Now, why did we go and do that? We broke the number one rule for the Craigslist Miata “if it ain’t broke yet don’t try to fix it”. In an overzealous attempt to impress people immediately after the hood is popped, the plastic end tanks on our little Mazda’s stock radiator just weren’t cutting it in the good looks department when compared with the anodized blue bar running across the top of the previously polished valve cover. So we finally gave in to the temptation to upgrade the CLM with a very fancy aluminum “racing” radiator. Truth be told, in a past life it was an aluminum Koyo that saved the life of my SR20, so why would things be any different this time.
It was only after finding a small puddle of slightly slimy water under the engine that we took a closer look. The first discovery was some coolant accumulated along the underside of the new cooler, then more red as you went up the core and eventually a little puddle sitting at the base of what appears to be a bleeder screw. One trip to the track and it looks like my new radiator got a cut above its eye and is bleeding down one side of its face. Emails have been sent, along with accompanying photos. Let’s see what they have to say about this one. So, why did we do this again?
