CoolingDiscuss all of the aspects of cooling that you can think of! Radiators, transmissions, electric fans, etc.
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Ordered one up and it showed up at my doorstep today. Quality was about what I expected from a $160 piece. Tanks are fairly thick aluminum and the welds are ok. There were some tool marks on the tank and some solder splattered on the fins but nothing that didn't clean up easily. I guess that's the difference between a Summit radiator and a $600 Be Cool.
Install isn't bad so those that are scared, don't be. Dropped the new piece in and fitted the upper support. I used the stocker and trimmed it wherever it hit, mostly on the ends near the tanks since they're so much bigger. I also used a rubber mallet and a dolly to gently bend over the aluminum "ears" at the top and bottom of the radiator. It allowed me to drop it down lower and closer to the stock location and also allowed the stock upper support to fit a little better. I used the stock hoses too, just had to trim about 2" off of the lower hose. The inlet and outlet on the Summit radiator are a little larger diameter so I had to use a squirt of WD40 and some elbow grease to get the stock hoses on, but it wasn't a big deal. Nice and tight. I also had to use a metal hammer and give the frame rails a couple love taps. Right where the radiator support attatches to the frame rails needed to be massaged just a little bit. Without doing that I had to tap the radiator down into place and I didn't like that.
As for fans I used two 12" units I picked up off of ebay and just used the push-in fasteners to secure them in place. I have the material to make a nice shroud but didn't feel like making it so that's another project for later. I wasn't having any cooling issues before with the stock radiator and fan so I think I'll be just fine with this big rad and twice as much air moving over it with the different fans.
thats EXACTLY what i did with mine...i never got it to fit under the upper rad support..and had to custom make a fan shroud...that i now removed using aftermarket fan...basically my setup wont run over 180 in any situation...the rad WORKS awesome...screw 600 bucks for high price name brands your just paying for the name
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1989 TRUE GTA
black on black
Check out my cardomain page for more pics and the story behind my car. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2301007
thats EXACTLY what i did with mine...i never got it to fit under the upper rad support..and had to custom make a fan shroud...that i now removed using aftermarket fan...basically my setup wont run over 180 in any situation...the rad WORKS awesome...screw 600 bucks for high price name brands your just paying for the name
When you pay $600, you get a little better quality but I couldn't justify the $$$.
I had to do quite a bit of trimming to get the upper support to work and with twin fans there's not much need for a shroud.
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Does the rad displace or move the fans further toward the motor... W/my procharger I only have about 1/4 in from the factory fans and the upper rad hose is about the same from the belt on the procharger...
The radiator is a little closer to the motor, but with the aftermarket fans being thinner than the stock electric you acturally gain some room under there. I'm sure you'd have no problem.
1988 IROC-P1SC Procharged
