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Rotary-Works V-mount Install

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Old Feb 28, 2011 | 02:08 PM
  #26  
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Any more pictures/updates? Would like to see how you mounted the condensor
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Old Feb 28, 2011 | 11:30 PM
  #27  
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i cant wait to get mine..... i want to go vmount ssssssssssoooooooooo bad
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Old Feb 28, 2011 | 11:57 PM
  #28  
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kit looks really good for the money....
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Old Mar 1, 2011 | 06:10 AM
  #29  
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They are reasonably priced because in the long run they figure that selling more kits at a lower profit will be advantageous. If I bought a V Mount i'd definately go with Rotary Works. Im sure we will be seeing alot more Rotary Works V Mount setups.
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Old Mar 18, 2011 | 10:45 PM
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Bummer, with kits this cheap looks like having a v-mount won't make my car all that unique anymore .
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Old Mar 19, 2011 | 12:37 AM
  #31  
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They are reasonably priced because in the long run they figure that selling more kits at a lower profit will be advantageous. If I bought a V Mount i'd definately go with Rotary Works. Im sure we will be seeing alot more Rotary Works V Mount setups.
Rotary Works customer service leaves much to be desired, they provide poor instructions for multiple products, and outright lie on their website (and admit on the phone they know it is wrong) about fitment of at least one product. Do a search. I wouldn't give them any business.

I'll be the first to admit that many people pay a premium to have a "brand name" such as Greddy or Knightsports or FEED. Some of these products I can see paying for. Others...such as some radiator or intercooler products, not so much. Do you really think RW is making those IC's in house?

My experience is that they have good intentions but like many mechanics and business owners of their sort the business practices are poor...or they'd have better customer support, documentation for their products, and truth in advertising.

Based on this, I highly doubt they have some grand long-term business plan/vision of selling 1000 inexpensive v-mount kits at a lower profit because it is "advantageous".

My opinion is they are using cheap products imported from China and then spend a couple hours modifying as needed for their kits. Cost effective? Yep. Effective overall? I'd guess yes. A good price? Yes. A company I'd support again after my first purchase? No way.
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Old Mar 19, 2011 | 01:08 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by Gringo Grande
Rotary Works customer service leaves much to be desired, they provide poor instructions for multiple products, and outright lie on their website (and admit on the phone they know it is wrong) about fitment of at least one product. Do a search. I wouldn't give them any business.

I'll be the first to admit that many people pay a premium to have a "brand name" such as Greddy or Knightsports or FEED. Some of these products I can see paying for. Others...such as some radiator or intercooler products, not so much. Do you really think RW is making those IC's in house?

My experience is that they have good intentions but like many mechanics and business owners of their sort the business practices are poor...or they'd have better customer support, documentation for their products, and truth in advertising.

Based on this, I highly doubt they have some grand long-term business plan/vision of selling 1000 inexpensive v-mount kits at a lower profit because it is "advantageous".

My opinion is they are using cheap products imported from China and then spend a couple hours modifying as needed for their kits. Cost effective? Yep. Effective overall? I'd guess yes. A good price? Yes. A company I'd support again after my first purchase? No way.
Understandable and you've made some valid points but according to your signature you are running a XS Power SMIC. Do you not consider that a cheap product imported from China? Because I do.
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Old Mar 19, 2011 | 09:11 PM
  #33  
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I'll be the first to admit that many people pay a premium to have a "brand name" such as Greddy or Knightsports or FEED. Some of these products I can see paying for. Others...such as some radiator or intercooler products, not so much. Do you really think RW is making those IC's in house?
Direct quote from my post. Re-read it. I've got no problem with Chinese Parts.

My opinion is they are using cheap products imported from China and then spend a couple hours modifying as needed for their kits. Cost effective? Yep. Effective overall? I'd guess yes. A good price? Yes.
Another quote from my post. Once again, do you see my say anything negative about Chinese parts?

If you carefully re-read what I wrote all that I mentioned was in my opinion their kits are inexpensive due to the use of Chinese parts...not some great business vision. Like many people on the forum, I feel many generic parts work as well as the "brand" parts.

So...what was your point again? =)
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Old Mar 26, 2011 | 12:55 AM
  #34  
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So, any updates?
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Old Mar 26, 2011 | 07:00 PM
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I didn't notice it being answered in the thread and a few people had asked, so I emailed RW to see if they included radiator hoses with their kit. They DO NOT include radiator hoses with the v-mount kit, only intercooler pipe/couplers.

I was half considering this as an option if I can't get the pinhole leak (which I just found ) in my KS v-mount fixed, but not if it's an incomplete kit that requires additional fabrication to finish off. I am very surprised they wouldn't get some hoses made up for this kit, the ones on my KS kit aren't terribly complicated but would be frustrating trying to source if you're not buying in bulk.

