After sifting through the search function I am still not satisfied. I think it would be helpful to comprise a AST buyers guide.

I know that functionally, all of the ASTs on the market are relative equals, however...
How do they compare in terms of craftsmanship and overall appearance.

If you would, please post up:
1. A picture of your AST
2. The brand
3. Where you purchased the AST

Thanks,

Andrew

 

I really don't think an AST is life or death. As long as its not plastic it'll do the job.

 

Go with the Tri-Point and you will be extremely satisfied.

 

A lot of the Aussies buy a D1 breather tank. Its not FD specific but not hard to install at all. Its super cheap too and works very well.

 

What I'm wondering is which one is closest to stock specs (restriction on lower barb + uses the stock AST cap)?

 

i hear that the Fighter's AST Dick Dale has on his page is a quality product. I plan on buying it when i finish fixing my boost issues

http://www.fighters-garage.com/rx7.html

 

tripoint is definitely the best put together that i have seen.

 

I still use a stock AST. It's only a problem if it's old. Mine was installed brand new last year, so I have a few years before I'm going to change it again.

Stock radiators are the same way, assuming you don't need more cooling capacity.

Dave

 

Well, there's not a lot of AST's out there any more. Tripoint isn't around any more. Pettit has the "go-to" one, but part of the reason I designed the Fighters AST is due to my experience installing the Pettit - fit and finish is lousy.

IMHO, the Fighters AST is the way to go. Reasonably priced, nice looking polished aluminum, nice brass hose barbs that look good and fit the hoses VERY nice and tight, CNC'd coolant neck, polished radiator cap, etc. etc. It also fits perfectly on the stock intercooler bracket with the little "peg" at the bottom. Pettit's doesn't sit on the bracket properly, the hose barbs are too small and you have to crank down the supplied screw clamps to get a leak-free install, and the wrinkle finish on them looks terrible.

Each Fighters AST is also pressure tested under water to make 100% sure there's not even a single pinhole leak.

I'm not makin' any money on these AST's, but I wanted the FD community to have a quality, good looking, and reasonably priced AST.

Dale

 

Dale, does it have the restriction on the bottom hose barb (like the stock AST) and does it use the stock AST cap?

 

Post pictures of your AST's

this might help this thread, if we can all see what you are talking about

yes, I know what an AST looks like, I just don't know the difference between different manufacturers.

 

Strange, I got my AST from Tripoint two weeks ago.

 

have you priced a stock ast cap from mazda???

 

From a couple of years ago on Ebay. It was ~$50 w/shipping. CNC neck, welds like stacked nickels, polished, takes the stock cap and yes, IIRC it has the restriction in the lower fitting (see 3rd pic below).
After seeing the quality, I took pictures of it to post on the forum but I never saw another one come up. Apparently this was a one-off, and/or the guy that made it just didn't feel there was enough money in it for his time. Maybe someone here?

 

I have the petit ast and have no issues

 

I also have the Pettit AST. To simulate the stock AST's flow restriction, I made a brass 0.090 ID "restrictor pill" that I placed in the hose off the bottom of the Pettit AST.

 

That looks like a really great unit. It's a shame they dont manufacture it anymore.

I also recall seeing a cast-iron replica of the stock AST on a yahoo japan auction, I cant seem to find that anymore, either.

 

+1 for Pettit

 

Another vote for Pettit.

(I've got an extra one lying around if somebody needs one. Just PM me for more info.)

 

i have some generic one i bought on this forum for like a 100 bucks or something and it works but to me doesnt look that great. i wanted to buy the pettit one until i saw the re amemiya one with the pink cap. its around 200 something on rhdjapan but its a nice looking piece and im thinking of scooping it up sometime in the near future.

 

A bit of an aside, but I was just surfing the Fighter's Garage site and I really like the way they list if the part is 'in stock' or not. Other sites dont do this, mainly because they stock 5-10% of the parts listed.......

 

how much you looking to get for it? i might be after one

 

How about NO AST?

I use to have overheating issues with my FD and I could never figure it out. Finally, one time my car significantly overheated and coolant was shooting out everywhere in the engine bay. I narrowed it down to it being a faulty AST cap. Changed it out to find out I had a bad AST as well. Bought another one and that one started causing the same problems. Again, faulty cap.


After that a friend of mine suggested running no AST at all and I've been super happy ever since. It takes a little longer to flush the system, but I've never had a coolant issue since. One of the best mods I've ever done for my FD .

 

I have a Pettit , and that was the 1st mod I ever did to my car , about 6 years ago , NO problems with it ever ... I have seen the Fighters Garage ASTs , and they are a very good product , thinking of getting one just for the Bling

 

I removed my AST the other day and haven't had any problems, like most others that have removed it.