Kouki/S5 cast aluminum thermostat housing - interested?
 

FC3S Pro is once again working with hIGGItrix on developing a cast aluminum thermostat housing for Kouki/S5 owners.  This the piece that the upper radiator hose clamps to on the engine side.  The stock OEM Mazda unit is plastic and requires to be replace every few years cause of degradation.

With this cast aluminum replacement, you will NEVER need to replace it again!

The stock OEM plastic piece is priced at $56.xx from Mazdatrix.  We're trying to shoot for a target price of $100.  KSP Engineering of Japan used to sell this piece for $120.00 a few years back.

This unit will fit BOTH turbo and non-turbo engines.



-Ted

Will there be an option for having it tapped for a water temp sensor?

In any case, its a good idea, I'd be interested.

It's the fact that the s5's Thermostat Housing Is a disfigured color plastic and proned to cracking Is why I am probably going to retrofit the s4 Water Pump Housing assembly - unless you can provide pics, further details etc.

I recommend tapping before the thermostat or under it, and placement in the thermostat cover is a compromise design.

We are willing to place a bung there if there is interest for it.



-Ted

What about a placement of a Filler Cap (as a option) for s4 > s5 Engine swaps such as for those whom are running a s4 Rad with a s5 Waterpump?

In my case, I'm running a s4 Koyo Rad with a s5 TII Motor/Water Pump assembly.

If there are enough interest, we could integrate a filler cap into the unit; this would basically end up being a Zenki/S4 unit with the 3-bolt flange for the Kouki/S5 water pump housing.


-Ted

flange for cap could be probably prepared , but not drilled thru so those guys who would not need it, could use it without cap and those who needs cap will just drill it (or get drilled version from us)

I'd be interested if it was around 60-75 bucks. For 100 bucks I would expect something really nifty. Maybe "Rx-7" on the side or something. :D

u will be able to choose from 3 different logos on it :

'hIGGItrix'
'Type R'
'Santiago STFU'

:D

LOL arse! I dunno 100 bucks seems like a lot compared to a new mazdatrix one. I'd say 75 or so is a great price for a part like this but hell I ain't running hIGGItrix so i'll stfu :p:

we will see what pricing will be possible

One idea I was going to propose to you was a "full set" of pullies. Instead of just the alt pullies make a main and water pump pully to go along with them. If all of them were made out of aluminum the weight savings would be nice!

i am supposed toget water pump pulley sample from my CNC guy soon, give it some time ;)

Ahh...you guys are something else down there In the
Czech Republic. :D Keep us updated.

I dunno, I find the part price reasonable.
Right now, I don't know of any other option out there; yes, I did see the thread about the CNC base with welded pipe, but products like that are hard to mass produce very nicely.  We know the cast units will all be identical to stock, and reproduction with be easy and quality control will be tight on tolerances.  BTW, what are the pricing on those things?

This product will probably outlasts the engine.  You will probably be replacing the stock plastic unit on average of every two to three years.  It's peace of mind that this part of the engine will almost never fail.

As I have said before, KSP Engineering of Japan used to sell these things at Y12,000, which is about US$100 with current exchange rates - this was 5 years ago.  I don't think they offer this part anymore.

Mazdatrix sells brand new ones for $56.xx, so if it's been replaced twice you're already ahead with a $100 purchase of this one.


-Ted

I'd be interested. I think mine has already been replaced 3 times.

hmmm I"ve never touched mine before :)

I would also be interested to see what your final costs is on it!

It would be nice to have a threaded hole for the stock sensor....hum....is there a stock sensor there?

James

no sensor in there afaik

Course, $200.00 for a CAI is perfectly in line with standard pricing...

:rolleyes:

There is over 100 dollars in material that goes into my CAI dude. Have you price checked silicone hose couplers lately? Take a look at some places.


EDIT its also 180 now(along with the option of having it made from SS or Aluminum pipe no longer aluminized) and thats 70 dollars off of the competition. :p:

Edit par deux! and its 20% larger than the competition!

How is it that the original one can last 10-15 years but a new one has to be replaced that often? Just curious...

I dunno?
Do you have documentation on that?
Sure, you're going to have extremes on the bell curve, but I've seen too many of them fail.

This is an upgrade part that is stronger than stock.  I guess in the same mentality of the RA apex seal thread...if you're satisfied with your stock part and not going to push the extremes, then why bother with anything else?  We're building parts for people who want to best performance for the money, and peace of mind that crappy parts don't break.

I guess we can count on not having too many sales for your guys.



-Ted

I would be interested!
but will it have any negative effects on the coolant hose? Since metal radiates heat more than plastic, I'm guessing it shouldn't since coolant hoses touch hot coolant directly and don't melt :D

$100 reliability mod is all good in my books :)

but what happens when/if the stock housing degrades??? just leaks???

Small leak typically, but catastrophic failure is also possible.
Initial signs will be overheating, as the cooling system cannot hold enough pressure for proper operation.



-Ted