View Full Version : ebay aluminum radiator s14
koukidough
11-01-2006, 12:41 AM
Hi guys, my radiator crapped out on me today. The bottom plastic brittled away slowly till it finally created a hole. Just wondering if these ebay ones will hold up. I know its not Koyo's but they are way cheaper and its all aluminum so how bad can they be? Anyone had any experience with them? I dont want to settle for anything less like the koyo coppers because my car did overheat sometimes in the summer w/ stock s14 radiator.
link from ebay click here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-98-NISSAN-240SX-ALUMINUM-RADIATOR-96-97-2-4L-SE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33602QQihZ006QQitemZ 160046868921QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW)
S14DB
11-01-2006, 01:37 AM
Wow, That is very tempting. I may look into it tomorrow.
GSXRJJordan
11-01-2006, 01:51 AM
I've got the Megan race radiator, I'm not sure if they're marketing it yet for the S13 SR20. Anyway, it's probably the same *ish, and it's worked great so far - good fitment, keeps the car cool as long as you've got airflow, which is all you can ever ask. I'd say do it, make some ducting with aluminum flashing/rivets, and throw an electric fan on there ~ 90% as good as a koyo.
projectRDM
11-01-2006, 09:22 AM
Looks identical to a Koyo. If the welds are clean, buy it.
soawsome
11-01-2006, 09:29 AM
ehh it is tempting but the koyo has proven itself to work and it can be had for like 300$ shipped maybe less now since i havent looked at prices in awhile
and that ones like 210 shipped.... its like a 90 buck diffrence if it was me i would get the koyo ... if it was a 150 or 200 buck diffrence then i may go for the cheaper one but thats not the case here.
either way if you do get it do a review on it here i am sure it would become usefull for others
LB.Motoring
11-01-2006, 09:35 AM
Yah, either or, it seems they are very similar, and if its the same dim. as the koyo Im sure it should preform very close. I would rock it..but I have a koyo :keke:
chmercer
11-01-2006, 11:06 AM
koyo is a monster ripoff, you can get shit like this for 150ish
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NASCAR-C-R-RADIATOR-W-HEAT-EXCHANGER-LIKE-NEW_W0QQitemZ160045238346QQihZ006QQcategoryZ107063 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
LB.Motoring
11-01-2006, 11:09 AM
i got my koyo for cheaper than the knock offs, but for retail vs that, damn that looks like a good deal vicereryyboy.
S14DB
11-01-2006, 12:57 PM
Koyo is already a knock off of other JDM radiators that cost $500+.
WILDACEX187
11-01-2006, 01:21 PM
Koyo is already a knock off of other JDM radiators that cost $500+.
the jdm radiators i've seen arent as thick as the koyo though. maybe there are some others out there u're talking about
Bigballin
11-01-2006, 01:22 PM
glad these threads come up, reducing cost for same performance is great
LB.Motoring
11-01-2006, 02:57 PM
griffon!
FTW
griffon!
FTW
griffin products are nice, also, the universal summit brand radiators are like 100 bucks, cheap and worthy
chmercer
11-01-2006, 07:24 PM
griffin + summit + america, get an american radiator, shit is way cheaper, mountains of savings. radiators with the tanks on the top and bottom instead of the sides are whack anyway. crappy street car compromise. can push coolant out the cap at high rpm.
HATchTRICK
11-01-2006, 07:37 PM
I would try it.
But keep in mind, your trying to compare it to a radiator that proven to work over and over again (koyo). But on the other hand, your saving a few bucks and taking a gamble, it may pay off for you and never give you a hassle. But if it does fail on you, the first thing your gonna say is "i should have gotten the koyo".
I would try it.
But keep in mind, your trying to compare it to a radiator that proven to work over and over again (koyo). But on the other hand, your saving a few bucks and taking a gamble, it may pay off for you and never give you a hassle. But if it does fail on you, the first thing your gonna say is "i should have gotten the koyo".
then allow me to put your theory of "its a gamble" to rest...
In front of my own two eyes
as we all know, KAT's are prone to overheating issues with minimal turbo system. But, the guy who's building my roomates car is a KAT making right around 520 whp... and it utilizes a summit brand radiator, 2.5 inch wide, 19 inches tall, and 27 inches wide... and it was 100 bucks... see, alot of the time what seems brand "trendy" isnt always the best out there, alot of the time its the "no frills" products that dont need to claim a rep. because their products walk the line
griffin + summit + america, get an american radiator, shit is way cheaper, mountains of savings. radiators with the tanks on the top and bottom instead of the sides are whack anyway. crappy street car compromise. can push coolant out the cap at high rpm.
