I wonder if it's a good idea to have end tanks and piping blocking access to the front of the rad?

 

doesn't bother me:



I still retain direct airflow and I'm making over 200rwhp and never see more than a 20-30° delta.

 

in other words...if you question, you will get educated, lol

 

You are running an aftermarket larger capacity aluminum rad aren't you? And don't you have some sort of air diverter as well? So not a stock cooling system, and probably not the best example.

I posted the question because of an experience I had pre-turbo with large driving lights in the mouth of the car. I ran hot when I flogged the car hard with the lights in place, removed them and I no longer ran as hot. Pretty hard to argue with that. It will affect air flow, not sure if it is significant or not.

 

Right now I do have a 1" radiator and top plate, that's it, no undertray at the moment or scooper installed. Not seeing over 210° in 90° weather.

But here's the thing: You either block direct airflow 100% with a short wide intercooler or 50% like the one above. Either way you've reduced the direct airflow to the radiator. The only way around it is WI.


cause remember, the air exiting the intercooler is hot air, not ambient and it's not traveling as fast:

 

V mount anyone? how effective are those? has anyone made a comparison even if its not for our cars? the idea of it sounds good, but my knowledge of their efficiency is very limited...im almost tempted to try it one day

 

Lots of people, in the form of teams of engineers that design and build racecars, have made the comparison and proven that V-mounts are more effective. The whole point in the V-mount is to not block a heat exchanger with another, and, as Scott pointed out, allow both to get an equal chance at receiving oncoming air.

I've seen at least two or three V-mount Miatas. Be ready for a lot of work, though

 

I'm running that IC with Stripe's pipes and have no noticed no heat issues at all even on a hot autocross day. The gauge never moved. I've also been in stop and go and on the highway cruising without any issues. Currently running no undertray as I haven't cut it up to fit the IC piping (probably will do so as at around 90 the car starts to get floaty up front).

The IC is way more efficient than you'll most likely ever need. It looks small, but the core is pretty thick. I'm running at stock boost levels right now and the air coming out of the IC just warms up the pipe even after back to back autocross runs while the pipe going in is roasting hot.