NB SE Radiator Upgrade/Replacement

[doro733]

Just wanting to find out what others have done with a radiator change. for there 2004-05 NB SE's
As I am in the need for a new radiator as the OEM is showing its age.

I (in a weak ebay moment) purchases a ASI 52mm radiator, seeing that they listed they would fit a NB Mazdaspeed.
which arrived as described, an easy transaction.
I went thru the install over the weekend, the removal of the original was simple and went without a issue. when it came to installing the new radiator i was struggling to make it fit. I had to remove/disconnect a few pipes, intercooler and airsupply. In what should have been a 20min install turned into a bit of a marathon. also my frustration i failed to see that the fan housing was sitting against the throttle body until i warming things up.
I finally got there and reconnected everything and filled it up with fluid and started the pressure test. once up to temp and pressure i noticed a misting from the radiator!!!! it has a leak down at the bottom where the fins and the bottom tank meet.
by this stage it was 7.30pm and i was over it and i stuck a drip tray under the car and called it a day.
the next morning i went thru the process of checking everthing was tight and not leaking under my lack of attention. No, all good on that front. this is where is came to see how tight the fit was with the throttle body..
I went thru the process of undoing all the offending pipes to get the radiator out and replace the OEM back in. Less than a 5 min install for the OEM!!!.

Has anyone else had these issues with clearances. also should i see if i can get a 42mm core radiator in lieu of the 52mm as long as it fits easier. as the ebay seller has offered to replace.
Or do i replace with another OEM core.

[Russellb]

BIG ?? is what do you do with the Car??? IE track days motorsport ECT, Or Daily driver ????


For a daily just use OEM

For Motorsport OEM will be fine as long as you have only a few mods

If you have more than a few mods IE Upped boost, ECU Exhaust or Cold air, then 42mm should do.
42mm RAD should fit fine with the stock fan setup.

BY SHOULD MEANS THAT I HAVE NOT TRIED IT


In the SE rally car i only ever ran OEM But had overheating on 30+km Stages

[Lokiel]

If you're not already a member, join www.mazda-speed.com, it's a US forum specific to the MAZDASPEED MIATA (MSM) - that's what the SE is called in the US.

The 53mm Koyo radiator or larger is recommended for the MSM/SE, anything smaller does not provide enough cooling. Keith Tanner from Flyin' Miata reckons that the SE's OEM radiator is better than many aftermarket performance radiators, it is NOT the same as a regular NB's radiator - the 37mm Koyo radiator is fine for a N/A MX5, but not an SE.

See http://www.mazda-speed.com/forum2/index.php/topic,6535.0.html for an install.

See dbog's comment on the Koyo 37mm too: http://www.mazda-speed.com/forum2/index.php/topic,24656.0.html