Hey guys, I'm getting close to purchasing a car soon and am looking at a stock 95 FD TT. I understand the big issue with these cars is that they over heat really easily, but I have heard this can be solved with some aftermarket parts.

Could anyone give me a list of mods I should look at doing [ if I was to buy the car ] to make it more reliable? Thanks, I'll keep searching the forums for more info, hope to be joining the rest of you soon

Any other tips/info would be greatly appreciated

 

Bigger aluminium radiator !

 

Fan mod switch to engage cooling fans when A/C is not on, and post shutdown cooling.

Larger aluminum radiator for increased engine cooling.

Replace stock pre-cat with a DP. Reduces heat and gives more power.

Bigger IC to insure cooler intake charge, and gives more power.

Apexi PFC with fan switches set to 86/86/89C.
The PFC also allows running higher boost and more power for all future mods.

A vented hood also helps disipate heat better.

 

get single turbo

 

Heat has been my main concern as well. Stuff I've done/in the middle of doing:

Relocate battery (air dissipates heat a lot faster than a 30lb block of lead and acid)
Install downpipe (get it heat coated or wrapped)
Fan Mod (Miata mod or other options)
Vented Hood (heat rises, and also needs someplace to go)
Apexi Power Intake (or other intake that gives more airflow for the radiator)
Additional Ducting (pull in more outside air to increase the flow rate out of the vents on hood)
Fix/New temp gauge (the stock gauge is non-linear and useless from factory, it can be made linear or replaced with aftermarket)

That should be plenty of stuff to keep it cool for hard street driving/autocrossing (even fun running it a good # of runs at end of day). With the air intake and downpipe you 'may' have some boost issues. You can do the 'Home Depot boost controller' (search forums here) for $10 or so.

If you're going to the track I'd suggest a new radiator, a second oil cooler (if you don't have R1/R2 model), and an improved IC. If you add the IC you'll probably want to do a cat-back exhaust as well as improved engine management.

 

Never had an overheating problem. The first thing to do is get a hose job on all the vacumm hoses & make sure all the solenoids are working. Not glamorous but the real first step.

Then an exhaust system. If you go to an afternarket computer, then a downpipe and larger intercooler, cold air intake and a real good tuner - especially the real good tuner.