25BP

Looking for a new alum radiator, and wanted to get some feedback, demension and pics of the K2RD radiator.
It states that it is a cross flow design, and I wanted to know how that was working.
There is a Ron Davis cross flow radiator at AWR, but I was told I needed a hose kit and adaptor due to it being cross flow.

Other Ron Davis units I have found is at FC3s.org store. Anyone used this unit?

The Fluidyne is also on the list, and I know it has a pretty good rep, it is faily thin, and states only 20-25% better cooling over stock.
It doesn't sit well when I am making about 2x the stock HP.

Any thoughts, pro's / con's and pics would be great.
TIA

vaughnc

I just searched on K2RD on this website and found 8 pages of stuff just in the 2nd gen section alone. Do a search.

J-Rat

iTrader: (2)

There SHOULD be some pics on this site of my K2RD install, if not then CYMFC3S has one in his car too. Or I can post up more.

Pros:

The thing cools like nothing else. I can boost all day long on a 100 degree day with a permacool fan and NO shroud, and I wont break 180.

Its cooled a 612 RWHP FC.

Cons:

Its so big, that you cant retain the stock battery. You can use a 1/2 size (like I did) or you have to relocate.

The heater pipe is extra.

If you have more questions or you need pics, let me know.

Jarrett

25BP

J-Rat, it would be great if you could post some pics. I do not need any heater pipes and I have relocated the battery.

So it is actually a cross flow unit, the tubes run horizontaly?

Did you have any issues with the oil lines going to the cooler? Other units I have seen had issues.

Is there any fabbing of the hoses, mounting etc?
Did you have an pressure issues?

cymfc3s

The radiator clears the oil cooler lines no problem, just make sure you have them zip-tied back so they dont rub on anything. I used some FD hoses i custom cut to fit, but you can use the stock FC hoses as well. Nice thing about the K2RD radiator is the inlet and outlet pipes are actually the factory size. The fluidyne ones are slightly smaller, so we had problems with Mike's radiator leaking when using the factory hoses and clamps. We had to use screw clamps. I use all the factory stuff.
The radiator cools amazingly well. Climbing the grapevine on the way to LA in 95+ heat, my FC did just fine. My other buddy with his Ron Davis radiator had to stop and let his car cool down.

J-Rat

iTrader: (2)

I had a BUNCH of pics available, but I cant access them now.

As CYMFC3S said, no oil cooler line issues (they are a little snug, but not bad). I used a universal upper hose, because I could not get my stock one to fit. I took DETAILED pics of my install, but damn if I cant get to them right now!....

Here is the only pic I have available:

25BP

Thanks for the shots guys, send 'em if you got 'em.

J- you said the heater hose is extra, does this mean that the radiator doesn't have an extra "port" on the bottom inlet? This is good, as I do not have any heater hardware, and I would rather not have to deal with it.
I wonder if they can eliminate or not weld in the bung for the factory sensors that are normally used on street cars?

Lastly, if you look at the AFCO sites you can buy a core that has the same configuration (inlet/outlet same side). I wonder what is need to make a core work, welding on inlet/oulet tubes, bead rolling the tubes? I only mention this as they are about 1/2 the price.

Bukwild

I will see if I can get a hold of some of my pics of my Griffin rad that "really" cools right to left.

25BP

Well, I ordered a radiator today here are the specs:
26"x19"x3" cross flow with a baffle. This will give me enough clearance for the oil cooler lines. (frame rails are 28.5")
After looking at all the "drop ins" that range from say $400ish to over $700 I started looking outside the drop in box.
All alum. no holes that I don't need for heaters, sensors etc, filler/radiator cap dr side and passenger side inlet/outlet.

The price, $209 plus delivery. Sure I will have to fab a sill for it to mount to, but it is probably the largest unit you can fit and it is a cross flow unit.

It can be found at www.fullthrottleracing.com under the AFCO units. BTW, the K2RD unit is a AFCO core.

It will either do the job and save me some bucks or not and I should have stayed within the box. We'll see.....

cymfc3s

The core is nice, but you still have to have some way of bolting it to the car.
Look at the picture of my car above. Look at the way the mounting was done. The end tanks are custom with dowels welded through them so you can utilize the factory mounts.

25BP

I was wondering what those dark circles were, I thought they were plugs of some form.

Mounting should be pretty simple. I will make a alum. tray/sill for the radiator to sit in on the bottom. A couple pieces of L stock. For the top I will also use alum. stock, making some brackets similar to the units they sell on the site I bought the radiator from.
I understand it will take a little bit of custom fabbing, but I like to do that sort of stuff, and it certianly is cheaper then drop in units.

Pics to follow once it arrives.

bejbis

i like the fluidyne radiators better, they fit and look better, damn, i want one of those CF relay covers on that white car.

-Daniel

25BP

I am not saying the others are not good and don't drop in, but this one is about 4" wider and about 1/2-3/4" wider and about $200 cheaper then fluidyne.
As far as looks go, it will be covered by a shroud and a E-Fan on the backside. Not much of a glamar piece anyway, but I know what you mean, you don't want something ugly.
I am mostly concerned with cooling and I hope this one does.

cymfc3s

When it comes to keeping your rotary cool, sacraficing "looks" for functionality is no-brainer. The AFCO core/K2RD is a big step up from a fluidyne. And actually, i buffed my AFCO core for 15 minutes one afternoon, and it looked great! So, you can have both

RETed

The K2RD unit is NOT a "cross flow" unit. The K2RD unit is technically a "double pass" design, and this is one of the most efficient cooling patterns (versus the cross flow ones).


-Ted

bcty

what are the genral prices on the K2RD units? and do you still have to fab mounts for it?

J-Rat

iTrader: (2)

They sell them at the FC store, on FC3S.org. The one on the white car is mine, and it only cost me 70 bones.

Jarrett

J-Rat

iTrader: (2)

No, its the largest "drop in" replacement for the stock radiator.

Jarrett

25BP

Ted, not that it really matters, but K2RD should update the info on thier webpage as they state it is a Cross Flow. Anyway the unit I bought is a double bypass not a x-flow like I thought it was.
Never the less, it should keep the car cool.

RETed

Oh, I agree. Paul is a putz when it comes to keeping the website up-to-date and accurate, so I'm faulting you.

As a side, a true x-flow is the stock "Chevy" or "Ford" radiators that flow form on corner of the rad to the opposite/kitty-corner.

Paul's smoking good crack.

Maybe cymfc3s can go change that piece of info, since I don't do the website anymore.


-Ted