Cheap aftermarket radiator
 

Ok my radiator is all f'd up, it does its job decently but lets just say its not comforting to be higher than normal. I am gonna replace it soon and would really like to go with a aftermarket AL radiator. Is there any that are better than stock in the $150 range?

ALso will a Fd radiator fit my fc?

If you custom fabricate brackets it probably will, but I think it's actually smaller than our radiator.

Dont know about the fd rad, but I scored a radiator from Napa Auto(all metal, no plastic endcaps like stock) for 120 bucks + tax when she sprung a leak on me. Now my vert never goes above 1/8th of the way towards "h"- even during hot FL summers.

Oh crap- I didn't see you wanted an aluminum rad- my bad. But there is an alternative if you like.

There is no all-aluminum, drop-in unit available short of you stealing it.
Cheapest I've seen is $300.
If you don't have the cash, copper aftermarket rads are more in your price range.


-Ted

you could get a nice alluminum radiator from summitracing.com for like $180, and make some custom brakets for it.

actually if you look i bet you could get a Griffin radiator for around $200 maybe a little more but it will be a universal fit, won't be axact but i have used Griffin's before in high HP street/strip cars and they cool very well.

Then you probably need to replace your thermostat since it sounds like it's stuck open. It should not be running that cold no matter what radiator you put in.

agreed^

you want the car to run at normal operating temperature. especially with all stock systems in the car, you will get reduced effieciency at continuous colder than normal running temp. if running colder than what it does were better, Mazda would have designed it that way...

Hmmmm- just happen to have a new OEM one in the garage. Thanks, guys- I will swap it out before I head off to work.

You guys DO know that "high performance" radiators shouldn't effect the temps at which your motor runs. Temp regulation is the thermostats job, which is why a thermostat is pretty important. An upgraded radiator will likely have a larger capacity and be made of aluminum which is a better heat exchanger than the OEM radiator. The larger capacity means you have more coolant in the system which should give you more surface area to heat up before boiling over and a bit more headroom. Unless you're constantly flogging the car on a road course, the OEM radiator is more than adequate for street use.

The reason I would like an aftermarket is because the aluminum radiators tend to be thinker but not as wide. i want to run my cold air into the front grill and it would be alot easier if there was some room available. I should hav specified this in my original post.

if you want one that fits yoru car specific the cheapest I have seen and the one I want is the cool rads 259.00 shipped to your door is pretty good here is the link

http://www.coolradiator.com/HPAMazdaRX73.htm


actually thats for turbo models though.. I dotn know if it would fit your car. it probably would but you may need new hoses.

Is there a different between 86-88 and 89-91 when ti comes to radiators?

yes. Different except for the main core

yes but my friend just finished doing it. The main diff is you have to loose the shroud. You can put that one in and just move the hoses as explained the core is diff but mounting points are the same which makes it easy.

so a 89-91 like on that site wont fit in my 86 base.

I had a 3 inch griffin core on my t2 vert with a efan. We had to fab up some pipes to get it to work. You are better off buying a Koyo drop in for 400 bucks. You will still be able to use the stock shroud and clutch fan.

Yeah I dont know if the base is the same as turbo is so I cant answer that but my friend did it from the 89-91 and put it on an 87 t2. Do you have a pic of your engine bay?? I could tell off that .

they have a guy selling a koyo for 315 shipped on the forum right now.

i got a koyo for 315 shipped for an s5 and i have an s4. want me to post pics? i got the stock shroud and fan to work as well. only "drawback" is i have multiple coolant filler necks :p

I saw koyos in that price range before but i cant afford it thats why i asked for a "cheap" radiator, liek the 150 range. Thanks anyway. Im gonna grab a stock from another forum member.

OK so will the FD radiator bolt up? That looks like my cheapest option right now.

Even if it would I dont see why you would even consider it. its a very small core that most owners ditch once they sdtart moding. If your looking for an upgrade from your current one DO not go for an fd core. And no it wont bolt directly as it is smaller than the fc core it would require modding as well. Looks like the mountings for base and turbo seem to be the same the only diff is s4 and s5. I would go with that cool radiators and take your shroud off or get that koyo that guy is selling for 315. Otherwise stick with stock till you have enough cash.

NO.


-Ted