Radiator, Thermostat, Hoses, Coolant, and anything else that I forgot?

[sbeck37923]

UPS is scheduled to deliver my FFS Coldside for my 99 miata this week. I got new competition motor mounts to install. I am planning to order a Koyo 37mm radiator from TDR later today or tommorrow. I also plan to do the dual fan mod and use weatherstripping as required around the fans. Should I change to a new or different thermostat? Should I replace the hoses (OEM or Silicone)? Any recomendations for the type of coolant to use in this setup?

Is there anything else that I am forgetting? I will probably wait until this summer to replace the clutch.

Thanks...
Steve Beck

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Steve,

The clutch and radiator are great. I use normal fluids and hoses for the radiator. No prolem there so far.

For the dual fan mod, use this pinout (http://www.fastforwardsuperchargers.com/Install/99-00-ECU-Pins.jpg)and tie 1I and 1R together in the harness if I didn't already do it for you. If we discussed it before I shipped, it should be done already.

[Kyp J]

UPS is scheduled to deliver my FFS Coldside for my 99 miata this week. I got new competition motor mounts to install. I am planning to order a Koyo 37mm radiator from TDR later today or tommorrow. I also plan to do the dual fan mod and use weatherstripping as required around the fans. Should I change to a new or different thermostat? Should I replace the hoses (OEM or Silicone)? Any recomendations for the type of coolant to use in this setup?

Is there anything else that I am forgetting? I will probably wait until this summer to replace the clutch.

Thanks...
Steve Beck

Don't use Dexcool by Prestone if they still make it. I didn't know there was a bunch of problems with it in some cars and just got it because I thought they were all the same. Started leaking after about 6 months at a freeze plug and I have seen posts claiming it causes leaking and gasket problems. I also had a gasket start leaking. I can't prove it was caused by the Dexcool, but just in case....

I won't recommend anything else since I don't know enough about antifreeze. Read up on it on Mnet and you will be really confused.

[99mx5]

Dont forget hose clamps, the factory ones dont seal over the silicone hoses properly.

[Race Grandpa]

I am getting an aftermarket high capacity radiator. Is there a need for two fans?

:driving:

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

You already have two fans. What they are talking about is the "dual fan" mod where you set both fans to come on if either fan is turned on by the ECU. It really helps cooling. It is a simple mod and, if I haven't shipped your kit yet, let me know who you are and I will do it on the harness for you before I ship so it will just be plug and play.

[Silverstreak02]

What type of weatherstripping are you using on the radiator and how do you attach it?

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

I got the stuff from ACE Hardware. They have the grey (foam) and the black foam. The black foam is stiffer and my prefference. We just put in two layers. There is no real good way to secure them that I have found.

[Kyp J]

When I used the supplied sticky back on the strips, the top ones came loose and got sucked thru the fans and clogged some of the grooves of the SC pulleys. I got some 3M "super weather strip & gasket adhesive" which looks just like contact cement and stuck on some new strips and they stayed. I have one stuck to the radiator and the other over the top of it stuck to the shroud (or vice versa). I would have stuck the two together where they contact but I was already stuck to the hood, wall, my leg and ear, a few tools and the cat by that time. I don't work well with contact cement or mustard.

I used a garage door bottom seal (wide flat flexible rubbery stuff) and gorilla tape on the metal shroud since it didn't have a good lip for the foam. It looks really horrible when the glue gets hot and the tape slips around. I don't recommend that method but it seems to be functional.

If you come up with a better way, post it. I don't like mine but as long as it works, it stays.

[Kyp J]

I looked at mine to see if the mounting lugs could be shortened to get the shrouds closer but on my Koyo 37 MM, the attachment lugs that are threaded, butt into the water reservoir and in order to get the flanges of the shrouds close enough, the mounting bolts would have to punch through. I don't remember how the stock radiator mounted the shrouds, look at it before you store it in the back of the shed like I did. Maybe you can invent something different. Redesigning the shrouds would be a good start. I have seen a home made one on Mnet for the after market fans.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

If those standoffs were studs, it would be perfect.

[Kyp J]

If those standoffs were studs, it would be perfect.

Get Koyo to build a redesigned model and become the exclusive dealer for it.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

I don't know how others do it but I tried to talk to Koyo at SEMA and they said I need to purchase 100 to be a dealer.

[Banshee]

Do you guys put any kind of rubber isolator around the pegs (the ones that attach to the car and radiator brackets) like the OEM?

[Kyp J]

Do you guys put any kind of rubber isolator around the pegs (the ones that attach to the car and radiator brackets) like the OEM?
Mine has them on it. I think they were the originals from the stock radiator.

[Banshee]

Can I remove the radiator with the fans attached? Or do I have to remove the fans first?

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

We did mine with the radiator out. Attached the fans and rubber weather strip and put it all back as one unit.

[Banshee]

Thanks for the quick response.

I just bought a 37mm koyo, and am itching to install it.

Didn't want to take a chance with the 55.

[Kyp J]

Putting in the weather strip out of the car should result in a much better job. I wish I had thought of it before. I did mine in the car which is very difficult.

I saw a mention of using aluminum high temp tape of some kind on another site a long time ago. I couldn't find it, but it would be a lot better than Gorilla tape I think. I haven't seen it so don't know exactly what it is.

[jikemenkins]

I saw a mention of using aluminum high temp tape of some kind on another site a long time ago. I couldn't find it, but it would be a lot better than Gorilla tape I think. I haven't seen it so don't know exactly what it is.

I Used that to wrap heater core hoses and my airbox when i installed my RB header. I got it at Lowes but im sure any home improvement store would have it. It was in the home heating/cooling section. Its really sticky but thin and not verry strong.