Last Saturday I installed the Koyo in my 7. I'm going to try and post some pictures and describe the things that had to be overcome.

So you'll be a motivated to go buy one and drop it in, I'll tell how good it works first.

After the install, the P-FC indicates about a 6-8C drop in average coolant temp. I was running about 89-90C and now it's more like 80-84C. The only thing I have not firugre out is like 5 minutes after warmdown, the P-FC shows coolant temp of 120-125C when it used to be 105-110 max

Ok here we go

First picture two pictures are showing the build quality. I'd say it's pretty good. The welds are definately hand welds, beefy. THe end tanks are polished but not in the heat effected areas around the welds. All the fins were straight except a couple small areas which I fixed. Not bad considering it was shipped from Indonesia.

I bought it from Absolute Radiators. They are nice , return you calls after 5:00pm PST, charged $375 plus tax and shipping so about $415 delivered.

 

shows the weld quality

 

shows the difference in thickness

 

Notice the nice big fan contact mark on the stock rad. It also had some crazing around the top filler neck and the top end tank. Several small cracks were present. Got this on out just in time. I have 80k miles.

 

Aside from pulling the IC, Air box and battery, and bottom cover, there are a few details to be aware of. You will need some kind of weather strip to close the big *** gap on the left side of the radiator. I did something to cheezy to describe but it did not involve ONLY duct tape

First the fans fit on it perfect.

There are some ears on the lower mounts that have to be bent out of the way shown in the next two photos

 

Did not think the last reply posted

 

The power stearing pump lines also hit the raditor. I just bent the bracket. The thing that just did not work at all was the upper right mounto on the AC condensor. The consdensor hits the radiator and there is no way the stock bracket will work. Likely I will make another bracket

 

When it's all the way down it will look like this in the air scoop

 

The IC sits on the fan motor. I think I'll make some 1/2" spacers to raise the IC up a little. Ok my breakfast is ready so I gotta go.

Hope you enjoyed this info. I'd recommends this part. It's pretty easy to install.

 

Im interested in why your warmdown temps are increased???
Is this common with an aftermarket radiator?

 

Yeah, I'm real instested in that too! I'll be even more interestsed as the weather warms up!

 

im interested in knowing any other little tricks that you have done to fit the radiator. i get mine monday and want to install it. i just dont want to do it the wrong way.
kris

 

WhtRocket: Thnx for the info!!!!!!!

Ive been wanting someone to give a lil more detail on this particular install. One favor, any chance on taking a pic of the tope side of where that ac condensor problem? Also is the nutdriver pointing at where its touching? (just making sure)

Thnx again!

 

Yeah the nut driver points to it (on it). It's like two end tanks (ac & Rad top) touch on that side. Other other side it's not a problem. The rad position side to side is more or less fixed. It's moot because the PS hoses hit on the left.

Definately needed to plan more on sealing up everything around the radiator. Since the cold air box, IC duct and bat box are out, this was a great chance to seal up everything.

 

Thanks for the detailed step-by-step. Very helpful. Interested to know what you are sealing up, though. I see the duct tape on the radiator...why is it there? And where would you use the weatherstipping and what for? What kind would you use? Thanks.

 

Rotaree, there are big ol gaps on either side if the radiator. The stock unit had nice foam strips which stuck to the sides of the radiator. I used weatherstrip from OSH on the sides. On the drive side it was not even close to enough. FOr now duct tape is doing the job but I'm going to have to do something better I think. Duct tape will not take the heat for long.

Looks like I'm going to replace my thermostat as a guess at the high temps after shutdown. My PCF says I'm hitting 125C!!!!!!!!!

Now I have a little oil on the coolant tank dipstick. There has always been some since the rebuild so I'm jsut hoping the coolant change broke some loose off the catch tank. Really freakin hoping

 

Nice work. It's good to see detailed stuff like this being posted! Especially when it is on something that people ask about weekely here.

 

Whirocket Nice Rad, Is Absoulte Radiators based in Indonesia ?
Can you please let me know fax and e-mail of this company as I need one, thanks for your help.

 

I would say becareful of how close the raditor and A/C are, my brack for the radiator cracked, and you couldnt even see, unless you just decide to jack your car for no reason. Then they started hiting together and I got a
nice pin hole that first was only leaking while driving...

 

Colin, Absolute Rad is in LA. A quick trip to Goggle reveals:

http://www.absoluteradiator.com/cgi-...2e6+1021272566

Canman6969, thanks I also understood your second reply about radiator flow. must be pretty cool to be an FD guy in Japan. Like being a Camero guy in California. Probably get a lot more parts and knowledgable tuners than we have. I'll have to get that AC condensor off the radiator.

 

So I finally got motivated to work on the car some more over the long weekend. I think I fixed the "high temp on shutdown" problem. I've only had a day with it but it seems much better.

Not sure I know the root cause. I removed the black plastic thing from the right some of the nose (not the second oil cooler blankoff but the one in the nose.

I also move the AC condensor apart from the radiator a bit more.

Also, I replaced the duct tape with aluminum duct tape. This stuff seems really great. Time will tell.

The max temp I've seen so far is 87C after a couple "test" runs to see if I fixed the boost leaks. After a run to the store, it only displayed 98C upon restart. It dropped in about 10 seconds down to 87C.

BTW I know both fans work, the Thermostat is good and the system is holding pressure. Cheers!

 

Sounds like your good to go....
GOOD DEAL!!
hope it keeps working for ya..
Jason

 

I thought that if the car got hot after shutdown, the fans were supposed to kick on, even without the key. This was a recall that was fixed I believe.

 

That's the idea... Mine never worked either... So I did the fan-mod.. Much better!

 

disregard!

I think I installed the brackets on wrong!