AST buyers guide
#1
AST buyers guide
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 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
#6
Vagina Destroyer
Join Date: Jan 2006
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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
http://www.fighters-garage.com/rx7.html
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#9
RX-7 Bad Ass
iTrader: (55)
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
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
#10
Call me gramps!
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
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?
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Australia
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#14
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
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?
#16
Racecar - Formula 2000
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.
#17
Call me gramps!
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?
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 also recall seeing a cast-iron replica of the stock AST on a yahoo japan auction, I cant seem to find that anymore, either.
#19
Not the company
#20
Senior Member
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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.
#21
Original Gangster/Rotary!
iTrader: (213)
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.......
#23
Nearing Completion...
iTrader: (473)
Join Date: Aug 2006
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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 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 .
#24
Rotary Freak
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Pensacola, Fla.
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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
#25
Magic Triangles no more!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Tampa, FL
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I removed my AST the other day and haven't had any problems, like most others that have removed it.