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OEM style radiator performance

Gtpdz

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Joined
Mar 12, 2015
Messages
140
Location
Gig Harbor, WA
So... I'm finally trying to address the slightly high water temp, currently the water temp is between 203-215 when just cruising around the block with a 180 thermostat. I looked at the radiator the other day and believe it's a spectra 1" thick Full size radiator. So any one else who runs this radiator and have any thoughts on its performance?

Also looked at Koyo GVR4 style radiator, they seem to have a thicker core and bronze construction, will it be a better choice over the spectra? Thanks.
 

mitsuturbo

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Joined
Jun 2, 2008
Messages
3,544
Location
Near Seattle, Washington
What fan are you running?
I've found that fan selection is far more important than radiator performance. I've run single pass non turbo galant radiators in a pinch. I've run 1/2 size honda civic radiators, and now i'm on an afco. The common denominator for ALL of them to cool properly was the proper fan.
 

Gtpdz

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Joined
Mar 12, 2015
Messages
140
Location
Gig Harbor, WA
Quoting mitsuturbo:
What fan are you running?
I've found that fan selection is far more important than radiator performance. I've run single pass non turbo galant radiators in a pinch. I've run 1/2 size honda civic radiators, and now i'm on an afco. The common denominator for ALL of them to cool properly was the proper fan.



Right now running a pull slim fan and factory AC fan. No extra shroud on the slim one.
 
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Gtpdz

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Joined
Mar 12, 2015
Messages
140
Location
Gig Harbor, WA
It looks like a revcor 12 inch puller fan to me, also to clear the GT3076 turbo set up, PO slightly offset the fan so the edge sticks out a bit.





 
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diambo4life

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Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
315
Location
Edmond, Oklahoma
Quoting mitsuturbo:
What fan are you running?
I've found that fan selection is far more important than radiator performance. I've run single pass non turbo galant radiators in a pinch. I've run 1/2 size honda civic radiators, and now i'm on an afco. The common denominator for ALL of them to cool properly was the proper fan.



100% true. Most slimline fans in my opinion are complete garbage. You need a real high output (read: big motor=not slim) fan or stick with the stock shrouded setup IF you can.
 

mitsuturbo

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Jun 2, 2008
Messages
3,544
Location
Near Seattle, Washington
Looks like you need a larger fan. I had a 11" maradyne on my afco, and temps were getting a little high.. approaching 220f and sometimes over. I went to a 13" high output maradyne and now even after multiple passes at the track when surface temps were in the 130s, i was only seeing a peak of 206°F.
 

FlyingEagle

Staff member
Joined
Mar 5, 2005
Messages
1,635
Location
THE Ottawa
On an odd side note, I am experimenting with a slimline inside a factory shroud for my C53A. The shroud is metal like most turbo variant shrouds, versus the black plastic.
I had a spare that was a little rusty to work with. The aftermarket fan fits in directly, with only minor enlargement of the attachment holes in the shroud (x3), and a setup of deflective/aero type foam to seal the two units together so air is pulled in only through the fan assembly. I don't think this is the best option, but I have three slimline fans I posted about earlier that I get to play around with.
My Galant VR4 aluminum aftermarket radiator needs some cross member finagling because the welds for the four tabs, end up pushing the radiator body and subsequently the rad cap, likely right up into my hood.
So, there's a little fitment issue for my platform using the GVR4 50mm core setup from Ebay.
I have to drop my rad mounts and likely clearance my north/south cross member. So, stock type wide Colt rad and fans was my quick go to when I get this thing running again. It used to be a major pain to pull the radiator before, but with persistent work and redesign of my existing piping, I am hoping to speed up that process.
Some good info in this thread here.

IF you have room, consider the high end fans - with real published numbers. I have yet to comment on my thin wired/aftermarket fans, because they haven't so much as been spun up since I received them.

Oh, and I second the motion, that if you can't fit a 2/3 shroud (which is ideal for so many reasons), then get a fan that goes top to bottom, with genuine, high CFM count.
 
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Gtpdz

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Mar 12, 2015
Messages
140
Location
Gig Harbor, WA
Right on... so today the koyo radiator shows up, and it's exact 1/4 thicker than the aluminium straight core... so I remounted the old fan on and took it out for a spin, 81F out side today and water temp stays pretty much the same as before. 203-206 during cruise and gets up to 213-215 during hard acceleration, which was pretty much the same with the old one.

