adam c

iTrader: (2)

I just put a new Fluidyne radiator in my car. Getting it in was a pain. Once I actually got it into its location, everything went fine. The removal of the old radiator was made very difficult because of the air conditioning tube that sits on the driver’s side. There didn’t seem to be a way to move/remove it without losing my freon (expensive and environmentally unfriendly). I wound up twisting/bending it a couple of times. Does anyone know a better procedure for dealing with this part of the installation?

I was impressed with the capacity compared to the stock radiator. Draining the stock radiator gave me about one gallon of fluid. Refilling required two gallons. I drove it around a bit last night, and temps were definitely down. This could be attributed in part to the belly pan being off. I wanted to check for leaks before putting it back on. By the way, I wasted a Mustang GT on the way home. I really like this radiator!

Adam

SoCalLove

Funny, I didn't know rads added hp . But glad to hear its working.

93BlackFD

sure they can, the cooler your engine runs the more HP you make...simple thermodynamics

and by the way, i drove with my under belly off for a day...my temps were so low my AWS system was engaging

evot23

iTrader: (17)

Congrats on the new install. I had the same problem with the AC but was luckily able to do it without messing up any lines.

Isn't the purpose of the underbelly pan to force air through the radiator?

It's been my experience that driving the car without the underbelly pan will actually increase temps...if it decreased them we'd all be running without them by now. Don't ya think?

adam c

iTrader: (2)

I have not done any research on the bellypan/cooling issue. It just looked like more air would go thru the radiator with it off.

RX-8

iTrader: (6)

AWS?

evot23

iTrader: (17)

Accelerated warmup system

spurvo

Hey adam! Did you have any problems getting your fans to mount to the radiator? Or was it just me that had to cut into the support under the upper hose mount, AND tape the hell out of the top to seal the GIANT gap from mis-welded mountings? Just curious...

Kahren

iTrader: (13)

underbelly off mgith let more air in while u are sittign there and idling which i highly doubt. on a racetrack or hard driving on the street u will ahve air escaping under teh radiator and away from it to underneath the car. the less resistance air has to follow the way it will go. if u are not forcing air thru the radiator, which the underpan does, the less cooling u will get,. go beat some on teh car with it off then with it on
see what happens

adam c

iTrader: (2)

I did have to cut away some of the plastic under the upper radiator hose. This was not a surprise. Someone else who installed this had told me in advance. I used a dremel, and slowly removed little pieces until it fit with plenty of room for the hose and clamp.

Everything else fit OK. I didn't notice any gaps. It was just a pain to get in and out.

ronarndt

Ditto on having to notch the plastic near the upper rad hose. Running with the belly pan off will decrease the flow thru the radiator, except when you are stopped.
Are you still using the AST, or did you plug the connection for it on the radiator case?

Kento

When you say it was a pain to get in, are you mostly referring to maneuvering the new radiator around the AC tubing? Or were there some other issues? Did the fan bracket fit correctly? I'm wondering about clearance with my SMIC as well, since it sits atop the stock rad fan. I was told that the newer Fluidynes had their previous poor fitment issues solved.

Put your belly pan back on. It directs air to travel through the radiator; notice that there is a foam lining that butts up against the radiator? That's to seal it off; otherwise, air will take the path of least resistance, which is around your radiator, and you won't get any cooling, no matter how big your radiator is.

adam c

iTrader: (2)

The belly pan was off only to check for leaks. It's been on since everything checked out ok. Thanks.

The pain was getting the radiator around the AC drier/thing, and getting the plastic holder for the AC drier/ thing off of it. Everything else went well. I have the Petit AST. It was not an issue.

The fan bracket fit correctly except around the upper radiator hose. A little trimming was required there.

Kento, which SMIC do you have? I still have the stock one. I would like to get a SMIC that will work with my stock airbox and battery.

Kento

I've got a Greddy SMIC. It's a tight fit, but it doesn't require relocating the battery or jettisoning the stock airbox. You just have to trim off the right side tab from the airbox. And I don't have any problems with hood rubbing like others have mentioned.

You'll probably have to get a Pettit duct to route air to the IC, however. Greddy's supplied setup is a joke.

Is the Fluidyne thicker than the stock radiator? If so, I'm wondering about the clearance for the SMIC, since it rests on top of the driver's side fan. Any higher, and I'm afraid it would rub on the underside of the hood.

adam c

iTrader: (2)

The Fluidyne is thicker. Tha stock radiator is one inch thick where the cooling rows are. I can't measure the Fluidyne because it is in the car. I estimate it to be 1 3/4 to 2 inches thick at the cooling rows.

The stock intercooler is 12 inches long on the side closest to the driver. I was able to stick my hand under the intercooler, next to the AST. There seemed to be a decent amount of space available. How long is the Greddy intercooler?

Brentis recently installed a Greddy SMIC. I don't know what radiator he has. He didn't mention any fitment problems with the radiator.

Adam

kento1

You mean how tall is the Greddy SMIC? Not sure, I'll try and measure later. The measurements you see listed on sales stuff on websites are for the cores, not the total unit. An increase in radiator height of almost an inch could possibly cause clearance problems, but I'm not sure; if the increase in core thickness is also spread downward, then it may not be an issue. I know of a person who had a Greddy with a Mazdacomp radiator, and he had to dimple his hood to gain clearance; not sure regarding comparisons size and thickness with Fluidynes. Anyone out there with upgraded radiators and SMICs?

adam c

iTrader: (2)

Brentis has a stock radiator. I'll try to remember to measure the thickness of the tank on the stock radiator. It is thicker than the cooling rows. The Fluidyne tank was the same thickness as the cooling rows.