RIP $600 Fluidyne Radiator, what next...

[IwantMKIII]

The last Deer crash pushed the crossmember into the radiator and caused the core to bust :nono:. When i checked it was a pinhole leak, but that was with barely any pressure/heat. It was already warped slightly from the fire, the twisting of the deer hit must have just put it past its limits.

Picture POST fire, boy did it look good even after the fire damage. Cleaned by me, scotchbright-ed by GaboonViper85 (personally i liked the look better than polished).

[thumb]http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/6893/0626082239aea9.jpg[/thumb]

My question is, what's next. No way can i afford another $600, i need to find another car. I swapped to stock and my op temps are outrageous compared to before. 10-20* higher (no shroud, never had one. do not negatively comment on this. I am well aware of its use.).

How does the cooling efficiency compare with the other, cheaper aluminum radiators?

 

[funky_monkey58]

I would get a Mishimoto I just put one in my buddies S2K and it was a nice fitting quality piece and I can get you one for less than $240 shipped.

 

[7thousandpiecesMGTE]

My question is, what's next. No way can i afford another $600, i need to find another car. I swapped to stock and my op temps are outrageous compared to before. 10-20* higher (no shroud, never had one. do not negatively comment on this. I am well aware of its use.).

How does the cooling efficiency compare with the other, cheaper aluminum radiators?

Would using the stocker and buying a fan shroud be an option, at least temporarily? The shroud makes a world of difference on the tiny stocker, trust me, I know from recent experience. A brand new shroud from Toyota is around a hundred bucks or so. Used are cheaper but hard to find good ones. Just a thought....

I feel your pain. I hope it works out for you.

 

[IwantMKIII]

Would using the stocker and buying a fan shroud be an option, at least temporarily? The shroud makes a world of difference on the tiny stocker, trust me, I know from recent experience. A brand new shroud from Toyota is around a hundred bucks or so. Used are cheaper but hard to find good ones. Just a thought....

I feel your pain. I hope it works out for you.

A fan shroud will not fit properly anymore. With the crossmember bent how it is, it will interfere with the clutch fan while it rotates

 

[7thousandpiecesMGTE]

A fan shroud will not fit properly anymore. With the crossmember bent how it is, it will interfere with the clutch fan while it rotates

think you could modify one slightly, or is it really bad?

 

[IwantMKIII]

think you could modify one slightly, or is it really bad?

maybe, would have to mess around with one, but really don't want to spend $$ on one when i could just put that money towards a new, better aluminum one that cooled as well as the Fluidyne.


When i had no T-stat and on the highway, my temps wouldnt even register above 120*F!

 

[7thousandpiecesMGTE]

When i had no T-stat and on the highway, my temps wouldnt even register above 120*F!

nice.

guess you are just gonna have to bite the bullet and part with some cash then...

 

[SupraDrew]

I have used this site and the shipping was fast.

http://www.absoluteradiator.com/ProductPage.asp?idProd=36

They have some different options.

Good Luck.

 

[IwantMKIII]

^^^good site, thanks

nice.

guess you are just gonna have to bite the bullet and part with some cash then...

Im just wondering how they all compare. The aftermarket aluminum ones anyway. There are very little details about them that i can find.

 

[tbcmorris]

No t stat and never going past 120 is not good .

I mean its not terrible but we have closed loop operation for a reason

 

[Moy]

The shroud makes a world of difference on the tiny stocker

Not really, I have the stock radiator and a busted fan shroud and my temps don't even reach half-way up the gauge. Not even after doing pulls all the way up to the redline.

 

[gaboonviper85]

Get another crossmember that isn't bent then get a fan shroud.

 

[adampecush]

Not really, I have the stock radiator and a busted fan shroud and my temps don't even reach half-way up the gauge. Not even after doing pulls all the way up to the redline.

just so you don't put too much faith in the stock gauge, it is extremely insensitive to temperature variation around operating temps.

 

[7thousandpiecesMGTE]

Not really, I have the stock radiator and a busted fan shroud and my temps don't even reach half-way up the gauge. Not even after doing pulls all the way up to the redline.

Yes really. Try running without one at all, this is what the OP stated. When city driving you run a high risk of overheating. Ask me how I know:3d_frown:.

Without a fan shroud on this car air is not pulled in through the stock radiator properly, and will not cool effectively, period.

 

[bryanintexas]

just so you don't put too much faith in the stock gauge, it is extremely insensitive to temperature variation around operating temps.

Agreed!!! I can watch the temp change and see the t-stat open and close on my GReddy gauge, and the stocker never flinches.

I would recomend a shroud regardless of radiator brand/size.

 

[IwantMKIII]

No t stat and never going past 120 is not good .

I mean its not terrible but we have closed loop operation for a reason

I am well aware of its functionality and importance. I had no idea i didn't have one for awhile. I just thought it was neat to know it cools so effectively

 

[tbcmorris]

Understandable

 

[grimreaper]

what happened to the mkIV? if a mkIII can eat through $$$ like a fat kid at the buffet, imagine what one of those will do....

 

[IwantMKIII]

what happened to the mkIV? if a mkIII can eat through $$$ like a fat kid at the buffet, imagine what one of those will do....

I feel after a lot of debate in my head and some suggestions in that thread, im going to stick with Mkiii, however, i want one in good condition. Roller or not. Just something to be proud of again like my first one.