I found out yesterday that my radiator has 4 leaks in it! AHHH! I need a good cheap radiator, and have been looking into the griffin for a while now. You can get them from summit for 190. Then I was looking to see what else they had, and summit has their own brand for 170. They are both full aluminum 2-row. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with either. I really like the look of the price of the summit one, but I just wanna make sure its an ok radiator. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Aaron

 

go to www.absoluteradiator.com and buy the 2 core brass unit by CSF. It has a lifetime warranty and works great. I have it for a year now and I have no regrets about buying it. Its a great upgrade that is not aluminum. Most AL rad's have only 1 yrs warrantys, and I presonaly do not want to drop $400 on a AL rad to see the thing take a beating on our dirty NJ roads.

 

I have the Griffin and it works great. You will need to get yourself a efan from a 90-96 ford escort though. It already have a shroud on it. 3 speeds great fan. 30 bucks at a bone yard.

 

I bought the Griffin myself but haven't installed yet... The summit looks like it's pretty comparable though. Probably the main thing is just get the size you want and the inlet/outlet in the right places. Aside from that, probably both would be okay.

 

I have the cheap brass one from radiators.com
It's limits seem to be sustained 95MPH + 95deg + 95%hum + AC blasting.

I call it "haulin' ice"

It did not overheat, but it was thinking about it.

 

I remember someone telling me about a raditatior that is around 160 all metal. I need to find him and ask again where he got it. I will try to get that info for ya man,

Santiago

 

Thanks everyone, and that would be great if you could find that out santiago. I am more leaning towards the griffin, cuz they have a size that will work with the stock battery location, where as the summit i think may be too large. I will look into the others suggested though.

Thanks!
Aaron

 

I checked out absoluteradiator.com and that brass one says specifically for non-turbo only, but mine is turbo The brass one at radiators.com isn't really much cheaper than the griffin one.

 

The brass one (like in my NA) may not exchange enough heat from your turbo..

 

2a+RoN, what size griffin are you thinking about getting?

 

The brass ones don't give any better cooling than stock.I don't think they cool as well as the factory one which has an aluminum core. I think that the Griffin should cool better than stock.I believe that some of the Improved Touring people run them in thier race cars with good results.

 

0100, the griffin I was looking at was 22x19 chevy style in/out. I have seen the same one installed on BDC's car off the teamfc3s member's section. He has the stock battery location, but had to fab his own hoses. I would go gor a bigger one, but I just don't have the time/money to relocate the battery right now.

 

There are 5 different series of Griffin radiators. Much like not all Mazdas are made the same, not all Griffins are made the same.
http://griffinrad.com/difference.htm

Read about aluminum vs. copper / brass here:
http://griffinrad.com/whyaluminum.htm

Drop-in all-aluminum radiators here:
http://66.216.67.51/subcatmfgprod.asp?0=352&1=354&2=-1

 

what are the differences between the S4 and S5 radiators? I have heard someone say that an S4 could be used on an S5 to get rid of the annoying little filler arm that sticks out. is that the only difference between the two oem radiators?

 

I've seen some S4 radiators that didn't have a fill location at all had to add coolant at the thermostat housing.It was in an '86.Also seen them with the filler in the center on top of the radiator.This must be the one you were thinking of.I had one in my car for awhile till the core started leaking.I liked the filler in the top made getting the air out of the system easier.Looks like Koyo makes a thicker all aluminum version of this radiator along with the S5 style as well.

http://www.absoluteradiator.com/Prod....asp?idProd=17

http://www.absoluteradiator.com/Prod....asp?idProd=18

 

Oh on those Koyo radiators.Says the mounting straps aren't included with radiator you have to use your old ones.The straps from a S5 rad won't bolt to a S4 they are a differnt height.Or at least the S4 one that I had was.It was made by Nichi or some company that started with an N.All the S5 that I have seen were made by Calsonic.Anyway a person may have to have the straps from a S4 with the filler on the top to put that Koyo in a S5.