he has for sale but after some reading I do not think I will be using a oil cooler since it will more than likely see little to no track time, sadly.

 

Ok, I'll play:

Year of Miata: 2000

Aspiration w/ list of engine modifications: N/A, RB header, Squaretop, EV14's and MS3

Primary use: DD/HPDE

Brand of radiator: Koyo 37

Mileage/length of time since installed: 5 years?

Comments: I bought this radiator because at the time, the options for replacement were stock, eBay or Koyo. I've always run it with distilled water and Redline Water Wetter.

I ran this combination with A/C and intercooled Rotrex and it got hot in anything over 90°F ambient. Hot like cut your sessions short hot. I removed the A/C and buttoned up the ducting and things got much, much better, though I will say I didn't do a track day over 80°F ambient after removing the A/C.

I'm now running it N/A with a M-Tuned reroute, 185° t-stat and no A/C with zero issues. Anywhere. Ever. Overheating is the absolute last thing I worry about regardless of weather conditions.

The manufacturing on the Koyo is flawless. Much nicer than the generic eBay radiators I've handled. I'm not lying when I say that was a big part of what drove my decision to purchase the Koyo.

 

All the Cool kids are doing it.

Year of Miata: 1994 NA.

Aspiration w/ list of engine modifications: N/A, Exhintake, I/H/E, M-tuned Reroute, some quick ducting and sealing of Rad. 40/60 antifreeze mix.

Primary use: DD/Canyon Carver.

Brand of radiator: Mishimoto Dual Row.

Mileage/length of time since installed: 1 year ~20K miles.

Comments: When car was purchased it had the brown end-tanks of impending-doom. At elevation and almost no humidity car would get a bit warm when pushed hard. At the time I was a ClubRoadster noob (the worst kind of newb) and Mishimoto along with a "phillyb hates me" sticker was the recipe to cure all overheating woes.

Flash forward a Year and a coolant re-route later, it has proven to be rock solid reliable. Likely could have saved a bit of weight and space with a Koyo 37mm to better suit my needs but oh well.

 

Anyone else have any opinions on the CXR/Godspeed/etc offerings from ebay at this point? Or is the silence a sign that they work better enough than an oem radiator to merit the cost and purchase?

 

cheapest all aluminum radiators from eBay work fine. They are my goto for all my cars except a dedicated track car, then I go for the TSE radiator.

 

Thanks Lars.