Ian's B6T Festiva build

[Advancedynamix]

More progress in the last couple of days. I replaced the radiator, replaced the cheap e-bay slim fan with a brand name one from a local supplier, changed out the coolant and passed the inspection required for the insurance company!!

If anyone is considering an aftermarket fan don't waste your time on cheap e-bay ones. The one I first bought was noisy and I think it blocked more air than it let through which contributed to the running hot issue. I picked up an 11 inch Maradyne puller fan from a local supplier. It's a 130W fan pulling 1110cfm, fits the Festiva radiator perfectly and when mounted as far to the drivers side as possible clears all the B6T intake stuff. Forgot to take photos, sorry.

Someone suggested that the radiator I initially installed might be blocked I decided to replace it with another one I had on hand. Before doing so I ran water through it both directions in order to remove any loose debris. Mounted the new fan on the new rad and put them in the car. I replaced the coolant as well while I was at it. Took the car for a spin tonight and the temp gauge shows pointing straight up (I have the tach cluster) and pretty much stays there. I was in a line up for about twenty minutes and the fan kicked in a couple of times and did its job admirably.

So that's one issue solved. Still a few other little things to sort out. Still have to hook up the tach. VDO has a sender for the oil pressure gauge that will also trigger the oil light on the dash; I just have to figure out which would be the best to get as there are a couple of different options when it comes to the thread size. I also have a water temperature gauge for which I will need a sender and a spot to put the sender! The stereo wasn't working but I think it's just speakers so I'll have to pull the door panels and check that out. I'll be working on the stereo and doing an oil change this weekend.

One other thing I've noticed is that it's running fairly rich. Not sure what the cause of that would be... your suggestions would be welcome.

That's it for now... overall I'm really happy with how the car is coming together. Will be trying to get some more photos and possibly some video in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for your continued interest and words of encouragement.

Ian

Where is the car running rich? My b6t cars always run rich under boost.

[fastivaca]

Congratulations Ian, sounds like it is going well.
The car has 3 temperature sends. One in the intake manifold that is used to manage warming up the engine and adjusting the bypass air control (equivalent to the old choke adjusters). One in the radiator (or else in the outside, downstream side of the thermostat housing) which is used for the fan switch. And one in the upstream side of the thermostat housing which is used for the stock temp gauge in the car.
If your aftermarket gauge is electric, an Autometer thread adaptor will allow you to put it into the upstream side of the thermostat fairly easily. That will disable the stock send of course, but you won't really need it. I put mine in the downstream side, because it is the larger mechanical style send, but I just have the fan on all the time, so I was OK with giving up that sensor/switch sender. Otherwise you are left with aftermarket in-line inserts for the radiator hose, which given how crowded that area is, may not be the easiest location.

Thanks for that Jed. Found this temperature sender sandwich plate.... once the project fund is topped up a bit I will be purchasing one.

Ian

[Icedawg]

I also have a water temperature gauge for which I will need a sender and a spot to put the sender!
Ian

Congratulations Ian, sounds like it is going well.
The car has 3 temperature sends. One in the intake manifold that is used to manage warming up the engine and adjusting the bypass air control (equivalent to the old choke adjusters). One in the radiator (or else in the outside, downstream side of the thermostat housing) which is used for the fan switch. And one in the upstream side of the thermostat housing which is used for the stock temp gauge in the car.
If your aftermarket gauge is electric, an Autometer thread adaptor will allow you to put it into the upstream side of the thermostat fairly easily. That will disable the stock send of course, but you won't really need it. I put mine in the downstream side, because it is the larger mechanical style send, but I just have the fan on all the time, so I was OK with giving up that sensor/switch sender. Otherwise you are left with aftermarket in-line inserts for the radiator hose, which given how crowded that area is, may not be the easiest location.

[fastivaca]

Ryan, I found the eBay fan to be noisy, unbalanced and it didn't seem to move a lot of air. The Maradyne one is much better, it's balanced ( you can see the little balance weights), it's fairly quiet, and it moves a lot of air. Price from JBs was about $140. If you order online they have free shipping to Canada.

As a further update, we took the car out for a highway trip thus evening and the temperature stayed steady (according to the temp gauge). So I'm confident that the "run hot" issue has been solved successfully.