So -1 in my opinion for this kit.
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Old Mar 26, 2011 | 09:03 PM
  #36  
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^^Moving from Knightsports to this kit probably isn't the direction you want to go. Just sayin
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Old Mar 27, 2011 | 12:40 AM
  #37  
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I have this kit installed. With AC. But it wasnt easy. Lots of modification. Ill post pics soon
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Old Mar 27, 2011 | 03:17 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by GoodfellaFD3S
^^Moving from Knightsports to this kit probably isn't the direction you want to go. Just sayin
Obviously . But my Knight Sports radiator has a leak in it and if I can't get it fixed I'm not sure I would be able to find another KS radiator to replace it with, at least for a reasonable price. Racing season is rapidly approaching and I'm swamped with classes, so an easy solution (like buying a cheap kit) would have been nice, but not from the sounds of it with this RW kit being a PITA to install and not even 100% complete.
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Old Mar 28, 2011 | 11:18 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by keister
I have this kit installed. With AC. But it wasnt easy. Lots of modification. Ill post pics soon
post some pics keister!!!...i been wanting to get their radiator but didn't know how hard it would be to install with the a/c on
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Old Mar 28, 2011 | 01:06 PM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by JHew84
Obviously . But my Knight Sports radiator has a leak in it and if I can't get it fixed I'm not sure I would be able to find another KS radiator to replace it with, at least for a reasonable price. Racing season is rapidly approaching and I'm swamped with classes, so an easy solution (like buying a cheap kit) would have been nice, but not from the sounds of it with this RW kit being a PITA to install and not even 100% complete.
For the price of the kit I'm sure you can have a radiator fabbed up just like the knight sports one. That would be an easier route to go then having to kind of "down grade" from the KS kit.
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Old Mar 28, 2011 | 01:58 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by FD3sAutobot
For the price of the kit I'm sure you can have a radiator fabbed up just like the knight sports one. That would be an easier route to go then having to kind of "down grade" from the KS kit.
I know I could, I actually priced all of that out before I got my used KS kit. The problem is time, I have events coming up in a matter of weeks which doesn't leave much time for a fabricator to get something put together. Also I would likely have to make new brackets (at least uppers) for it, which isn't really difficult but it is more time and effort spent doing something else when I could just be bolting it in and bleeding the cooling system.

I'm not going to argue that it would be a "down grade" of sorts, but realistically what would I be sacrificing? the core looks to be at least the same size if not a little bigger, if it doesn't leak I really don't see where I would be behind the curve in the least, especially for a temporary solution. On top of getting an extra IC (that does appear to be larger than my KS) to play around with in the future and some other stuff to toss in the parts bin for a rainy day. But this was all assuming I can't fix my current KS radiator and that the RW kit was a bolt on which would be quicker to deal with than something custom. Between having to "massage" the RW kit into place and then source/route my own water hoses, it's just not worth the trouble.

For the record I would much rather retain my KS kit, it's worked great (even with a pinhole leak all last season apparently haha) and I have no real desire to replace it.
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Old Mar 28, 2011 | 03:33 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by tek_88
post some pics keister!!!...i been wanting to get their radiator but didn't know how hard it would be to install with the a/c on
Soon! It's at a friend's shop right now. Should have pictures tomorrow for you. fyi, AC was the hardest part, but I'll make sure I have detailed pics of the hardlines and brackets.
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Old Mar 28, 2011 | 06:33 PM
  #43  
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I'm glad that the RotaryWorks FD vmount requires less fitment than their FC vmount.

However, from reading the posts through this thread, brackets still require modifying and re-drilling holes (it's like they never test fitted any of their products!), and they include random hardware. There is also a lack of ductwork (or gap between radiator and intercooler).

I bought the FC vmount kit and it was awful (thread). My end result was nice, however, it cost a lot of money to fix and fill in the gaps. RotaryWorks is horrible to get ahold of. They do not respond to emails, and give you the run about on the phone, bouncing you between people and different numbers, only to talk to someone who barely speaks english.

Just adding my opinion about the company. I spent about 2100$ with them and am very upset.

I would check into Rotary Exteme and his FD vmount kit. While his parts are more expensive than others, I know he is a stickler about making everything fit perfect. I am 100% satisfied with his hood struts for the FC I bought from him. It's the only thing so far that I bought for my FC and didn't have a single issue.
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 10:17 PM
  #44  
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Here's some pictures of how I have it all mounted. As well as a small review of problems/issues/ things you need to know for this kit.

Kinda dark out when I took the pic's so if needed I can take more tomorrow.

1. On the back of the rad, the stock fans did not lign up at all. Fan shroud had to
be coerced to even go in the tabs at the bottom. Also only two of the holes ligned
up at the top bolt mounts. the 3rd isn't even remotely in the right spot.

2. I have the touring model with only the driver side oil cooler, the return line for the
rad pointed straight down into the hardlines for the oil cooler with about 1mm to
spare. It had to be removed and a 90* elbow welded in. Odd that this wasn't
considered as the other side of the rad already had a 90* elbow for the inlet.

Also, AC does hold charge. Even with the "snakey" look of the hard lines.

Had to find a rubber rad hose for the inlet. Return has a 4'' section of alu in
between two rubber couplers. No rad hoses provided.

