This modification is for A/C equipped Miata's only. If you do not have A/C, skip this step and continue on to Step 6. Depending on the thickness of your radiator you may be required to bend the upper A/C mounting tab and use the supplied Tie-Wrap setup in STEP 10. On stock radiators you can use the supplied spacer and bolt to support the upper A/C evaporator coil.

5.1 Modify The A/C Mounting Tabs

The upper mounting tab on the front passenger side may need to be bent depending on your setup for the A/C dryer tube for additional clearance.

• Bend the upper radiator tab on the passenger side close to flat or until there is enough clearance for the A/C dryer tube as shown in Photo 5-D.  This tab bends pretty easily. 

• Use a combination of pliers and Crescent wrenches to push it over as shown in Photos 5-A through 5-C .

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Photo 5-A: Bend the upper tab	Photo 5-B: Finish the bend of the upper tab using pliers	Photo 5-C: Tab should be near flat
Photo 5-D: Upper tab flat. Lower tab before bend

5.2 Modify the A/C Evaporator Coil Models 90-93

The A/C dryer canister needs to be bent to allow clearance for the intercooler, take caution when bending the A/C dryer and bracket. Section 5.3 shows details using a Crescent wrench to aid bending. 

• Remove the 10mm bolt holding the A/C tube as shown in Photo 5-E.

• Grind or Saw Cut the A/C dryer bracket to increase bending radius as shown in Photos 5-G through 5-J. Be sure to cut both top and bottom.

• Unscrew the bolt holding the top A/C tube as shown in Photo 5-K.

• Use a large Crescent wrench and clamp it to the aluminum bracket as shown in Photos 5-O and 5-P. 

• Stick a screwdriver through the hole at the end of the Crescent wrench for leverage and rotate. The bracket will bend around.
   
• Rotate from the top and bottom as you bend in small increments until the canister has rotated a little less than 90 degrees.
   
• Don't overdo it. Bend in small increments, making sure you don't damage anything. You might have to go back and add a little more bend after the intercooler is in place to get good clearance. You do not want the A/C unit and the intercooler to rub.

• Saw cut the bracket as shown in Photos 5-L and 5-M for additional intercooler pipe clearance.

Photo 5-E: Remove 10mm mounting bolt holding A/C tube	Photo 5-F:Saw cut into bracket	Photo 5-G: Grind upper and lower area in the bracket for bending
Photo 5-H: Saw cut alternative into bracket	Photo 5-I: Notch out saw cut	Photo 5-J:Saw cut bottom bracket
Photo 5-K: Unscrew top A/C tube bracket	Photo 5-L: Saw Cut bracket to remove it	Photo 5-M: Bracket removed for pipe clearance

5.3 Modify the A/C Evaporator Coil Models 94-97

The later Miata had a different A/C evaporator coil and dryer canister configuration, but bending is similar. Take caution when bending this A/C dryer and bracket. 

• Remove the 10mm bolt holding the A/C tube as shown in Photo 5-N.

• Use a large Crescent wrench and clamp it to the aluminum bracket as shown in Photos 5-O and 5-P.
   
• Stick a screwdriver through the hole at the end of the Crescent wrench for leverage and rotate. The bracket will bend around.
   
• Rotate from the top and bottom as you bend in small increments until the canister has rotated a little less than 90 degrees.
   
• Don't overdo it. Bend in small increments, making sure you don't damage anything. You might have to go back and add a little more bend after the intercooler is in place to get good clearance. You do not want the A/C unit and the intercooler to rub.

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Photo 5-N: Remove 10mm mounting bolt holding A/C tube	Photo 5-O: Use a Crescent wrench to bend the bottom of the bracket	Photo 5-P: Use a Crescent wrench to bend the top of the bracket
Photo 5-Q: A/C dryer should look similar to this photo when bent	Photo 5-R: Top view of bent A/C dryer

5.4 Modifying the A/C Evaporator Coil Upper Brackets

The condenser coil is supported using the lower support brackets in the factory position and either a mounting bolt and spacer or a Tie-Wrap setup for the upper half. In STEP 10 we will complete the upper support for the evaporator coil.

• If the the A/C evaporator coil lower hardware was removed, reinstall in the factory position as shown in Photos 5-F and 5-S. using factory hardware.

• Mount the evaporator coil toward the front side of the frame bracket as shown in Photo 5-S.

• Bend the upper tabs at an increasing angle toward the engine to act as a stand-off. Bend the tab back flat as shown in Photos 5-T and 5-U to increase surface contact against the radiator. You should have approximately 1/2" or more space between the radiator and the condenser coil when complete.

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Photo 5-S: Attach the evaporator coil to the lower frame tabs	Photo 5-T Bend the upper tab toward the engine	Photo 5-U: Bend the tab back flat to increase surface contact
Photo 5-V: Bend the tabs to get approximately 1/2" of space