ebay aluminum radiator s14 - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

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

***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

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/NASCA...QQcmdZViewItem

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by S14DB

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

byhi · 11-01-2006, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LB.Motoring

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".

byhi · 11-01-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HATchTRICK

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

atom · 11-01-2006, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chmercer

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

byhi · 11-01-2006, 11:28 PM

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)

byhi · 11-02-2006, 09:59 AM

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

byhi · 11-02-2006, 10:30 AM

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...43141003QQrdZ1 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

Quote:

Originally Posted by drift freaq

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/Prod....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.

11-01-2006, 12:41 AM	#1
koukidough Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Age: 39 Posts: 399 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ebay aluminum radiator s14 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 __________________ 1997 Nissan S14 SE Redtop SR20DET @12psi 1999 Honda Civic Hatch EK9 N/A b16a2 (SOLD)

11-01-2006, 01:37 AM	#2
*S14DB* AFC #1 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: 昨晩あなたのお母さんの家 Posts: 20,181 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Wow, That is very tempting. I may look into it tomorrow. __________________ Comments should be taken as Opinions not as Statements of Fact

11-01-2006, 01:51 AM	#3
GSXRJJordan Post Whore! Join Date: May 2006 Location: << 626 >> Posts: 9,135 Trader Rating: (19) Rides Gallery: GSXRJJordan Feedback Score: 19 reviews	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. __________________ Jordan Innovations has a new web site!* www.JordanInnovations.com -- All your favorite FD Pro Drifters love it, trust me -- www.JordanInnovations.com

11-01-2006, 09:35 AM	#6
LB.Motoring Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SòCal♥ Age: 35 Posts: 5,840 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: LB.Motoring Feedback Score: 1 reviews	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 __________________ Robby Leuer

11-01-2006, 11:09 AM	#8
LB.Motoring Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SòCal♥ Age: 35 Posts: 5,840 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: LB.Motoring Feedback Score: 1 reviews	i got my koyo for cheaper than the knock offs, but for retail vs that, damn that looks like a good deal vicereryyboy. __________________ Robby Leuer

11-01-2006, 09:22 AM	#4
projectRDM Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta Age: 47 Posts: 13,812 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	Looks identical to a Koyo. If the welds are clean, buy it.

11-01-2006, 09:29 AM	#5
soawsome Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 358 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	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

11-01-2006, 11:06 AM	#7
chmercer BANNED Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: texas! Age: 35 Posts: 3,288 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	koyo is a monster ripoff, you can get shit like this for 150ish http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NASCA...QQcmdZViewItem

11-01-2006, 12:57 PM	#9
*S14DB* AFC #1 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: 昨晩あなたのお母さんの家 Posts: 20,181 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Koyo is already a knock off of other JDM radiators that cost $500+. __________________ Comments should be taken as Opinions not as Statements of Fact

11-01-2006, 01:22 PM	#11
Bigballin Zilvia Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Purple Oillll,TX Posts: 222 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	glad these threads come up, reducing cost for same performance is great

11-01-2006, 02:57 PM	#12
LB.Motoring Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SòCal♥ Age: 35 Posts: 5,840 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: LB.Motoring Feedback Score: 1 reviews	griffon! FTW __________________ Robby Leuer

11-01-2006, 07:24 PM	#14
chmercer BANNED Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: texas! Age: 35 Posts: 3,288 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	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.

11-01-2006, 07:37 PM	#15
HATchTRICK Zilvia Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 218 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	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".

11-01-2006, 09:57 PM	#18
chmercer BANNED Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: texas! Age: 35 Posts: 3,288 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	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

11-01-2006, 11:28 PM	#19
byhi BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ohio Posts: 531 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	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.

11-01-2006, 11:55 PM	#20
koukidough Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Age: 39 Posts: 399 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	thanks for the info guys, im still thinking about it. Having mixed feelings but may as well get it within this week or so. __________________ 1997 Nissan S14 SE Redtop SR20DET @12psi 1999 Honda Civic Hatch EK9 N/A b16a2 (SOLD)

11-02-2006, 08:43 AM	#21
ayuaddict Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Socal Age: 32 Posts: 4,017 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	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.

11-02-2006, 09:30 AM	#22
smelly240 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Philaburbia Age: 43 Posts: 2,137 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	so how big is the stock rad? in volume... i have a tapemeasure (so flame if u want - its fun)

11-02-2006, 09:59 AM	#23
byhi BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ohio Posts: 531 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i wouldnt measure its volume that way, id fill it and dump it, and measure the liquid volume

11-02-2006, 10:16 AM	#24
chmercer BANNED Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: texas! Age: 35 Posts: 3,288 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yeah, stock radiator tubes are like half inch thick. its pretty weak

11-02-2006, 10:30 AM	#25
byhi BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ohio Posts: 531 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	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

11-02-2006, 10:36 AM	#26
drift freaq R.I.P. Aya, always love Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Los Feliz/Hollywood Posts: 18,558 Trader Rating: (215) Rides Gallery: drift freaq Feedback Score: 215 reviews	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. __________________ "Having a lot of tracks on a song is like putting stickers on a car to get more horsepower" New Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uebV1OnbRsw Buy my mounts! http://zilvia.net/f/sale-items/51531...ns-mounts.html http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/317539...e-mouts-6.html

11-02-2006, 10:42 AM	#27
SoSideways Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: 你老母 Posts: 4,371 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	For my personal car I am probably gonna go with a Visteon/C&R rad. __________________ SoSideway's iTrader Rating!! *SoSideways' Review Thread!!* http://sosideways.wordpress.com/

11-02-2006, 12:38 PM	#28
koukidough Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Age: 39 Posts: 399 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hmmm this guy sells it cheaper and he had many of them. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-99...43141003QQrdZ1 187.00 shipped. Okay thats it, I'm getting it. I will let you guys know how well it holds up. __________________ 1997 Nissan S14 SE Redtop SR20DET @12psi 1999 Honda Civic Hatch EK9 N/A b16a2 (SOLD)

11-02-2006, 01:05 PM	#30
drift freaq R.I.P. Aya, always love Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Los Feliz/Hollywood Posts: 18,558 Trader Rating: (215) Rides Gallery: drift freaq Feedback Score: 215 reviews	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. __________________ "Having a lot of tracks on a song is like putting stickers on a car to get more horsepower" New Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uebV1OnbRsw Buy my mounts! http://zilvia.net/f/sale-items/51531...ns-mounts.html http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/317539...e-mouts-6.html Last edited by drift freaq; 11-02-2006 at 05:25 PM..

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