FuzzyBeanBag

Hi all - newb to the forums, but not to Miatas

I am looking to install the Flyin' Miata Stage 1 turbo kit on my 95M and wondering if I should consider adding an oil cooler while at it. If so - any recommendations? This is not a daily driver - just a fun weekend car with occasional track day, however I do live in kinda warmish climate between June and late September.

Also wondering - where does the cooler mount, typically? I noticed the FM kit mounts off the steering rack for the NA8 chassis - I have a LRB full aero kit (nose to transmission tunnel) - would that interfere?

Thanks and please let me know if there are any questions.

IanIsInTheGarage

Oil cooler is for track days. In hot Texas i've never seen high oil temps. Unsure on if you would get air with FM kit and your LRB. But most don't like that oil cooler.

dleavitt

iTrader: (1)

The sustained high RPMs at a track day will be your main concerns when it comes to oil temps. Mounting varies, potential damage is a concern with the FM kit location (and the kit itself has additional compromises). I have a 25-row Setrab mounted behind the radiator where the A/C fan would be, but I don't have A/C so that spot was wide open. Obviously not as effective as if it was in clean air, but it works for my purposes: ~250 degrees Fahrenheit max oil temp in 90 degree ambient without any special ducting or hood vents.

FuzzyBeanBag

Thanks for the feedback, gents. I was not aware there were reliability concern issues with the FM kit.

Any recommendations for a different kit, then? I do plan to keep the A/C - need to be bougie and all... I also plan on getting an all-aluminum core radiator so - there will be a sandwich of radiator, A/C condenser, and intercooler for the turbo... I think I should probably consider getting a better fan kit as well!

dleavitt

iTrader: (1)

The "reliability" concerns with the FM kit are with regards to it's placement rather than the components themselves. In my mind it's more of a potential problem with track cars as off-track excursions happen from time to time and curbing can be pretty aggressive on some tracks.

The Trackspeed Engineering kit was the go-to, I think Tarmac88 is putting a group buy together for it since it isn't a stocking item anymore. It is less a bolt-on kit (like the FM oil cooler) and more a "choose your own adventure" kind of things. It has everything you need: cooler, sandwich plate, hose, fittings, etc. but you are responsible for choosing the mounting location, making mounts if needed, and making the lines from the supplied hose.

FuzzyBeanBag

Ahhhh gotcha - that makes sense. I wonder how well the FM kit will play with LRB then. The LRB aero kit is pretty beefy; already saved me once when my dumbass didnt brake in time coming out of my court (has a dip in the pavement for water egress to the drain.

FuzzyBeanBag

Follow-up question: I just learned that NAs have an OEM oil "cooler" (or more like heater) that is basically a sandwich plate with a water line. Can that co-exist with an aftermarket oil cooler solution?

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

After market plate will go on top of the stock OEM cooler.

You want -10AN lines for the 2 lines, anything smaller is inadequate.

Expect to have to custom DIY mount the cooler and duct to it. I believe the TSE oil cooler setup was in the $450-$500 price range. When I was pricing out similar components from hydraulic shops, my costs were not much lower then that when buying in some quantity.

FuzzyBeanBag

Thanks.

Considering I have a LRB full aero kit - I am leaning towards going with the FM kit. A fellow miata.net member built his Miata from the grounds up with the LRB kit and FM oil cooler kit and commented that when placed in the original mounting spot, the kit is pretty well protected though some modification is needed on the LRB plate to fit it (not a big deal).

I've been doing a bunch of additional reading on various kits and what I need to confirm is the thermostat trigger point on the various kits to make sure I avoid too-cold oil situation.