Fluidyne cracked...
 

Yep. I started yesterday on a simple radiator install, or so I thought. I pulled out the intake, the intercooler, the battery, and all the associated pieces. I loosened the bolts, the hoses, and the wires. I gave her a gentle tug, only to find that I had forgotten to pull off the hose to the thermostat neck. I grabbed the channel locks and grabbed the tabs to the hose clamp and gently removed all the crap down there. No worries I thought to myself, I have a new Fluidyne radiator to replace of this original worn out POS. As the evening progresses on I find out that the stock electrical fans require a bit of "modification" to fit on my new Fluidyne radiator. So I grab the ol' trusty angle grinder and modify to fit.

I realize that I needed a flare fitting for some reason Fluidyne needed to put an extra coolant bib on the drivers side. I get back and put to task what must be done, the install. We all know how installs start out easy, only to find that you break a bolt in what would not be called a great location. So I'm prepared mentally and I shove the bitch down into the cold steel that holds it and find that this is not a simple stock replacement. I have to modify the front a bit to get the radiator in. So I put everything up to start on it in some daylight the next day.

So I get to the grinding the next morning and get her in about 3 hours later, after about 10 in and outs of the radiator itself, being extra careful each time. I finally get the radiator in there and attach all the hoses and start to bolt it in. The radiator mount decides to eat the bolt to which it is to mount to and it snaps right off. So I pull it out again and replace the bolt for another bit of my time. I get the radiator in and reinstall the hoses, bolts, and wires. I put the intake back in and slide the intercooler back in. I grab my 200 lb battery and it's mount to sludge it back in. I get everything installed and ready to drive, and start filling the neck up. I get her all filled up and burped, ready to drive and take a peak underneath as I fill her up. I see no leaks and put a giant grin on my face as I just installed my new radiator!

I take the car out for what would be a spirited drive after I get her gas tank happily filled up. I get about 300 yards from the gas station and the coolant light beeps deeply into what I would call my soul. A shiver jolts down my spine and I quickly pull over and shut her off. I jump around to the front and look underneath to find the spray of green coolant EVERYWHERE. I mutter a moment of defeat but jump onto my feet to hoping its only a hose leaking. I pour what seems like a gallon into her and jump back in and cruise to the house very carefully and shut her off just as the coolant light cuts back on.

I rip off the a/c condenser and peak into the small area between it and my radiator to see a shower of coolant leaking from 4 different spots in the fin area. I see a moment of defeat and go out for something to eat in my other RX-7(2nd gen). I get back and talk to some people and cool off a bit to mentally prepare myself for the following reinstall of my old radiator. I pull out the new Fluidyne and inspect the damage to see that it must of came this way to my doorstep because I had not damaged this area during the install. I visually inspect the old worn out POS to find that the plastic nipple on the bottom of it for my thermostat neck had broken off when I had tugged the hose off earlier without my knowledge. I sigh in pain to my defeat for the day.

I suppose I am just to order another one and spend another payday on it...Any ideas on what I can do to try to fix it? I searched around and found possibly CRC or something but I would rather not pour that into my coolant system...

If it's a manufacturing defect, Fluidyne will take care of you.

I don't think it's a manufacturing defect because I bought it used off a friend who had it in his garage in plastic for the past two years.

Are you sure you know what you're doing?

The Fluidyne should be a straight bolt-in (only two bolts for the rad itself), and fans should install with no grinding or mods whatsoever.

The fans did not fit as a direct bolt-on. I had to modify one of the fan's supports to get it to slide into place. The radiator itself has two nipples on top of it that also had to be accounted for in the installation. Anyone else have any experiences?

Are you sure you have a fd rad and not some other model? Mine went on like a charm, no cutting grinding or anything.

R.K.

thats why i buy brand new from a store with a warranty and a return policy

Live and learn I suppose.

I'll try and get some pictures for you all to see. I really don't know why I couldn't get it to fit directly.

Anyone know a good retailer for parts with a good policy for returns?

I have a fluidyne... installation was cake... i didn't need to modify anything..

everything was a direct bolt on to my stock parts

what cracked, was it metal, if so have it welded.

I went with the fluidyne because of the great fit. sorry you had so much trouble.

Jeff

My koyo cracked in a similar way,somehow something pierced it, and it leaked as you described. The local fabrication shop was easily able to weld the hole shut.... I think that might be the case. Should be nice and cheap.

If it was actually used before and then sat for a long time it could just be rotted out and no good. That's very common if you let a radiator sit after using it.

:werd:

that and also if it was a hard fit then the vibrations of the car itself may have cracked it open little by little. The radiator should fit nicely.

I had a brand new Koyo that had a leaky core.

Well I would like to take the time to thank everyone of you for your time and support. It's hard getting through the times when your car is unable to drive and your unable to operate on her. I will definitely check into a fab shop to see if they can repair it but I will probably buy one still since I will be modifying for road track. I guess I'll look into buying one from rx7store this time around. Does anyone have a suggestion on a different store or a closer store to NC?

DUDE! you live in NC.... Drive over to mooresville or call fluidyne direct and see what they can do for you, just from personal experiance Fluidyne is the junk of upper end radiator's I would suggest you look into how much C&R would charge to build one(by the way there right across the stret from Fluidyne).

This doesn't sound right.

Two nipples? What two nipples?

I've got a fluidyne sitting right next to me out of the car... there's just the inlet and outlet, and the one nipple for the overflow and that's it. Sounds like you got a reject or the model for a different car or something.

Had the same problem with the Fluidyne..not with fitment but with the leaking issue...installed just right and when i took it out for a ride the temp went sky high...when it's cold it doesn't leak only when it's hot...so i took it out installed the OEM again and i send it to be fixed.

I might have to go over there and talk to them seeing as I got a reject or something.

I might have got a different model but it looks as it would fit other than those two nipples and the outlet on top is slightly bent to the center of the car...

I also have the Fluidyne and I had to grind one hole for the fans to fit on nice.

Also you cannot hard mount a radiator as I was taught it must have some sort of a cushion.

I have a fluidyne and I had no problems on the install. No modifications were required. That is why I purchased the Fluidyne. It does not sound to like me that you have a Fluidyne radiator. Does it have a brass engraved name plate on it?

Yes