+1
Just be careful what type of core you're getting. Don't get some NASCAR super speedway radiator for the street..............
chmercer
11-01-2006, 09:57 PM
yep, i wouldnt go thicker than 3 inches. thoes 5 inch talladega cores will blow up your car unless they have like 3 fins per inch
as i've been told, even 3 inches is a bit thick for something under 500 hp and such, i'd usuallly only use a 3 inch on something (4 cylinder) over 500 and/or if i were going to use an inline electric water pump.
i chose 2.5 for my setup, just to make sure we dont have any short flow issues and or air gaps.
koukidough
11-01-2006, 11:55 PM
thanks for the info guys, im still thinking about it. Having mixed feelings but may as well get it within this week or so.
ayuaddict
11-02-2006, 08:43 AM
nothing wrong with using american parts, shit, use american parts whenever you can. http://www.summitracing.com/ is your friend.
...and this is coming from a japanese guy.
smelly240
11-02-2006, 09:30 AM
so how big is the stock rad? in volume... i have a tapemeasure (so flame if u want - its fun)
i wouldnt measure its volume that way, id fill it and dump it, and measure the liquid volume
chmercer
11-02-2006, 10:16 AM
yeah, stock radiator tubes are like half inch thick. its pretty weak
yes, they are incredibly thin, but nothign compares to a single cam honda radiator, i swear that thing might boast a half liter of volume MAYBE!!
either way, if you want to measure the volume,of the stock rad. seal off one end of the radiator and fill with water until it is completely full, allow a couple of minutes to let out any air that might be trapped... then empty the full volume into a bucket and pour what is in the bucket into a liter measuring system (not cups) and there you go, volumetric measuring for dummies!!!
then take the new radiator and do the same, or if you know what it is already then your all set to make the necesarry decisions one might when choosing a radiator for higher power output, i'd personally want a radiator that had 30% more volume than OEM, i think thats a safe number without going to big
drift freaq
11-02-2006, 10:36 AM
just to toss into the debate. Koyo's blow chunks hard. Heatsoak city after 20 minutes of running. Poor core design. Had a Koyo, dumped it and got a Griffin. Much happier, much better design and flow, ran 10 degrees color than the Koyo , right after swapping them out, hahhahahaha.
That ebay radiator looks like a Koyo knock off , i.e. steer clear of it.
Yes, if you can find a good American high performance aluminum radiator its probably going to be as cheap as the koyo or cheaper and ten times better.
If you can't get a Griffin or Fluidyne then go check out Summit Racing, like the other guy said.
SoSideways
11-02-2006, 10:42 AM
For my personal car I am probably gonna go with a Visteon/C&R rad.
koukidough
11-02-2006, 12:38 PM
Hmmm this guy sells it cheaper and he had many of them. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-99-240SX-S15-S14-SR20DET-RACING-ALUMINUM-RADIATOR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33742QQihZ010Q QitemZ200043141003QQrdZ1 187.00 shipped. Okay thats it, I'm getting it. I will let you guys know how well it holds up.
Jung918
11-02-2006, 12:58 PM
just to toss into the debate. Koyo's blow chunks hard. Heatsoak city after 20 minutes of running. Poor core design. Had a Koyo, dumped it and got a Griffin. Much happier, much better design and flow, ran 10 degrees color than the Koyo , right after swapping them out, hahhahahaha.
That ebay radiator looks like a Koyo knock off , i.e. steer clear of it.
Yes, if you can find a good American high performance aluminum radiator its probably going to be as cheap as the koyo or cheaper and ten times better.
If you can't get a Griffin or Fluidyne then go check out Summit Racing, like the other guy said.
Fluidyne doesn't make it for the 240's anymore but I believe they still do have some in stock for 95+. Doesn't the griffins need to be custom made?
