First I know that there is some MINOR mods you have to do to your car to get it to fit.

But the fact that I had to actually hack the Summit rad is inexcusable.

I hammered the pass side of my inner fender well to allow the lower rad hose to slip over the inlet of the rad. I hacked the little rubber stops on the bottom of the rad mount hole so the rad would sit flat on them. I also cut our pieces of my stock rad mount plastic piece so i could still mount up my dual fans.

However i get to my upper rad hose and find an issue. The inlet on the rad is about 2 inches WAY to long. It kinks the hose and pushes it back into the AC pulley.

As you can see the summit inlet sticks out about 2 inches past the stock inlet at the bottom of the pic.

Soooo I just cut 2 inches off my nice new direct fit rad.... right.
This is more of a rant then anything cause kinda pissed about it. I dont think they should call there rad DIRECT fit, because its BS. I should not have to go to that much trouble.

PS. It is in the car, and everything is hooked up. Just miffed.... Still is nice looking though.

PPS Anyone with Air Conditioning on the drivers side of your car be prepared to have to do this to your own rad. Its not direct fit, not even close.

 

In my reading on here, I've noted that there is no such thing as direct fit. EVERYTHING needs to be trimmed, bashed, cut, new mounting points etc.

 

lol I know, but I checked every post I could search on here and didnt fine anyone who had to actually cut the rad. Just had to mod their car to get it to fit, and make a custom top cover. (I got my stock one to fit with minor modding)

 

I'da cut it like you did man. You did the right thing, i recently replaced mine and the transmission lines didnt fit ahah, took two adapters, white tape and a sealant. talk about direct fit radiators these days...

 

Nothing bolt on is ever really direct fit bolt on

you should see what custom engineering I am going through for my direct fit bolt in racing seats



CG

 

A bolt on never is...

I have one of those summit "direct fits". Amazingly i was able to use my stock upper mount but had to move all the holes for it. My fans rubbed also i managed to get it to work. I did a lot of trimming to the lower support to make it all fit right. I had to run a TBI rad hose with it trimmed to fit also. The lower hose actually went on fine for me, it was tight and its close to the frame but it worked. I dont think i was able to use either rubber bushings on the top or bottom but its very secured and doesnt rattle so i wasnt worried about it.

I got mine used for $150 and it has worked great keeping this new motor cool.

 

usually you have to trim the upper mount, clearance the frame, trim for the petcock valve, i didn't have to mess with the upper hose connection at all.

but like above, rarely are "bolt on" parts truly bolt on.

 

Well you and i both probably have different thermostat housing, i think mine is a 45* angle? I never had to clearance the frame but ya i did have to trim the lower part for the drain petcock.

 

Here's my Direct Fit Griffin

Ya, Rite

 

haha the only reason i had to replace my radiatior was because the FAN made a HOLE in my radiator, no playin, yall want a picture? ALL of the bolts came out of the fan sumhow and it bumps up and down and keeps makin a hole...But a quick stop at my local hardware store and 450.00 later came home with a buncha upgrades, my new radiator and fittings, and loads of sealant :P I'll stop now haha

 

u abelieve the direct fit be cool unit actually might be the only bolt in direct fit.

 

How was the Griffin for a direct fit. I have been thinking of their for my car.

 

Not a direct fit, but with a little fabbing not a big
problem.
Unless your going with a replacement radiator your not going to find one with extra cooling that doesn't require
a little work.

If your going to run AC with a thicker core which adds tubes or larger tubes its a little harder. Going to have to bring the rad in to make room for the grill denser, as I call
it, and play with the bottom saddle mount.

HTH

Later