Major overhaul

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
07/06/2018 at 13:23 • Filed to: None

CSF radiator, aluminum overflow tank, SPAL fans, coolant reroute, all new hoses and/or hardlines, thermostat, coolant temp sensor, hood vents... It’s all finally here. Wish me luck on the last major project before increasing the power by 2-3x.

Oops. Almost forgot the best part! My OEM plastic undertray that got pulverized in the mountains is being replaced by an aluminum one. Unlike most of the options on the market, LRB actually seals off the radiator in the same way as the stock plastic piece, which makes a massive difference in keeping temps low. Plus.... It just looks Badass.

DISCUSSION (21)

CaptDale - is secretly British > AestheticsInMotion
07/06/2018 at 13:28

Just in time for the heat

shop-teacher > AestheticsInMotion
07/06/2018 at 13:30

Good to see you working on the old girl :)

HammerheadFistpunch > AestheticsInMotion
07/06/2018 at 13:35

hope you have better luck with your CSF than I did. I wont buy from them again. Their version of standing behind their work is offering you the same bad design twice.

AestheticsInMotion > CaptDale - is secretly British
07/06/2018 at 13:36

Yeah, this constant 80° and sunny with a cool breeze has been dreadful ;)

CaptDale - is secretly British > AestheticsInMotion
07/06/2018 at 13:37

That sounds awful. Above 78 I start getting too warm

AestheticsInMotion > shop-teacher
07/06/2018 at 13:37

Through thick and thin! She's gone almost 350,000 miles, if any car deserves some upgrades, this is the one.

LOREM IPSUM > AestheticsInMotion
07/06/2018 at 13:37

Spal fans are great, but if you’re using their wiring kit keep a close eye on their relays ( and resistor if you’re using the dual speed kit.)

I had t he low speed resistor and high speed relay both shit the bed on mine.

AestheticsInMotion > HammerheadFistpunch
07/06/2018 at 13:44

Believe me, your trials were in my thoughts, but these particular ones have been shown to work wonders for all manor of heavily built Miatas. Fingers crossed. Unfortunately Mazda did an incredibly poor job with cooling in the first gens, with cost cutting measures leading to overheating on completely stock cars. Which is to say, this is a rare case where OEM is a poor choice.

The only other heavily tested option was more than I wanted to spend, and pretty much overkill unless I’m running a high-boost 400+ hp setup on track for hours on end in 90+ degree heat . Nice though

http://www.trackspeedengineering.com/trackspeed-dual-core-race-radiator.html

shop-teacher > AestheticsInMotion
07/06/2018 at 13:45

Wow! She’s a warrior!

HammerheadFistpunch > AestheticsInMotion
07/06/2018 at 13:45

Thats good. I think they offered this Land Cruiser version as a cheap knock off of the original factory one (3 row all metal brass) but didn’t actually do their homework. In this case it looks like its a well thought out performance upgrade.

just-a-scratch > AestheticsInMotion
07/06/2018 at 13:59

400hp?! Can the chassis take it? Can the trans, differential, shafts hold up to that?

AestheticsInMotion > just-a-scratch
07/06/2018 at 14:12

The chassis has had a ton of work done, seam welding, butterfly brace underneath, rollbar, door bars (to come), frog arms, etc. It can handle absolutely anything. Trans is generally fine to 300hp, same with the diff and shafts.

If I go forced induction I'll be in the 250-275whp range and I'll just avoid hard launching. If I go engine swap.... Everything above will be replaced anyways!

just-a-scratch > AestheticsInMotion
07/06/2018 at 15:28

I thought you must have had an eye on that stuff.

Last I saw, you were considering a turbo kit. I’m guessing that’s the 250-275hp option.

What’re you thinking about as an engine swap? K20? 2.3L Ecoboost? LS?

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion
07/06/2018 at 16:45

Looking forward to updates!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CaptDale - is secretly British
07/07/2018 at 13:19

Uhh you must have been very warm this week then lol. I haven't been home yet, but I've heard it's been 100+ in LA. In the valley where I'm at I wouldn't be surprised if it hit 120. Gotta be in the 80s up your way then.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion
07/07/2018 at 13:23

Exciting stuff. Get ready for the Miata to be broken all the time once you go turbo! I’m sure some people have had success but I’ve never met a person at an autocross or track day with a reliable boosted Miata lol. Quite a few people I talked to stayed naturally aspirated just because of the cost and hassle of maintenance. Or more importantly to them, time not spent racing was wasted time, regardless of cost. I look forward to seeing how it goes though, I'm sure I'd love to do the same since the power increases are nuts with that small of weight.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/07/2018 at 14:42

It was 99 yesterday

AestheticsInMotion > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/07/2018 at 16:19

You can live vicariously through me. Honestly I think I know the secret to reliable boosted yatas. Trackspeed engineering. I’ve met a lot of people who can stay at Laguna Seca all day in 90+ degree heat with zero issues using the trackspeed kit, then drive home and daily their car.

But also my engine has over 300,000 miles so I'm STILL debating an LS/LFX swap. Wouldn't be too much more money....

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion
07/08/2018 at 01:49

Haha that sounds like a crazy way to get more power. I feel like engine swaps are so much more complicated and expensive than they seem though. At least forced induction options are mostly bolt on and the really expensive parts are the groundwork you are doing now. I'd imagine sourcing another cheap Miata motor and building that would generally be easier. But then again with more people doing LS swaps, there's a lot of knowledge out there and it's a bit more plug and play.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CaptDale - is secretly British
07/08/2018 at 01:51

How far are you from the coast? I know the weather changes drastically near the water versus a bit inland. Like when I went to Big Sur it was wayyyy different on either side of the mountain.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/09/2018 at 11:45

I am near enough the water. Over the mountains would be 20 degrees hotter at least. Though the Central Coast has wild microclimates