How are PWR radiator?
http://www.absoluteradiator.com/ProductPage.asp?idProd=33
drift freaq
11-02-2006, 01:05 PM
well the thing is unless you know the radiator aka its reputation there is no way of knowing if its got a decent core design, solely by looking at it. A lot of SR owners rave about Koyo solely based on the fact that the really do not need the extra cooling beyond the stock radiator 80% of the time. So they think the Koyo works great. Until it is put under a real load then its poor core design really shows through. I went with Griffin based on the rep for their core designs and actual testing that certain drifters had done on the Griffin vs the Koyo. It convinced me. I bought a Koyo originally because I got a great deal, it was not a good thing for my setup. It heatsoaked and ran hot.
In the case of radiators you do get what you pay for. I am sure the same kind of shit is going with intercoolers. Then again a lot of people buy intercoolers that are way larger than they need HP wise because they all think bigger is better. hahhahhahhahahha. Efficiency is the key in all of this. Get that one test it out. It may turn out good, you may not b able to tell, unless you push the daylights out of it at the track.
Griffins do not need to be custom made, just ordered. Griffin has built and does build KA and SR radiators. Its just a to order basis. Thats not custom.
HyperTek
11-02-2006, 02:15 PM
people take chances everyday buying those cheap ebay intercoolers
chmercer
11-02-2006, 02:15 PM
griffin, one thing to note, is that their radiators arent brazed, the cores are epoxied to the tanks, which is not bad, its common practice, but its still worth mentioning. fluidyne and c&r are brazed.
S14DB
11-02-2006, 02:17 PM
How much are the Griffin radiators?
$189 at summit for the universal one 25241 IIRC.
thats what I am putting in my car next week.
add taurus fan as altima ones are too wide.
griffin, one thing to note, is that their radiators arent brazed, the cores are epoxied to the tanks, which is not bad, its common practice, but its still worth mentioning. fluidyne and c&r are brazed.
Griffins are brazed, or at least I've seen griffin radiators that were brazed. They are just reinforced with epoxy IIRC. Maybe they make some that aren't, I dunno, but you can definitely get Griffins that are brazed.
As far as Koyo's go, I have one. I bought it when I didn't know any better. I don't think they are bad, they are just overpriced. You can get an equivalent griffin for like half the price + a couple more bucks to get some tabs welded on.
WILDACEX187
11-02-2006, 04:59 PM
griffin doesnt even list any nissan's on their page :(
drift freaq
11-02-2006, 05:21 PM
griffin doesnt even list any nissan's on their page :(
call them, the radiators are on their books and the average price for a Griffin without any kind of account, straight retail is around $375 and worth every penny for one thats made specifically for our cars. The other choice is to go with their universal but it would take a little extra work to put it in thats all.
chmercer
11-02-2006, 06:03 PM
griffin doesnt even list any nissan's on their page :(
shit dosent matter. get a measuring tape
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=GRI%2D1%2D25242%2DX&N=700+4294924500+4294839040+4294810996+4294891681+ 4294883114+4294792880+115&autoview=sku
maybe this fits. i didnt measure mine. if you have a KA get the one with the outlets on the same side. that one should work for an sr.
d-wade
11-02-2006, 06:10 PM
Do the Griffin or Fluidyne radiators include new hoses?
WILDACEX187
11-02-2006, 06:10 PM
oh man are u serious. i payed so much for my koyo when i couldve had a griffin :(.
smelly240
11-02-2006, 06:16 PM
i did some calling around - i can get a full alum one like the summit/griffin for under 150 from a sprint car shop nearby. i'll take pics tomorrow if i get out there to pic one up.
CoasTek240
11-02-2006, 11:45 PM
I just ordered the Koyo for my Ka and it has the epoxied end tanks. It only cost me $130. Its not the large one with the aluminum endtanks.
is this not recommended>?
chmercer
11-02-2006, 11:56 PM
that ones ghetto junk. its like oem replacment. thats like buying a stock supra radiator or somthing.
McRussellPants
11-03-2006, 12:14 AM
Koyo works for me.
just duct it right and you could run a kia rio radiator.
Jung918
11-03-2006, 12:48 AM
Well if Griffin is as good as you say they are, might as well start a group buy.
IMPerfection
11-03-2006, 04:04 PM
just duct it right and you could run a kia rio radiator.
Yeah, that's totally a smart attitude to have towards the second most important system preventing your engine from dying an expensive death... Not to mention the efficacy of ducting in combating heatsoak during rush hour.
