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Mishimoto 2014+ Ford Fiesta ST Aluminum Radiator Pre-Sale!

Now that we have a solid direction for our design plans, this project is moving right along. Last time we started the fabrication process for our fan shroud design. This unique setup would utilize the stock fan motor and blade, but we would relocate it in a space that would allow our thicker Ford Fiesta radiator to fit properly.

Fabrication Continued

With our shroud completed to its basic shape, our final portion of the design required mounting the fan to the shroud, creating a fan-blade cage, and creating appropriate mounts for the stock fan controller.

We started with the cage, as this piece would determine the location and design of the other components on the list.

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Mishimoto 2014+ Ford Fiesta ST Aluminum Radiator Pre-Sale!

It's been a few months since our last major update, and for good reason. Our team has been quite busy. As a quick recap, last time we test fitted our first Ford Fiesta ST (FIST) radiator prototype, only to find that the core thickness was larger than the vehicle would allow. Once the radiator was bolted to the fan shroud, the shroud made contact with numerous components on the engine, prompting us to pull out our markers and take a second look at the drawing board.

Now, keep in mind the FIST has some serious cooling issues. Any pleasures on the track are normally negated after a lap or two causes coolant temperatures to reach the stratosphere, prompting a quick dart to the paddock. To improve the chances

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Mishimoto BMW E46 Non-M Performance Fan Shroud Kit Pre-Sale

Functional Prototype

In a short timespan we were able to turn our 3D models into an actual functional prototype. Check out a couple images of our first BMW E46 fan shroud!

Mishimoto prototype E46 parts

Chassis rigidity is extremely important for on-track handling, response, and feel. Ford provides a well-designed chassis with the Fiesta; however, as you can imagine, there is always room for improvement. Within the short time that this car has been available, the aftermarket has provided some great options, including better dampers, stiffer springs, and thicker sway bars, to enhance handling.

Our company will not likely dip into struts or springs, but we are certainly interested in helping stiffen the chassis. Our Mustang EcoBoost front strut tower brace is underway, and we recently launched development of a Fiesta ST rear strut brace. Time to get started!

What's The Plan?

Our goal here is to link one side of the rear trunk area to the other. You may wonder why this is needed. Doesn't the floor/body connect the two sides? Yes, but keep in mind, the floor is not made from a thick material. During aggressive cornering, the floor will see some pretty

Interested in picking up this awesome E46 fan setup? Check out our discounted pre-sale linked below!

Mishimoto BMW E46 Non-M Performance Fan Shroud Kit Pre-Sale

Our E46 product line continues to grow. This series of articles aims to tack another offering on our list of performance cooling components. We've covered the radiator, expansion tank, and coolant hoses. The only radiator-related item left to tackle is a cooling fan solution.

The stock 3-Series E46 offers two different fan options. Automatic models are equipped with an antiquated mechanical fan, while those who row their own gears get an electric fan.

Our goal with this project is to produce a BMW E46 fan shroud solution that will function with either a manual or automatic model. We will be following our trend of successfully producing exo-style shrouds for the E46 M3 and E36 chasses. The idea behind this fan mount style is

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Mishimoto 1999-2005 Mazda Miata Oil Cooler Kit Pre-Sale!

During the previous articles we mentioned that we would be conducting experiments for the stock oil cooler/warmer. Myths and claims exist regarding its impact on the heating of engine oil as well as its impact on cooling. We decided to check out both sides of the spectrum and support them with some actual data. First up, warm-up speed both with and without the stock heat exchanger.

Testing Setup

Setting up the sensors and equipment for this test was relatively simple. For testing the system with the stock heat exchanger in place, we simply installed our oil sensor adapter below the filter and then installed our temperature sensor. Below is a look at the sensor adapter.

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Mishimoto BMW E46 Non-M Silicone Radiator Hose Kit!

The E46 BMW has been the focus for a ton of product development here at Mishimoto. Recent projects include the Mishimoto Performance Air Intake, Aluminum Radiator, and Aluminum Expansion Tank. To continue our pursuit of supplying a full cooling solution for the 3-series, we also tackled a set of radiator hoses for this model. In typical Mishimoto fashion, we will be looking to improve the durability of the stock design.

Stock Hose Setup

The stock BMW E46 radiator hose system is unique, mostly due to the inclusion of quick-disconnect fittings at each mating point. Take a look at the stock hoses pulled from our test vehicle during radiator testing and development.

Interested in picking up our NB Miata oil cooler kit? Check out our discounted pre-sale linked below.

Mishimoto 1999-2005 Mazda Miata Oil Cooler Kit Pre-Sale!

In our last segment, we outlined the goals of the project, and we started fabricating mounting brackets to position our heat exchanger under the front of the Miata NB (second generation). We also hinted at the use of shrouding to direct airflow properly through our cooler.

Optimal airflow through a heat exchanger is vital to the efficiency derived from an oil cooler system. In addition, we see value in retaining the stock engine undertray, which aids in the proper regulation of coolant temperatures. We will build our air duct into the undertray, with the goal of a stock-like appearance on the top of our list, right next to optimal airflow.

Air Duct Fabrication

First, we needed to create some space to fit our ducting. We ordered

Interested in picking up our NB Miata oil cooler kit? Check out our discounted pre-sale linked below.

Mishimoto 1999-2005 Mazda Miata Oil Cooler Kit Pre-Sale!

The Mazda Miata MX-5 is the most-raced production vehicle in the world. It's a great top-down cruiser, features low entry-level pricing, and it's inexpensive to modify and repair. Fuel mileage is fantastic. Saying the Miata is the end-all and be-all vehicle would be a stretch (it has its limitations), but it is one hell of a car and an amazing bang-for-your buck regardless of use. If you do not understand any of this, I urge you to go out and drive one of these cars. If you've already driven one and still don't get it, perhaps you need to try again.

In all seriousness, the Miata is a fantastic car that deserves attention from the aftermarket. We offer a variety of cooling components for the NA/NB models, including several aluminum radiator options, electric

Another update on our E46 expansion tank project! Last time we showed off some images of our prototype unit, noting the numerous precise features we built into our design. This time we are installing the tank in our test vehicle to confirm fitment with the stock shroud and all coolant connection points. In addition, we will check out clearance between the tank and the belt-drive system to ensure appropriate fitment.

Removing the Stock BMW E46 Expansion Tank

Stock BMW E46 expansion tank installed

First we need to remove the stock tank from our test vehicle. As you can see in the image above, the stock fan shroud is the first component to come out before we tackle the expansion