[NB] Overheating issue with AC
#64
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 410
Total Cats: 1
I took some higher resolution pictures tonight of the current setup without the metal shroud covering everything to show how it all connects. I'm either going to have to go back to the stock radiator and shroud everything or get a different intercooler and push everything forward.
Hustler, do you have any good photos of ducting work? I've searched here and on Miata.net and I see build threads but little ducting work.
http://s389.photobucket.com/albums/o...bay_clearance/
Radiator, AC Condenser, Intercooler all fairly close to each other...
Hustler, do you have any good photos of ducting work? I've searched here and on Miata.net and I see build threads but little ducting work.
http://s389.photobucket.com/albums/o...bay_clearance/
Radiator, AC Condenser, Intercooler all fairly close to each other...
#67
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
I don't have pics on me ATM...but you need to PM johnwag and ask him for advice. He works at TDR and does this **** all the time. Others on this forum have done better jobs on ducting than me.
#68
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 410
Total Cats: 1
Stephanie from BEGi suggested I do a compression test. Here are the results (two tests per cylinder)
Cylinder 1: 180, 180
Cylinder 2: 155, 154
Cylinder 3: 150, 150
Cylinder 4: 183, 182
Possibly a head gasket leak between cylinders 2 & 3? I'll be bringing the Miata to their shop later this week. I have the gear to do a leakdown test except the compressor is at my parent's place. Maybe soon...
Cylinder 1: 180, 180
Cylinder 2: 155, 154
Cylinder 3: 150, 150
Cylinder 4: 183, 182
Possibly a head gasket leak between cylinders 2 & 3? I'll be bringing the Miata to their shop later this week. I have the gear to do a leakdown test except the compressor is at my parent's place. Maybe soon...
#70
That said, I do recall on the way to the gap last year, the AC was definately rough on the cooling system. But I had some other issues shortly later... damn heater core hose split.....
Dave,
#71
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 410
Total Cats: 1
Small update. It's still at BEGi at the moment. They were able to fit my existing fans on there; I'm surprised they fit considering the space between the radiator and engine. They did a bit of shrouding around the radiator and will be test driving it later. They also ran a leakdown test pressurized at 80psi and got the following (Cyl 1-4) 56, 26, 24, 56. Leaks heard through the intake and exhaust.
#72
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 410
Total Cats: 1
Long time since last update. It's been at BEGi for a month now. They were able to cut the fans and install them on the Koyo. They've tried taping the fans to the radiator, installing an air scoop and cutting the intercooler height by 2-3 inches or so to get air underneath it like that photo of the black NA a page or two back; all have not worked so the air scoop was removed. I told them I was going to take it out of the shop because I wanted to try ducting it and removing the intercooler temporarily just to see if it's really an airflow issue but Corky is determined on solving this issue. I mentioned the ducting and possible hood scoop and he said those wouldn't work because it has more than enough airflow needed past the intercooler; I even told him about the several proven track cars here in Texas with ducting that hustler mentioned.
Had this car for 2 months now and it's still hasn't made a track day. Arg...
Had this car for 2 months now and it's still hasn't made a track day. Arg...
#74
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 410
Total Cats: 1
They only taped one thing and didn't spend much time on it. Is it difficult to tear down to the head gasket? I've never done it before but would be willing to at home. More importantly, could it even cause the overheating issue I'm seeing? Corky said there weren't any bubbles in the coolant system.
#75
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,493
Total Cats: 4,080
I would be pretty worried with compression and leakdown results like that and would be focusing my efforts on the remedy for that, and probably would solve any overheating issues especially if the coolant system has been compromised.
#77
So have they pulled that bad head yet? That leak down tells the whole story if it was just a head gasket then you would not have had leakage past intake and exhaust valves! Sounds like you should be ready play on the track again as soon as you get that head replaced or rebuilt.
You may also want to look at that tune once you see the valves :-)
Hope to you at H2R as soon as I get the new track car.
You may also want to look at that tune once you see the valves :-)
Hope to you at H2R as soon as I get the new track car.
#78
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 410
Total Cats: 1
So have they pulled that bad head yet? That leak down tells the whole story if it was just a head gasket then you would not have had leakage past intake and exhaust valves! Sounds like you should be ready play on the track again as soon as you get that head replaced or rebuilt.
Hope to see you at H2R as soon as I get the new track car.
Hope to see you at H2R as soon as I get the new track car.
#79
So everyone is telling you to blow up the whole engine instead of just replacing the bad head? Turning the fix into a whole day job instead of an afternoon job. I am not sure I understand any of the logic here because the cost go way up if you wait verses doing it now.
One last question did BEGi do the leak down before or after then spend time and your money working on the cooling system?
One last question did BEGi do the leak down before or after then spend time and your money working on the cooling system?
#80
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 410
Total Cats: 1
So everyone is telling you to blow up the whole engine instead of just replacing the bad head? Turning the fix into a whole day job instead of an afternoon job. I am not sure I understand any of the logic here because the cost go way up if you wait verses doing it now.
One last question did BEGi do the leak down before or after then spend time and your money working on the cooling system?
One last question did BEGi do the leak down before or after then spend time and your money working on the cooling system?