So the question is, does fan set up affects water temp while the car is moving as well? Consider there should be air flow when it's in motion... I do have a bumper opening size FMIC up front though, so it should take into account of impeding air flow right?

One thing about the water temp reading though, I do notice that as soon as the engine is switched off the water temp goes to 195, shouldn't it falls off gradually? I wonder how's anyone else's water temp reading behaves when engine is shut off?
 

MellowVR4

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Jul 25, 2009
Messages
1,662
Location
Milwaukee, Wi
Yes a good fan is needed to make those temps go down, I have two fans on mine and one doesn't work too well but my temps still stay at 200 or less with the 180 stat. Sometimes it doesn't even go past 195
 

thomcasey

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Sep 24, 2014
Messages
907
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Once you are moving, steadily over 30 MPH, the fan is actually not helping. It is designed to work at low speeds, below 30mph, unless you have an airflow restriction to the radiator. My galant, with an O'Reilly's Single core stock radiator with a factory fan, Temps @ 90°, coolant temps stay @ 195 in Link, 180° or less coming out of the radiator. There is no AC condenser in front of the radiator, no AC fan. I do have a small FMIC installed low in the bumper but airflow through the grill is unimpeded.
 

Gtpdz

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Joined
Mar 12, 2015
Messages
140
Location
Gig Harbor, WA
An update on this... so I got the Koyo brass radiator (this thing is heavy compare to the aluminum one)in with the slim fan from the last radiator. The fan is around 13 inch actually so I guess theres no way I can fit a even larger one in. Also changed the coolant mix to 30/70. Now cruising temp stays around 199-203 and WOT temp stays around 210... so I take that as progress hahaha.

Next time would be looking at the water pump then, as that's one thing I never took apart since I got the car.

Block was tested and no sign of exhaust leak into the coolant.
 

gvr4ever

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Joined
Aug 6, 2002
Messages
6,190
Location
central Indiana
I didn't think coolant should be mixed over 65% for extreme cold. At some point, it actually stops working correctly. For summer temps, 50/50 should work.
 

FlyingEagle

Staff member
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Mar 5, 2005
Messages
1,635
Location
THE Ottawa
You would be overheating if the water pump was missing fingers or worn out in some fashion; ie leaks. WP replacement also equals timing belt job.

No need to overmix the coolant as the poster above me, was saying.
 

jrtech

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Joined
Feb 18, 2012
Messages
80
Location
Mexico Toucher
Quoting Gtpdz:
An update on this... so I got the Koyo brass radiator ...




Please tell me where you purchased the Koyo brass?
 

Gtpdz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2015
Messages
140
Location
Gig Harbor, WA
That was from Amazon, sold by Koyo. Shipped to my door in 2 days. And it's a direct factory replacement.
 

jrtech

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Joined
Feb 18, 2012
Messages
80
Location
Mexico Toucher
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/uhh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif Thanks!
 

DSSA

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Joined
Apr 16, 2002
Messages
579
Location
PA
As someone noted earlier--a fan doesn't do jack if you're moving down the road above 10-15 mph. At that point, the only thing that they can do is block airflow, and if you could have them suddenly disappear, you'd have more cooling than with them being there.

I've ran a single, basic slimline fan on a cheap Jeg's Scirocco, single-pass radiator behind an old APEXi Skyline II core in 95 degree heat sitting in Philly traffic with no cooling issues (no A/C in the car is important to note in this situation--I roasted, but the car was fine).

It's one of those things that you have to play around with as no one solution is going to fix everyone's over-heating issue.

I've seen issues caused by cheap, cast-impeller water pumps not flowing enough, I've seen obvious issues like flow to the radiator diminished by a intercooler that didn't like to allow much air through the core, I've seen thermostats fail...the list goes on.

The one thing I wanted to point out is that a lot of people think that adding a higher percentage of anti-freeze/coolant, or simply dumping something like Water Wetter, etc., will help--when it actually will promote cooling issues. Water is your best coolant. The anti-freeze/coolant is there to provide what first name implies (freezing resistance), lubricity, and an anti-corrosion package. It doesn't cool the car better.

Water Wetter, and other additives---same thing. The improvement isn't from the additive itself, but comes into play when you're able to have 90% water, and the additive provides enough lubricity and anti-corrosion properties at that ratio.
 
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