ok guys--straight out question. WIll the miata thermostat fit the 8? In looking high and low for a 180F thermostat and utilizing my buds at the autoparts store --we matched up one from a miata. it appeared to have the appropriate offset , the"teet" was in the right place, the outside and the inside diameter appeared the same. The only difference was in the length of the bottom and in the little crossbar thing at the top. Those were shorter. i believe the miata cooling system works on the same pressure as ours--around 16lbs --right?
So what is teveryone's opinion?
Would this work?
Olddragger

 

it probably doesn't flow enough

 

I've heard you can toss them in a pot of boiling water and they will open up. You could try that to see how far each opens up.

 

The RX8 thermostat is off center in terms of the 'foot' of it which closes off the bypass when it opens, making subsitutes difficult.

Paul.

 

Hey Paul
it appears that the miata one is also off center--the only differance I see is in the overall lenght and the extra spring mechanism on the bottom of the thermostat itself. This part is isolated from the wax pill system by a ridgid and fixed metal plate.
Perhaps i can just dissect both and install the 180F wax pill into the renasis thermostat structure?
olddragger

 

the bypass only bypasses the t-stat, I don't see how it matters to close it off when the t-stat opens, at least not for competition reasons

 

so you are thinking that all other characteristics being equal, then it should fit?
olddragger

 

yes, assuming there is adquate clearance both above and below the seating surface for it to fit and operate fully, I doubt the Miata engine sees the same amount of heat mass flow as the RX-8, hence I tend to suspect that it's not the t-stat you want to use

 

probably not.
OD

 

I am letting this go.
olddragger