V-Mounts... function or purely form...
 

Now don't laugh... I'm serious about this topic. I honestly am not a fan of useless modifications... but I am currently in the planning phases for a 90%+ track oriented miata....

It will be turbo... and will be driven for long periods on track for the pure pleasure of it. What worries me, as with any track car, is cooling. Cooling for the FMIC and cooling for the radiator/motor. Coolant reroute is a given, as is an oil cooler.

I know the popularity of the vmount is probably seen most often at drift events.... having never gone (nor ever planning on going to one) I can't really get up close and check out the fabrication and practicality. Between my group of friends though... fabrication is not my worry.

I only care if this is practical for promoting more equal and efficient cooling to the radiator and the fmic. The shorter piping never hurts either.

Since the majority of raced miatas tend to be spec miata... this really isn't something they'd explore and be able to say much about..... so I figure those of us that turbo our cars and go beyond the everyday.... might have more desire to talk/discuss/explore the options.

From my stand point... the vmount setup can be used well if the surrounding car is built to support it. ie: Aero ducting to force air properly, hood vented to pull airflow through etc....

I'm just worried that a large fmic will hinder cooling over longer spans of heatsoaked track time. And truely wondering if the Vmount is what might help solve that.

Thoughts? Brainstorms? Brillant ideas?

Here's a link to a huge pic of one setup.
http://roadsterjdm.com/jpg/grinder.jpg

You basiclly said it yourself "the vmount setup can be used well if the surrounding car is built to support it. ie: Aero ducting to force air properly, hood vented to pull airflow through etc"

If done properly I think v-mounts will keep cooler temps than a conventional set-up. My miata will also be 90% track, I plan on using a sandwiched ic/rad/oil cooler set-up much like new diesel trucks where there all close together. I actually know my set-up will run to hot though, having thought it thru resently while awaiting parts, I realized I should have went with a larger turbo to keep intake temps lower and dealt with the lag rather than using a smaller turbo and making more heat but having mostly likely zero lag and full boost very early. I also will have an extractor hood and a larger front bumper to get more air in. But we'll see, I'll have all the nesscisary guages and sensors to keep me in the know atleast. The only thing I don't like about v_mounts is how you have the set them up and I belive Myself doing it for the first time would miss something and ruin any chance it had to be more efficient than a conventional set-up. Just my 2cents.

Yah, I can understand the hesitation due to the experiment factor. I too will have gauges to monitor ... but ideally I never have to monitor a situation that shows problems.

I guess it comes down to how well engineered I can make it... vs how large a radiator/fmic/fan combo I can run to keep things cool.

Turbo here will be a gt28rs... I really want good response for this car.... so I'm going to compensate on the cooling end.

You don't need response when shifting at wot and never lifting ;)

I assuming theres function there, but i still think the FMIC would have the greatest efficiency. Plus in the FMIC you know your getting turbulant flow (good thing) for the top mount you might be getting laminar flow (bad thing).

Loki... good point about the flow. I really wonder how much direction and routing I can do with some aero/boxing work up there.
I see that you are a chicago guy, it'll be nice to round up other miata folks for trackdays down the road... no rollbar = no track just yet. Autox on sunday though ;)

I would imagine a V mount would get quite a bit of good flow, A larger opening for the intercooler would garuntee this but, basicall a near V mount is how the radiator is positioned for cars like the lotus elise, and this actually helps the elise with downforce. We won't see that sort of application for the miata since it's not Mid engined, but no reason why you can't seperate the rad, from the IC and reap the benefits from it.

If anything you will see reduced cooling efficiency from the IC while vastly improving the cooling efficiency of the radiator

I think we met at one of the WCMC

this is the setup Im planning on copying...
its not vmount, its like dc2626 was talking about
http://jazz.sdsc.edu/photo/pictures/...s/DSC01644.JPG
http://jazz.sdsc.edu/photo/index.php...dster-gotxwss/

yeah Wide OpenTuning did something like that, just all together he had 2 feet of intercooling piping. Probably the best setup (next to my secret all powerful turbo setup)

Mi i/c piping will be short....real short;)

I wonder if were doing the same thing. Mine will have a total of 3 feet and great placement.

I'll raise ya 2 1/2 ;)

Here's one the of the best v-mount setups in a miata I've seen. Very nicely done. Short piping. Second post in the thread has pics of the hood venting as well.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...hlight=v-mount

Yeah but my extra .5 of a foot is made up of 2 90s thats it! and best intercooler placement ever.

Yeah for short piping, one thing that bothers me about them is that theres a reason they put radiators where they do. The are both the same thing heat exhangers. (PS the fit ment of his hood and lights blows donkey cock)

Not to mention he hacked the hell out of his front bumper. Grinder has a better set up if you can find his. If you don't feel like it I will.

Grinder has a thread around here, and yeah his set up is beautiful

Engine bay is cleared out, I'll be measuring up for a radiator soon enough.

And I plan on having 0 inches/feet/millimeters of IC piping :p.

Wi?