I need a new radiator, so I was wondering if there is anything I could upgrade to that would bolt in? Would a second or third gen radiator fit? My car's been running kinda hot (Half way up on the temp gauge, not during spirited driving), and the bottom 1/4 of the radiator is kinda messed up, so I'm guessing it has to do with that. Thanks.

~brian

 

I THINK that some first gen rads came wide enough from the factory to have a rad shop fit an extra row in, making it a 3 row cored rad. Someone else will need to comfirm years and such but I do believe it is possible.

 

Nothing that will directly bolt in unless you wanna spend way too much money (~$600) for an aluminum radiator, or have one custom made. Also, the second gen radiators wont fit (probably 3rd gens also) without modifications to your car (like custom brackets and junk).

~T.J.

 

just get a NEW replacement if you're running stock..wasn't there a thread couple months back for radiators.com... I think it was ~$120. I got mine at a local auto place.. got new hoses.. thermostat.. and flush the old junk out and you're set for a few years!! btw my temp guage NEVER covers the lil thermometer icon on the guage. (like a 6:30 position)

 

I bought a radiator from Radiators.com. It was for my wifes car, but it works as advertised, installed easy enough, and the price was very competative. I'd buy from them again.

 

****...here for the equivalent of about US$300-400 you can get a fully custom alloy radiator 65mm thick whatever, with polished tanks.

 

Ill second that. I got one for my 83 GSL and it fit perfect, and as you said, it was priced right also.

~T.J.

 

Another vote for radiators.com. The first one i bought came from 911radiators.com. DONT BUY FROM THEM. the packaging was terrible. When i called to complain the kid on the phone told me that i could send it back but ide have to pay for shipping there. so i said screw it and just kept it. Then that raditor got destroyed in a accident. Anyway, i bought another one from radiators.com. the packaging was MUCH better, and it cost less. The car runs super cool now. so yeah... just buy a stock 3-row (79-82) one from them.

 

I just bought one last month. The best price I could find was at www.radiatorexpress.com . $119 shipped and I had it in three days.

 

so no company makes an aluminum one for the 79 or does any other year car fit?

 

When you get your new radiator, run a 50/50 mix with distiled water and antifreeze. the distiled water will not cause build up of mineral deposites on your rad or engine, and is suposed to run a few degrees cooler the tap water due to the lack of minerals. The build up is nothing compared to before, and I have used it for 3 years now. And radiator.com seam as goos as anyone else, I bought mine from gate way for 125.00 and have a life time warrenty.

 

I have the 2nd gen rad in my car and except for 2 very simple brackets it fits perfect. looks cool, and works awsome.

 

The stock rad should be fine, but you may want to contact RacingBeat.com . Years ago they stocked a 4 core radiator that bolted into an FB. If I remeber correctly, RB had mentioned that a run of Corvette rad's fitted into first gen's as well (all 4 core and the new replacements are alluminum). However, this rad was only really necessary for a heavily modified rotary motors for racing.

 

I have a 3 core from MazdaTrix in my AutoX car. Cost $200 if I remember correctly.

 

1 more vote for radiators.com if you end up going stock.

they were fast on shiping and quite a bit cheaper than
anyone else.

 

The stock radiator works great for these cars. There are 3 and 4 core ones out there and they work great too. Make sure you have a good oil cooler I see your car is an 83', little heatsink type oil cooler right? If you havn't gone to an air/oil cooler yet. That is a more important thing than a big radiator. Most the SCCA guys run a stock rad. with the air/oil cooler and it works great.