Radiator Upgrade

[Lextreme II]

My radiator is dead again. Its leaking fluid right under it. I am sure its the plastic end is cracked. Possible due to excessive heat from the turbo system and HP from the engine. Excessive pressure create leaks to the weakest part. I think its time to upgrade from the standard oem to an all aluminum radiator from Koyo or something similar. The best price I found is on ebay. Its about $350. the standard radiator is about $160. The price is double, but I think this is what I need. Here is a link of interest Fluidyne Radiator

 

[Toysrme]

Summit Racing 29" W x 19" H x 3" Thick Aluminum Radiator

On one rebuilt / turbo truck I did, and on my buddies former 400awhp celica, I used summit radiators. Along with knowing several other people running them online with no problems. Those look to be in the $300-350 price range.

Just make sure you have a transmission cooler+fan if needed, that can cope with the ATF temp by itself. That's one of those things not everybody thinks about!

 

[JB]

jhb

:veryhappy your ls 400 is not a race car, drive it right and you will not have to keep breaking something.

 

[cribbj]

:veryhappy your ls 400 is not a race car, drive it right and you will not have to keep breaking something.

JB, welcome to the site, and let me just say that you've already managed to go where no one else has gone before so quickly.

You've dis'd the site owner and founder (Lextreme) with your very first post! Now after that stellar beginning, what are you going to come up with for an encore?

In case you haven't noticed, this site is about hotrodding and modifying our cars, not washing & polishing them and driving them to church on Sunday, although many of us do all of that as well.

Cheers,

John

 

[skid]

stuff

ROTFPMSL!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MightyAl]

absoluteradiator.com is the best priced site i have found so far and you will have your radiator in a few days. I havent been able to find better prices anywhere.

 

[jibbby]

Yeah Lex, your LS is not a race car so stop breaking it.....:nono:

Hey David, I got a good radiator shop in Downtown LA if your willing to make the drive...They have our radiators for $150 installed if I remember correctly. It is a better radiator with the metal and not plastic tops that are prone to pressure leaks (new not rebuilt)....I did mine 6 months ago on my SC and it cools better then ever...If your interested here is their info...

Mr. Kool Wholesale Distributors
5975 S. Hoover Street, Los Angeles, Ca. 90044

323 971-3859

They did the same job with my Land Cruiser...Hard to find a better deal, although I have seen some good ones pop up on Ebay too.....I installed mine myself and saved money....Here is a pic..

 

[Lextreme II]

Nice.... I hate the plastic end plate.... INSTALLED with $150? I just called and talked to Junior... that is right $150 Installed....

 

[jibbby]

Glad I can be of help...If you do end up going you will find the owners to be a little chollo'd out but they are cool and honest.....They will treat you rignt...The area is a little suspect but hang out at the shop and you will be OK.....Should take no longer then an hour..These guys also did my exhaust for almost nothing.. Just the welding and what not....Oh and Junior drives a new Dodge Charger with the Hemi...He will let you take it out for lunch while your car is being repaired once he see's your turbo setup...... I juiced it but my SC will take it...It has an insane 1500 watt stereo inside... Pay cash and no tax either....See ya

 

[stevechumo]

David,

I know you're not hesistating to change to this aluminum radiator, I love those aluminum radiators, too. But in case that you want to save some $$$, here's what I successfully did. It's 24 HOURS JB WELD. I used to fix 2 leaked radiators (4 cylinder cars) with the 24 Hours JB Weld and they're still not leaking after 3 years now. Sand and clean around the leaking area, put the JB on and let it sit for 24 hours. After that, the JB Weld should hold against the pressure and the temperature.

 

[Lextreme II]

LOL.. found out its not my radiator. It was high temp causing slightly overflow.. and expecially i park down hill... that will cause more flow.. due to unlevel....

 

[Lextreme II]

Even my radiator is not bad, but still need more cooling. I just order an all aluminum KOYO radiator. I paid $339 plus 40 shipping. Fluidyne is about $100 extra.

 

[Toysrme]

Niiice.

 

[jibbby]

Any pics of this KOYO radiator? What is fluidyne? I am guessing it is an extra cooling additive?

 

[JamesN]

Fluidyne is also another brand name for aluminum radiator John. Wow I didn't know Fluidyne cost more than koyo. I always thought it was the other way around. But good purchase David. You gonna like that nice and shiny thing sitting in your engine bay.

 

[Kiwi.in.aus]

You should paint it black whem you get it , it will work better and last longer as it won't corrode , I always have a chuckle when I see these guys driving around with a big fat intercooler stuck out the front not painted black !!

 

[stevechumo]

You should paint it black whem you get it , it will work better and last longer as it won't corrode , I always have a chuckle when I see these guys driving around with a big fat intercooler stuck out the front not painted black !!

Ummh! That's your preference but I prefer to leave it as is. It's not about cosmetic but it's about heat exchange efficiency. When you coat it with anything, it'll keep the heat inside it longer, which increases the temperature. The reason it's made of aluminum is to absorb the external cool air faster, and not to keep the hot air inside. It's the same for radiator.

 

[Kiwi.in.aus]

Actually I prefer them alloy colour for looks , but black is more efficient at transfering the air effect and plain alloy will corrode .
That's why all the car manufacturers paint their radiators black , not because they look cosmetically better , black radiates heat better !!
You don't have to take my word for it , do some research .

 

[stevechumo]

Actually I prefer them alloy colour for looks , but black is more efficient at transfering the air effect and plain alloy will corrode .
That's why all the car manufacturers paint their radiators black , not because they look cosmetically better , black radiates heat better !!
You don't have to take my word for it , do some research .

Your suggestion should be taken..:mischievo, but I don't have to do any more research for this. I've been working around car and building turbo systems for over 7 years now. The radiator or intercooler that we're mentioning are made of aluminum. I haven't seen any aluminum intercoolers that got corroded, except those aluminum parts from the boat trailers that are soaked in ocean water. But those aluminum trailers only started to corrode after 20 years.

 

[1uzvl]

Alloy radiators arent normally painted from the factory were as copper/brass assemblies are.The main reason they are painted is to stop the copper fins from corroding quickly because the fins are really thin.