On the plus side..my car runs cold. 85-93*C W, 22-28*C Air
Attached Thumbnails Rotary-Works V-mount Install-rotaryworks-001.jpg   Rotary-Works V-mount Install-rotaryworks-003.jpg   Rotary-Works V-mount Install-rotaryworks-008.jpg  
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 12:12 PM
  #45  
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Nice...doesn't look too hard to fit on with the a/c. Gonna order mine during the summer when it gets hotter
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Old Apr 7, 2011 | 10:09 PM
  #46  
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you got your top RAD brackets on wrong....that's why you got that big gap in there, between RAD and IC...

switch the holes around .... the longer arm on the bracket is the one that connects to RAD
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Old May 21, 2011 | 07:11 PM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by SWAT81
So, any updates?
Full time work + full time school + new home life leaves little time for car. After a 3 month hiatus I made it back down to work on my car. Reading through the experiences of others, I test fit the electric fans to the radiator to see if they fit.

Yeah, it doesn't fit at all. The mounts need to be cut off, and rewelded at least half an inch up the radiator. The bottom mounts aren't any better. The water neck interferes with the fan itself meaning that A LOT of modification will be required to make it fit.

If I were you, I would not buy this kit. Frankly, I'm tempted to sell it now and look for other options. More than likely I will just make it work, but it's taken a lot of effort thus far, and I haven't even looked into getting the AC condenser mounted. It looks good in the box, all shiny and gigantic, but nothing in the "kit" seems well thought out. Little to no care was taken in it's assembly/manufacturing; holes don't line up, aren't drilled in straight lines so mounts are crooked, etc.

In the words of the infamous Rick James, I wish I had four hands so I could give it more than two thumbs down.
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Old May 23, 2011 | 07:00 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by JHew84
I know I could, I actually priced all of that out before I got my used KS kit. The problem is time, I have events coming up in a matter of weeks which doesn't leave much time for a fabricator to get something put together. Also I would likely have to make new brackets (at least uppers) for it, which isn't really difficult but it is more time and effort spent doing something else when I could just be bolting it in and bleeding the cooling system.

I'm not going to argue that it would be a "down grade" of sorts, but realistically what would I be sacrificing? the core looks to be at least the same size if not a little bigger, if it doesn't leak I really don't see where I would be behind the curve in the least, especially for a temporary solution. On top of getting an extra IC (that does appear to be larger than my KS) to play around with in the future and some other stuff to toss in the parts bin for a rainy day. But this was all assuming I can't fix my current KS radiator and that the RW kit was a bolt on which would be quicker to deal with than something custom. Between having to "massage" the RW kit into place and then source/route my own water hoses, it's just not worth the trouble.

For the record I would much rather retain my KS kit, it's worked great (even with a pinhole leak all last season apparently haha) and I have no real desire to replace it.


I ended up sending my KS radiator out to have a shop replicate it, a local radiator shop had a guy they use for custom builds so $400 after both shops made their money I had a replacement. The fabricator claims it will cool 20% more efficiently than the original KS but we will see about that. The fan mounting bungs/tabs weren't lined up properly on mine either, not nearly as bad as yours Ehron, but bad enough I had to hack up the fan shroud a little bit. I think he took the measurements for the outside bungs/mounts from the edge of the radiator instead of measuring between the bungs themselves.


I may be able to snag some more radiators for cheaper than that too, thinking about having him make me another one with properly spaced mounting points and I'm sure he'd give me a discount for multiple orders.
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Old Jul 25, 2011 | 04:47 PM
  #49  
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LOL. Oh have I got a GREAT addition to THIS story....

Got the bracket kit... NOTHING of theirs fits right. Gilmer-Drive pulleys need modification, as well!

The V-mount kist pissed me off so Io bad I sent a SCATHING 3-page email.... To which they replied...!

Nothing.

****-o. Bupkiss. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.

They DID, however, go so far as deleting my account, so I can't log-i, to their site, for ANY reason (just to hit their 'Installation Instructions section, so that I could add it to my fodder-collection, against them).

Whatta buncha chodes.

Will post a link to the Email that I sent to them - both here and in the 'complaints' section.


>>>> Here's the link to the directory, with 3 different formats, of the email. <<<<


The audio recording will also be posted, when I can get the time to set it up and allocate an hour-or-so, to crawling up their asses, like a proctologist.
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Old Jul 25, 2011 | 04:56 PM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by TrboSpdAnt
LOL. Oh have I got a GREAT addition to THIS story....

Got the bracket kit... NOTHING of theirs fits right. Gilmer-Drive pulleys need modification, as well!

The V-mount kist pissed me off so Io bad I sent a SCATHING 3-page email.... To which they replied...!

Nothing.

****-o. Bupkiss. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.

They DID, however, go so far as deleting my account, so I can't log-i, to their site, for ANY reason (just to hit their 'Installation Instructions section, so that I could add it to my fodder-collection, against them).

Whatta buncha chodes.

Will post a link to the Email that I sent to them - both here and in the 'complaints' section.


>>>> Here's the link to the directory, with 3 different formats, of the email. <<<<


The audio recording will also be posted, when I can get the time to set it up and allocate an hour-or-so, to crawling up their asses, like a proctologist.
Did you get the gilmer drive for the 13brew? They don't work since our waterpump spins the opposite way.
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