If your Miata overheats, you need this!

Steve Lepper of Gearhead's Garage has been working on the Qmax for several months now and it's just about ready to release. For those of you that don't know Steve he's a former powertrain systems guy for Toyota specializing in cooling system performance validation, accomplished driver, builder, fabricator.

We'll announce an initial group buy in the next few weeks, price will go up slightly after that. Ship date is not locked in yet but we're shooting for February 15th-ish. I'll post pics of the hardware, parts list and the CNC'd outlet as I get them from Steve. My part in this is no more than maybe planting the idea, brainstorming a little and constantly bugging him about it so I can get mine.

The prototype Qmax on Bellwilliam's FMII car has seen 35+ sec WOT lap after lap in brutal 100*+ ambient, 20minute track sessions at California Speedway without a hitch. Heatsoak is greatly reduced, with temps dropping back to tstat dithering at the end of one cool down lap and 1 minute @ idle usually. For reference, a stock engined car will run quite a bit hotter in the exact same conditions. The test car is an FMII with FMIC & A/C running 10-12psi on CA91. The Qmax is not a heater bypass. It is a single outlet system with full cross flow through the head. There is full coolant flow through the heater core before the tstat opens. Pressures have been monitored and balanced in the design for maximum thermal transfer rate (Qmax).

Details of the Qmax system

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This is a complete competition quality coolant reroute system with everything you need.

Initial versions

FFS coldside superchargers and similar configurations
94-05 w/ custom EGR pipe
94-05 race. Non EGR, with EGR block off plate
90-93 1.6

Future options

Formed undertray, aluminum (March release)
Hard water lines for turbo - prototyped for 01+, will add 90-99
Custom EGR pipes
Water pressure gauge/warning light- You don't think you need this, but you do.

Estimated prices now are $219 -$289 depending on version.

Available through Gearhead's Garage and 949Racing

 

Any news on the Qmax system Emilio?

Thanks

 

Nothing to report yet. Building the page here.

 

I wouldn't say there's nothing to report; that page's got some good info! Nice to see progress.

Thanks

 

Tentative ship date is March 28 for 1.6 standard and 1.8 race (non EGR) systems.
Versions with custom stainless EGR pipes to follow in April.

The pic below is not the final production unit. They are production clamps and hoses though. The production transfer pipe is full polished, more mirror like, and has two small additional bends. The FFS transfer pipe is a different shape to clear the rear mounted TB and inlet pipe.

The thermostat housing, rear outlet and front block off plate are all machined from billet. Pretty much everything metal in the system is stainless or billet.

There is a ton of work test fitting every possible configuration, test installing and servicing and all. The 1.8 race and 1.6 systems are maybe 90% complete, one or two little tweaks, instructions and we start shipping. Taking orders now.

 

email sent. Many thanks,

Rafa

 

Have a price on just the spacer for people wanting to do a reroute themselves cheaper but can't machine a spacer?

 

cheap
Call him

 

Very nice - seems well sorted. Here are a couple more config Q's that I'm sure they've thought about, but thought I'd mention:

1. Turbo setups - is there going to be a problem with that rad hose? It appears to be routed exactly where the TB inlet is on most systems.
2. For my setup, I've got one of the FM Twincooler rads (rad and oil cooler) - my rad inlet is offset towards the middle of the rad. I'm assuming I might have to jury rig something for the rad hose?

Cheers!

Jeff

 

Answering my own question: I think with a bit of cutting of that hose, and a short section of hard-pipe, you could route the inlet hose behind the TB inlet, and further towards the middle. Either that, or run the hard-line below the intake manifold...

Can you pre-order (EDIT: I need to work on my reading comprehension - you mention that he's taking orders)? This is something I've been wanting to do, but don't have the time to "engineer" and tinker this spring. Have enough other things to install and get sorted.

Cheers!

Jeff

 

The system has been test run on FMII's, everything clears. Taking orders now on my site. The twin cooler would require a different upper rad hose. Enter the exact offset from the stock inlet in the notes field and we'll see what we can do. The hose would be a one off so either we credit you the one hose or you pay Steve to make/locate one for you.

 

Yea, I would be interested in just the spacer as well. Who do I call? Last time I asked you for somthing you said "go to my website" and I never found what I was looking for, so please don't say that again.

 

This is contact info:
Gearheads Garage
681 S. Tustin Street
Suite 302
Orange, CA 92866

(714) 225-3997

E-Mail: bossman@gearheadsgarage.com

 

Sorry, "Call him" means call Steve. Obviously, shipping the first complete systems takes priority so expect to wait for subcomponents at this point.

If I refer you to my website it's because I know the answer to the specific email question you asked is available there. If you still can't locate it, just call me.

 

FWIW Steve must be super busy. I called twice today just get some info on the price. He wasn't available to answer the phone, so i left a message.

 

On the other page, I misread, and I thought the EGR ones were the ones available now, and we'd have to wait for the non-egr versions.

I have an FM-II, twincooler, and am interested in the reroute - the 160* thermo I have works well enough, but not great plus my heater sucks.

Has anyone come up with a hose for this yet? I'm sure I could figure something out on my own if not, to be shared of course.

Also, some details of the hard-lines for the FM-II turbo would be awesome, I have a set of home-made lines but would love to see what someone with some real fab equipment came up with, as well as wanting to know what they do to the price.
-Abe.

 

Non EGR first.
I won't be adding the hardlines to my site for a while. No price yet but they are fairly simple so probably quite reasonable.

 

Anyone put this kit in with the engine inside the car?

And most essential... Will this fit RHD cars? I see the clutch hydralic unit could be in the way.

 

The hardlines could be a lot shorter, though long is nice. The ones I made myself are quite short since they are from the junkyard... But with summer rolling around I know I'd pick up one of these non-EGR with hardline kits if they were ready to go.

 

Are those turbo coolant hardlines going to be aluminum or stainless? Straight adapter at the turbo or banjo?