S14DB
11-08-2006, 04:25 PM
I sucked it up and bought one. Let you know how it compares to the Koyo.
chmercer
11-08-2006, 04:59 PM
what size did you get. single/dual pass. vertical or horizontal tanks
Jung918
11-09-2006, 08:32 AM
This is the E-mail I recieved from Benji from Griffin Radiators.
THE RADIATOR IS TIG WELDED ALSO WHERE THE TUBES GO INTO THE HEADER THEY ARE VACCUM BRAZED AND THE EPOXY IS APPLIED ON THE OUTSIDE FOR STRENGTH AND DURABILITY. ITS A SINGLE PASS DOWNFLOW.THE OVERALL DIMENSIONS ARE 19.38 TALL 26.38 WIDE. LET ME KNOW IF THERES ANY OTHER INFO YOU NEED.
slideways2004
11-19-2006, 10:32 AM
has anybody bought the ebay radiator yet? i'm not thinking about buying it just want to know how it is. i'm gonna do the summit universal w/ taurus fan when its time
S14DB
11-19-2006, 09:51 PM
I got one. Will review when installed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/eBayRad1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/eBayRad2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/eBayRad3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/eBayRad4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/eBayRad5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/eBayRad6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/eBayRad7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/eBayRad8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/eBayRad9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/eBayRad10.jpg
Bigballin
11-19-2006, 10:46 PM
cant wait for the review
McRussellPants
11-19-2006, 11:00 PM
Yeah, that's totally a smart attitude to have towards the second most important system preventing your engine from dying an expensive death... Not to mention the efficacy of ducting in combating heatsoak during rush hour.
Uhhh, thanks Bill Nye, I totally didn't know my motor would blow if I overheat it.
I better run a C&R quadruple pass with 5 gallon endtanks and a quick cooling attachments. that way I can do a seven minute long standing burnout in traffic with the AC on.
S14DB
02-16-2007, 02:32 PM
Well I installed it...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/EbayRad1fit.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/EbayRad2fit.jpg
Yep it doesn't fit. Should be 17" high but is 19" high. The core is 17" but add the tanks and it gets to over 19" high. Thought to remove the rubber mounts. But, still didn't drop it enough.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/EbayRad3NoSpacer.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/S14DB/240sx/Cooling/eBay/EbayRad4NoSpacer.jpg
smelly240
02-16-2007, 02:43 PM
send that shit back - now everyone knows not to buy those... is it 24 wide?
heres the alum 16x24 from summit...
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2D380645&N=700+4294810996+115&autoview=sku
WILDACEX187
02-16-2007, 03:22 PM
send that shit back - now everyone knows not to buy those... is it 24 wide?
heres the alum 16x24 from summit...
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2D380645&N=700+4294810996+115&autoview=sku
thats only a single row :(
ediT* i just measured my stock sr rad. its like 26.5 inches wide. will 27.5 be hard to fit?
Taniguchi_Is_#1
02-16-2007, 04:05 PM
ah............
v-mount anyone?
Slidin240Wayz
02-16-2007, 04:10 PM
thats only a single row :(
ediT* i just measured my stock sr rad. its like 26.5 inches wide. will 27.5 be hard to fit?
I spent endless hours searching for a radiator for a v-mount. From frame rail to frame rail is 27.25 inches. There are some dimples that take away .25 inches.
Carlos
boosteds13
02-16-2007, 04:25 PM
That's fucked up man... send that POS back!
kassed33
02-16-2007, 04:30 PM
hey, i would say do it once and do it right, the Koyo is only gonna be like another $100, and its a great quality and proven product. Its cheaper to spend the extra $100 now rather than have the el-cheapo shit-the-bed, and you need to buy another one in like 2yrs.
S14DB
02-16-2007, 04:35 PM
hey, i would say do it once and do it right, the Koyo is only gonna be like another $100, and its a great quality and proven product. Its cheaper to spend the extra $100 now rather than have the el-cheapo shit-the-bed, and you need to buy another one in like 2yrs.
More like $200.
This is going to be a bitch to return...
GSXRJJordan
02-16-2007, 04:48 PM
That looks just like the one that I've got, except mine is the correct height (comes up juuuust above the top of the radiator support). Works fine without ducting (full throttle up a hill for a couple minutes gets it up to about 215* at 10lbs, with a single shit BMW fan), but works fantastic with ducting (never goes above 190*). Try and get them to swap it out with one that's the correct height, instead of asking for your money back - should be easier to get them to cooperate that way.
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