I'm a guinea pig for cheap race radiator
#1
I'm a guinea pig for cheap race radiator (with short how to)
I went ahead and bought the race radiator from here:
http://www.radiatorworld.com/radiato...px?carno=15107
for $279 shipped and got it the second day very well packaged. I've read about people buying the brass and copper one and the one-row aluminum one but I guess I'm the first to risk buying the race version.
First impressions: It's HUGE (Dimension: 12 1/2 x 24 3/4 x 2 1/16) and extremely lightweight with very good quality welds and overall contruction.
I'm in the process (or pain) of installing it, and I'm a first timer doing this. Here's my quick guide:
1. Start from the top and remove the airbox, intercooler, ducting, etc to expose the rad
2. Remove fan assembly (had to carefully bend the ac lines to clear the ac "can")
3. Remove stock rad
Now, the new one is so big it won't fit from the top so:
4. Remove undepanel and swaybar mounts
5. I lowered the rad from the top then crawled under the car to be able to position it correctly.
6. I had to loosen all ac evaporator brackets because this rad pushes everything farther down
7. After a good wrestling match with it and a few bent fins I got it to fit in the stock mounting points.
8. Put everything back together...
NOTE 1: Sorry i didn't take any pics!!
NOTE 2: I haven't finished the install, I'm in the processs of putting everything back together, I'll update once I'm finished to let you know how it went. Just by looking at it I think my M2 airbox won't fit because the rad doesn't leave as big an opening on the sides as the stock one. I don't see any issues fitting everything else because contrary to what I've seen about the Koyo pushing stuff up this rad moves things DOWN. I will need longer bolts for the ac evap brackets cuz the stock ones won't reach though...
http://www.radiatorworld.com/radiato...px?carno=15107
for $279 shipped and got it the second day very well packaged. I've read about people buying the brass and copper one and the one-row aluminum one but I guess I'm the first to risk buying the race version.
First impressions: It's HUGE (Dimension: 12 1/2 x 24 3/4 x 2 1/16) and extremely lightweight with very good quality welds and overall contruction.
I'm in the process (or pain) of installing it, and I'm a first timer doing this. Here's my quick guide:
1. Start from the top and remove the airbox, intercooler, ducting, etc to expose the rad
2. Remove fan assembly (had to carefully bend the ac lines to clear the ac "can")
3. Remove stock rad
Now, the new one is so big it won't fit from the top so:
4. Remove undepanel and swaybar mounts
5. I lowered the rad from the top then crawled under the car to be able to position it correctly.
6. I had to loosen all ac evaporator brackets because this rad pushes everything farther down
7. After a good wrestling match with it and a few bent fins I got it to fit in the stock mounting points.
8. Put everything back together...
NOTE 1: Sorry i didn't take any pics!!
NOTE 2: I haven't finished the install, I'm in the processs of putting everything back together, I'll update once I'm finished to let you know how it went. Just by looking at it I think my M2 airbox won't fit because the rad doesn't leave as big an opening on the sides as the stock one. I don't see any issues fitting everything else because contrary to what I've seen about the Koyo pushing stuff up this rad moves things DOWN. I will need longer bolts for the ac evap brackets cuz the stock ones won't reach though...
Last edited by neit_jnf; 04-30-05 at 09:32 AM.
#3
white FD lover
Join Date: Feb 2003
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just putting this out there to people looking for a good fitment rad, seems like the fluidyne is the best fit on a FD(basically no mods at all needed, just drops right in) and the koyo seems to be one of the hardest to get to fit right (my own experience putting a koyo in my old FD).
#7
It's installed!!! And everything fits!!
Required bending the swaybar mounts radiator brackets (see pic) to accomodate enormous size.
Also required removing one bracket in each side of the ac condenser but the remaining 2 holds it tightly in place. There's zero space between ac condenser and rad
From the top, the only thing that sits higher is the IC duct and the front most part of the M2 airbox but just about 1/4" higher so it doesn't bother anything...
My fear of the M2 box not fitting did not come true!! everything is back in their respective places, I'm happy!
Now... It wasn't easy, required some wrestling, massaging, knuckle busting, etc until I figured out what I needed to do to make it drop in place.
I refilled it and burped but need to do some ducting...
first pic: My extremely messy work area , notice the unpainted CF/FG 99spec spoiler in the upper left corner
second: old stock rad, looks like an animal died there! notice the busted upper neck
third: front view of ac condenser and new rad's lack of clearance
fourth: underside view gives you an idea of size, ac condenser clearance and swaybar mount bending
Required bending the swaybar mounts radiator brackets (see pic) to accomodate enormous size.
Also required removing one bracket in each side of the ac condenser but the remaining 2 holds it tightly in place. There's zero space between ac condenser and rad
From the top, the only thing that sits higher is the IC duct and the front most part of the M2 airbox but just about 1/4" higher so it doesn't bother anything...
My fear of the M2 box not fitting did not come true!! everything is back in their respective places, I'm happy!
Now... It wasn't easy, required some wrestling, massaging, knuckle busting, etc until I figured out what I needed to do to make it drop in place.
I refilled it and burped but need to do some ducting...
first pic: My extremely messy work area , notice the unpainted CF/FG 99spec spoiler in the upper left corner
second: old stock rad, looks like an animal died there! notice the busted upper neck
third: front view of ac condenser and new rad's lack of clearance
fourth: underside view gives you an idea of size, ac condenser clearance and swaybar mount bending
Last edited by neit_jnf; 04-30-05 at 07:05 PM.
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#12
Call me gramps!
Originally Posted by neit_jnf
slightly bigger than koyo, so it holds more coolant
only costs $279 shipped...
fits well
It cools better or worse?? I don't know...
only costs $279 shipped...
fits well
It cools better or worse?? I don't know...
#15
Rotary Freak
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Originally Posted by Speedworks
neit_jfn and Mahjik, would you consider this to be a good rad for a V-mount set-up?
either the race version or the "normal" size?
either the race version or the "normal" size?
any rad is good for a vmount - even the stock one. thicker might not be better for a vmount since it is such a pain in the *** to get the vmount stuff to fit properly. people get good temps with the stock rad in a vmount setup.
#16
Well, DAMN!
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Funny, I thought I was the guinea pig?! In any case, I've just recently placed the CSF radiator (radiator world) in my 93' and I'm SO happy I did so!
I did some lapping last weekend at The Streets of Willow Springs and can proclaim the test a success. I ran three, 30 minute sessions and didn't see my water temp gauge ever hit 210 degrees (came close, 200-205). I would definitely recommend this radiator.
~Mike
I did some lapping last weekend at The Streets of Willow Springs and can proclaim the test a success. I ran three, 30 minute sessions and didn't see my water temp gauge ever hit 210 degrees (came close, 200-205). I would definitely recommend this radiator.
~Mike
#19
Boostless FD
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that they increased the price on the race version.
http://www.radiatorworld.com/radiato...px?carno=15108
http://www.radiatorworld.com/radiato...px?carno=15108
#25
Originally Posted by desmond
anyone have any experience with the medium sized, one row aluminum race radiator? the one for $214 shipped?
they pretty much fit perfectly and serve their purpose well.