Anyone using a Mishimoto radiator?

[CooperD]

I was just about the pull the buy trigger on the Koyo 53mm, when a friend pointed me at the Mishimoto 52mm for almost half the price. I'm not usually one to buy on the cheap, but if the product is good, I wouldn't want to pass up a possible savings.

Does anyone run a Mishimoto radiator using FI on the track?

Anyone have opinions on build quality, performance, longevity, etc of the Mishimoto radiators?

[ThomS]

I can not tell you about the radiator you are asking about, but I can tell you I have Koyo Radiators in both my cars. I put the 53MM Koyo in my FFS-supercharged cold side car and it held the line and didn't even come close to over heating in AZ. in mid August. The car Just sat there and idled for 20 minutes and did great. Temp; that day was over 100* wouldn't you say Tom.

[beatle]

Bump for more opinions. I know I'm going to need a new radiator before I take the car to the track. It'd be nice to only spend $240 instead of $430. I have a 7/8" front bar, AC, PS, and obviously a FFS on the way. ;)

[99mx5]

I have the PWR 35mm radiator. So far, problems. I have read about thick radiators causing fitment problems with the fans and front sway bar.

[beatle]

I've heard the same things depending on the car and aftermarket parts. I've read a few posts about people with similar setups and very few fitment issues: AC lines attaching to the bottom, slight modification (grinding, sanding down) of the fan shrouds, and having to slowly insert the radiator.

I nearly overheated my 97 on the track with the stock radiator and the stock motor in 2007, though that may have been due to the heat (high 80s) and the fact that I had a grill in the mouth of the car, shifting at redline, etc. :)

Do you track your car with the PWR? If so, how hot is ambient and how much boost?

[FormerDatsun510Man]

I was able to fit the stock fans with the PWR radiator and I believe Tom runs the thicker Koyo with stock fans and the big Racing Beat swaybar. However, a nice way to get considerably more room down there is to also get some highflow fans. That is what I am running right now and I have the fans mounted with the plastic tiestraps which really makes them as flush as possible. I also purposely did that because back in the days when I had a big Air/Air IC up there I found that unshrouding the fans actually helped cooling. However, you can get highflow fans with a shroud that allows them to bolt up to the PWR and also the Koyo I believe.

Bill

[MikeyLikesIt]

With my car going under surgery, I am having a Mishimoto radiator and fans installed. Mine's a 2000.

I'll let you guys know how it goes...

Mike

[MikeyLikesIt]

Radiator and fans went in without any fitment issues. Man those fans can push some air!

Now I need to get the fans wired to work together...

Mike

[beatle]

Which fans did you use?

[MikeyLikesIt]

Which fans did you use?
The ones from Mishimoto made for the Miata and that radiator.

[beatle]

Is this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mishimoto-Radiator-2-12-Fans-for-Mazda-Miata-90-97_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33602QQihZ020QQitemZ 300316905527QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW) the combo that you picked up? Granted they're a lot less than Spal fans, but $125 for the pair? Am I just that cheap? :boat:

[maggie]

PWR radiator went in without a hitch. The fan with the plastic shroud was trimmed about 3/8" on the table saw for a flush fit. The A/C lines were pushed out of the way (carefully) about 3/4". The fan with the metal shroud had to have the bolt holes enlarged about 1 mm. The fans are wired to come on simultaneously (see posts elsewhere on this site for this.) In the harshest driving at sea level with A/C running the WT has never been over 210*. "Spirited local driving never gets above 197*. 60/40 water to coolant mix, no wetter additives. I haven't even bothered blocking off any gaps in, around or between. It was the easiest aftermarket install of all. Note: DO NOT use the factory hose clamps. Fortunately I read from another post about this. It is so much easier to learn from another's experiences.

[beatle]

I hate the factory spring type hose clamps anyway. What did you replace them with? Standard screw type?

[CooperD]

FWIW, I ended up with the Koyo 55mm. I had no problems with fitment in my 94 that has the racing beat 1.125" tubular front bar. Of course, I did pull the A/C at the same time, so that probably helped with the fitment. I also pulled the A/C fan from behind the radiator on the recommendation of my builder for better airflow.

I ran 2-days pretty hard at Buttonwillow this past weekend in 95 degree heat with no cooling problems (still naturally aspirated). I even did 2 run sessions back to back.

I met a nice guy there with an NB who overheated on his stock radiator - luckily, it waited until after he pulled into the pits to boilover and spew coolant all over. (He probably didn't let it cool down enough before turning the engine off).

[MikeyLikesIt]

Is this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mishimoto-Radiator-2-12-Fans-for-Mazda-Miata-90-97_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33602QQihZ020QQitemZ 300316905527QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW) the combo that you picked up? Granted they're a lot less than Spal fans, but $125 for the pair? Am I just that cheap? :boat:

Mine is a 2000, but also, the fans I bought came with them mounted to a shroud. But those look to be the same fans.

Mike

[maggie]

I hate the factory spring type hose clamps anyway. What did you replace them with? Standard screw type?

Screw clamps. Also forgot to mention no fitment problems with 1.25" sway and Racing Beat frame brace. The frame brace does have to be removed to install the SC pulley.