So I took the oil cooler and threaded pipe off of a 1.8 engine, just to see if it would fit on the 1.6. I ran the oil cooler in series with a stock water line. I took the water feed from the bottom hose from the thermostat housing to the elbow on the cooler and ran another tube from the cooler back into the intake manifold.

Initial impressions: The oil warms up a little quicker and the oil does indeed stay cooler ... or at least I think it does =P I say that because the pressure doesn't drop as much after prolonged periods in boost, which, IMO, is related to over-heated oil.

All in all, it was quite the experience trying to get the 1.6's threaded pipe out of the block There was just so little room to swing a ratchet in there. As far as routing the lines, it wasn't too bad, just not enough room to get both arms in there to work :P

Next in line is to make that frigging undertray and see if I can get this freeway overheating issue under control

 

When did you last replace your water pump?

 

I replaced the water pump about 10-15k miles ago or less. I tacked a high-flow fan on the stock radiator and it doesn't overheat anymore, so it's definitely a flow issue.

 

Interestingly enough I haven't had a undertray pan on a miata since 2000, I don't run into any overheating on the street or at sandia, and I prefer the ease of working on the car without the pan in the way.

Did you do any shrouding on top of the radiator?

Are you losing any fluid?

 

I'm not losing any fluid and I'm on water wetter and 70/30ish radiator fluid mix with a 180* thermostat. I have no shrouding whatsoever. I'm thinking that a half pan would be good, just something that can attach to the lower fan mounting points and encase the intercooler and the radiator. What's your cooling and intercooler setup look like? I'm using a 3" thick bar and plate intercooler and the stock radiator.

 

I currently have a 180* thermostat, but usually run a gutted thermostat.

You gotta at least shroud the top of the radiator, that whole section where the hood latch is located.

I just have the stock box shrouding section up to the radiator, but the big belly pan is on the shelf. If you really want somethign there, that beatrush pan looks pretty good. Though I'm more intersted in it's impact protection properties.

Currently I'm running a starion, automatic brass radiator, and a big *** oil cooler behind the radiator.

Based on my assumption you are Phoy in ABQ right?

I'll be at the track on saturday if you wanted to check the blue turd out.

 

Yes sir, this is Phoy =P You're going to Sandia? I'll bring the grey turd out there as well, then ~_^

I think finding that box will be an issue ... but hey, it shouldn't be too hard to make out of plastic. The top shroud will be a little harder to make, but ebay has them for fairly cheap.

I need to bug Adam and find where he got his plastic for the splitter from.

 

Yea, I should be out there helping Soren do instruction for one of his corporate gigs. I think Mike Westphall will be running the show.

So you're missing the stock plastic piece that boxes in the radiator? I've probably got one off the old grey car laying around somewhere.

I usually just cover that top section with gorilla tape. Of course you can do something fancy out of Al or plastic.

 

Good call ... I have some aluminum tape laying around here somewhere. When are you planning on being there?

 

I should be there from at least 8 to 3?, if you can't make it, and you're going to pop in over at Adam's, let me know, he lives just a couple of blocks away.