Opinions on Aftermarket Radiators? Koyo, Greddy, Fluidyne, etc...

[DamnedButDetermined]

My stock KA fan clutch just seizzed up so it is time to get a new cooling fan. I will be getting the Flex-A-Lite 220's and want to upgrade my radiator now as well.

I have been doing a little searching on zilvia and have only heard a few bad things about the Koyo 3-row radiator, but nothing about the other brands out there. I would like to know your opinions on your aftremarket radiator purchases, and if you have had any problem at all...whether it be breaking petcocks, filler caps breaking off (cough koyo cough) or lack of cooling, etc...

I don't want to spend TOO much money on this, but I know you get what you pay for so if need be I will splurge to be 100% sure I don't have any problems down the line.

thanks for your time,
DbD

P.S. This will be going on my black S13 not the Muddin Machine :Ownedd:

[Steeles]

whats your setup on the black one? for most mild setups (read: bolt on no boost)the stock radiator is more than adequate especially with good fans. heck its not that bad for mildly boosted setups.

IMO just get the fans. the only reason I'm currently planning upping mine is the 850ccs have the engine running hot :) I'll be going with a griffen for a smallblock chevy. aluminum big and cheap at summit :D

[PSI240SX]

he thread was originally for KA's but I have found a good radiator for SR's thats a cheap alternative to Koyo etc. They are out of stock right now but I had one on my green car and it fit very good and was thicker than a Koyo. Its copper so a little heavier but I never overheated once with it. http://www.nissanautobodypartstore.com/cgi-bin/auto-body-parts/NI260ZP1107474.html

By the way... I have heard about the griffen one as well... since they are out of stock of the one I mentioned, I may look into getting the griffen. Which one is most comonly used with the 240sx chassis and SR20?

[brianglawson]

personally i love my koyo, fluidyne! bleck! ive seen so many cracked ones i couldnt count them on my fingers and toes

[NZO]

Some people have problems with the weak filler neck metal twisting and breaking on the koyos.

[wootwoot]

psi240sx, do you know if that is the radiator that remained on the car after the track day recently? if so that might be what im getting. does everything line up proper?? just throw some info at me please = )
im FL based too so the overheating is a worry.

[LanceS13]

No worries from my Koyo...had if for about a year. I actually have to cover half of it up with cardboard in winter just so the heater will work.

[Jeff240sx]

Koyo = 2 core. 52mm (or something) though, which is a bit thicker than a $500 GReddy. I have one for s14 KA, and it's awesome! $320 at Enjuku a while ago.
-Jeff

[NYCRB240sx]

koyo, greddy/trust and fluidyne all good companys. if i make a suggestion use permacool fans, their better then flex and cheaper

[Steeles]

he thread was originally for KA's but I have found a good radiator for SR's thats a cheap alternative to Koyo etc. They are out of stock right now but I had one on my green car and it fit very good and was thicker than a Koyo. Its copper so a little heavier but I never overheated once with it. http://www.nissanautobodypartstore.com/cgi-bin/auto-body-parts/NI260ZP1107474.html

By the way... I have heard about the griffen one as well... since they are out of stock of the one I mentioned, I may look into getting the griffen. Which one is most comonly used with the 240sx chassis and SR20?

Jay I forgot the exact one. PM planb over on FA for better info. hes got one in his S13 and gave me the idea :)

[95Blue240sx]

i was looking into getting one for a s14 KA. jeff how is yours holding up? currently im using the AC fan during traffic and it gets a bit warm. i dont have the stock fan clutch on there so that is part of the problem.

[UcanTry]

ive got the greddy one on my car and ive had no problems with it, got it from enjuku like almost 2 years ago

[mjjstang]

why is it though on other forums ive read pretty bad stuff on koyo, and this is the first i have heard bout fluidyne being bad, I am planning on purchasing one tomarrow after I get my check but now I dont know, is it true bout fluidyne cracking? Im not going to go full out race and shit, but i actually heard the koyo is restrictive because the fin density is so hight, I think i read this on FA.

[sykikchimp]

The fluidyne I saw in person on an S14 looked awesome. Ultra beefy. Owner said he loved it. so go figure.

C&R rads are awesome too.

[brage]

fin count is too high on the koyo.... but it depends on where you live. In AZ this means the rad can't cool efficiently enough w/ the A/C on when it is 100 deg + out... if you live in a colder climate it probably doesn't matter.

[nrcooled]

I had a Koyo on my S13 with SR. I had overheating problems in my car after I installed the FMIC. Well not overheating but it would run a bit hotter then normal. While at the track the water temps would go up. I could only get one or two hot laps then I would have to back off a bit to let it cool down.

On the street I never had a water temp problem though with the Koyo. I guess the FMIC was just too beefy ;)

[Dousan_PG]

my friends w/ koyos never had overheating issues. all run stock clutch fans AND shroud (that's key)

a good fan w/ good ducting will be fine too.

thats with runs at the track and the mountains sometimse in 100+ degree temps and other times at night when ist lots cooler

i got a koyo for my s14 sr and ill know soon after i finished w/ various wiring stuff ive been working on in the car. should be running shortly and ill be sure and beat on it nad see how it goes

[Drunk Bastard]

will the nissan altima electric fans fit on any of these aftermarket radiators?

[habit]

I'm voting for the C&R ones. So nice good stuff. Never heard of the Rads cracking at all. They only make for S13 SR application. You can make them fit S14 seen it done. But nothing for the KA. Sorry.

[DamnedButDetermined]

I am still up in the air as to which radiator I am going to get, so i will get a little more specific with my situation.

I am stock as of now, but will be completely rebuilding the engine and turboing for a top horsepower of about 350, and daily driving it at about 250hp. I live in Florida so NORMALLY it is hot as all hell during the summer, but this year we have been killed with hurricanes so it hasn't been as hot this year. I will be KEEPING my Ka so the radiator will have to be compatable with the S13 chassis, Ka24de engine, and black Flex-a-lite 220's!

Now I was going to go with the Greddy, but it isn't compatable with the S13 chassis and Ka engine. Now this will not be a big problem for me unless the radiator will not bolt up to the chassis correctly, otherwise i have no problem getting custom hoses made if that is the only problem. My car will not be some fancy dancy show car, but it will be very classy looking and I don't want things to look like they are Ghetto Rigged under the hood.

thanks for everyone's opinions so far, and i appreciate all of your help.

DbD

[kungfucowboy]

you can use an s14 radiator (it's a two row stock) and all you have to do is drill new holes for the top brackets the bottom ones line right up.