[ryanprins13]

Good to hear! I was considering buying a cheap ebay fan
So it moved less air than the stock fan? Or about the same? Mind if i ask how much the good fan from JB was?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fastivaca]

More progress in the last couple of days. I replaced the radiator, replaced the cheap e-bay slim fan with a brand name one from a local supplier, changed out the coolant and passed the inspection required for the insurance company!!

If anyone is considering an aftermarket fan don't waste your time on cheap e-bay ones. The one I first bought was noisy and I think it blocked more air than it let through which contributed to the running hot issue. I picked up an 11 inch Maradyne puller fan from a local supplier. It's a 130W fan pulling 1110cfm, fits the Festiva radiator perfectly and when mounted as far to the drivers side as possible clears all the B6T intake stuff. Forgot to take photos, sorry.

Someone suggested that the radiator I initially installed might be blocked I decided to replace it with another one I had on hand. Before doing so I ran water through it both directions in order to remove any loose debris. Mounted the new fan on the new rad and put them in the car. I replaced the coolant as well while I was at it. Took the car for a spin tonight and the temp gauge shows pointing straight up (I have the tach cluster) and pretty much stays there. I was in a line up for about twenty minutes and the fan kicked in a couple of times and did its job admirably.

So that's one issue solved. Still a few other little things to sort out. Still have to hook up the tach. VDO has a sender for the oil pressure gauge that will also trigger the oil light on the dash; I just have to figure out which would be the best to get as there are a couple of different options when it comes to the thread size. I also have a water temperature gauge for which I will need a sender and a spot to put the sender! The stereo wasn't working but I think it's just speakers so I'll have to pull the door panels and check that out. I'll be working on the stereo and doing an oil change this weekend.

One other thing I've noticed is that it's running fairly rich. Not sure what the cause of that would be... your suggestions would be welcome.

That's it for now... overall I'm really happy with how the car is coming together. Will be trying to get some more photos and possibly some video in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for your continued interest and words of encouragement.

Ian

[fastivaca]

Just a question for myself as i was going to order from rockauto in the future-rockauto sells the motorcraft dual-element for $21, is it any better or worse than the mazda one?

I can't say as I've had no experience with the Motorcraft one. I paid $29.00 + GST for the Mazda one and it was here overnight.

[ryanprins13]

Did you order the dual element thermostat from Mazda? They are listed for the 89-93 miata iirc. It's got 2 elements and helps the car warm up faster and then run at the proper range better.

Just a question for myself as i was going to order from rockauto in the future-rockauto sells the motorcraft dual-element for $21, is it any better or worse than the mazda one?

[fastivaca]

Did you order the dual element thermostat from Mazda? They are listed for the 89-93 miata iirc. It's got 2 elements and helps the car warm up faster and then run at the proper range better.

Yes sir! Just picked it up from the dealer...

[Advancedynamix]

Did you order the dual element thermostat from Mazda? They are listed for the 89-93 miata iirc. It's got 2 elements and helps the car warm up faster and then run at the proper range better.

[fastivaca]

What kind of welder for this kind of work. Thanks

I picked up a well used MIG welder a year or so ago to help with this project. I'd not done any welding prior to this!

Ian

[blowby]

I knew that welder would quickly become your favorite tool! Everyone should have one.

What kind of welder for this kind of work. Thanks

[fastivaca]

Hope you don't mind. GRM on Facebook asked what your favorite hatchback is. I posted a pic from this thread. If you don't want it there I'll delete it.

Not a problem. Thanks for sharing it!

Ian

[sketchman]

Hope you don't mind. GRM on Facebook asked what your favorite hatchback is. I posted a pic from this thread. If you don't want it there I'll delete it.

[fastivaca]

I agree with Shadetrees' advice.

In the longer run, with the B6T in the car you should think about putting an after market, accurate temperature send and gauge in the car. I like having a boost gauge and a wide band air/fuel ratio gauge to monitor things too, but the truth is those two gauges are useful only when you are tuning the car or monitoring it for some problem. After it runs well you would rarely look at them, but when it has a problem they are invaluable.

The car looks really lovely Ian, well done!

Thanks Jed.
The temp gauge is on my "next up" list along with the oil pressure gauge. I have VDO gauges for both already but the senders I have are not the correct threads. I'll be looking into those very soon. If you're down this way at all perhaps we could hook up for a coffee or something.

Cheers

Ian