ydeardorff
New member
Hey everyone,
I have been doing some digging on what donor sources I could use to fit a radiator in my car.
I had thought about using the Porsche cayman/boxster system which uses a triple radiator system in the nose of the car. But the price for them is prohibitively expensive as one would presume.
Not being undone, I continued to look for more options.
I contacted a racing radiator manufacturer to find out how much a completely custom made radiator would cost. With the dimensions of 12" x 26" x 3", no filler neck, and only side tanks with air bleeders installed the price was approximately 500 dollars.
This news was not bad, but also not good.
Being Im using a WRX engine, I will need adequate cooling for not only the coolant, but also for the oiling system, with enough cooling capacity left over to use the Subaru OEM AC system.
So I kept looking.
Thus far this next option has been the best in price, size, and even with optional oil cooling built in. Its odd size may lead me to new and uncharted placed with the oil cooling and AC condenser location. But heck its worth a look...
When thinking of sources for donor parts, you have to think small... Like the Lotus Elise....
Finally here is a picture of the radiator
In its OEM location
In some versions this cooling system is actually mounted horizontally. Which adds a new dynamic to options in our car.
Per a retailer of this radiator (without the fans or duct work) the radiators dimensions are: The core sizes is 23.6" wide, 10.5" tall, 2.2" thick,the overall sizes is 29.3 inches wide (including the hose fittings and tanks on both sides)
If you use the 1x1x1" per HP rating rule of thumb, that would give a cooling capacity of 545HP which even for a WRX STI engine is plenty. This would leave cooling capacity room for an oil cooler, and AC cooling systems.
How much? how about $198 dollars plus 50 for shipping from one eBay seller.
So add a note in your build log. Given this radiators vertical height, it could be mounted vertically, at an angle, or even horizontally like in some versions of the Lotus elise.
Just an FYI for those out there wanting to go to a liquid cooled setup.
The seller also claims cooling capacity of up to 500 bhp with his setup.
Aluminum Alloy Radiator Lotus Elise Exige Series 1 2 Vauxhall VX220 M T | eBay
I measured the vertical distance at the front of the front tub area. Inside the tub was approximately 12" tall directly below the lock for my hood.
I have been doing some digging on what donor sources I could use to fit a radiator in my car.
I had thought about using the Porsche cayman/boxster system which uses a triple radiator system in the nose of the car. But the price for them is prohibitively expensive as one would presume.
Not being undone, I continued to look for more options.
I contacted a racing radiator manufacturer to find out how much a completely custom made radiator would cost. With the dimensions of 12" x 26" x 3", no filler neck, and only side tanks with air bleeders installed the price was approximately 500 dollars.
This news was not bad, but also not good.
Being Im using a WRX engine, I will need adequate cooling for not only the coolant, but also for the oiling system, with enough cooling capacity left over to use the Subaru OEM AC system.
So I kept looking.
Thus far this next option has been the best in price, size, and even with optional oil cooling built in. Its odd size may lead me to new and uncharted placed with the oil cooling and AC condenser location. But heck its worth a look...
When thinking of sources for donor parts, you have to think small... Like the Lotus Elise....
Finally here is a picture of the radiator
In its OEM location
In some versions this cooling system is actually mounted horizontally. Which adds a new dynamic to options in our car.
Per a retailer of this radiator (without the fans or duct work) the radiators dimensions are: The core sizes is 23.6" wide, 10.5" tall, 2.2" thick,the overall sizes is 29.3 inches wide (including the hose fittings and tanks on both sides)
If you use the 1x1x1" per HP rating rule of thumb, that would give a cooling capacity of 545HP which even for a WRX STI engine is plenty. This would leave cooling capacity room for an oil cooler, and AC cooling systems.
How much? how about $198 dollars plus 50 for shipping from one eBay seller.
So add a note in your build log. Given this radiators vertical height, it could be mounted vertically, at an angle, or even horizontally like in some versions of the Lotus elise.
Just an FYI for those out there wanting to go to a liquid cooled setup.
The seller also claims cooling capacity of up to 500 bhp with his setup.
Aluminum Alloy Radiator Lotus Elise Exige Series 1 2 Vauxhall VX220 M T | eBay
I measured the vertical distance at the front of the front tub area. Inside the tub was approximately 12" tall directly below the lock for my hood.
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