pcakes55 Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 Anyone have luck running these ebay aluminum radiators w/ fan setups? For example, this one: Ebay Radiator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yetterben Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 I have one of those here. i cant attest to how it works as its not installed but the quality is top notch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktm Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 If you can't attest to how it works and have not even installed it yet, then how can you say that the quality top notch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcakes55 Posted March 12, 2010 Author Share Posted March 12, 2010 I'm sure he means the craftsmanship is top-notch, but I definately want to know how well it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yetterben Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 indeed craftsmanship. It is very well assembled and see no reason why it wont work as described. Its not some cheap china knock off its really well put together. Even says made in the usa on it...for what thats worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc052685 Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 Been running mine for 12 months or so. Works great. I run the mechanical fan to help with cooling though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexicoker Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 I bought that radiator for my Z from the same place, and haven't had any problems with it. It looks very similar to the one that MSA sells. I also use the MSA aluminum shroud with 2 electric fans and have been really happy with it, even though it makes things cramped in front of the engine. I did buy another one before that on eBay that was a piece of junk, "cool auto parts" I think, stay away from them. The core looked like a trapezoid when I pulled it out of the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justaddnosplease Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I bought that radiator for my Z from the same place, and haven't had any problems with it. It looks very similar to the one that MSA sells. I also use the MSA aluminum shroud with 2 electric fans and have been really happy with it, even though it makes things cramped in front of the engine. I did buy another one before that on eBay that was a piece of junk, "cool auto parts" I think, stay away from them. The core looked like a trapezoid when I pulled it out of the box. I ended up going with this Kool Radiators because it was cheap and was at first skeptical at it, but when the package arrived, even my certified mechanic, was surprised. The welds weren't perfectly done, but hey for under $200 shipped I wasn't looking for perfection. What I have to say though is how this radiator cools. Wide on throttle through the mountains I find my temperature gauge never exceeding operating temp. Through town and in city driving, I barely have to even turn on my auxiliary fan. Partially it's due to my 160 degree thermostat, but as a test we let the car get near max temp and turn the fan on to see how long it would take get just below half, and timed it was about 3 minutes. That was VERY impressive. I unfortunately didn't have enough money to buy a shroud, and the ghetto fan setup (mounting it on the fins) seems to be working okay even with the constant g-forces encountered driving mountain roads and autocross. I am EXTREMELY happy with my purchase and cannot recommend a higher quality radiator for the price. There is only one thing to say: BUY IT! I would say call 714-599-3336 (ask for Brent). Fast shipping and good product! Here's a few pics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglist Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 These aluminum radiators should have rubber insulators between them and the radiator support/where you mount them if you are using them on the street or for long-term use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikez31ss Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 These aluminum radiators should have rubber insulators between them and the radiator support/where you mount them if you are using them on the street or for long-term use. Are you talking about electrolytic corrosion? Most of the aluminum radiators I've seen on ebay use steel mounting brackets. I guess that just move the problem to a different area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Are you talking about electrolytic corrosion? Nope. The radiator core support on the S30 flexes in hard cornering. That flexing, over time, tends to tear apart aluminum radiators unless they are rubber mounted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikez31ss Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Nope. The radiator core support on the S30 flexes in hard cornering. That flexing, over time, tends to tear apart aluminum radiators unless they are rubber mounted. Thanks John, that's info I can use. I have an aluminum radiator I'm planning to install. I've got a couple of 12" electric fans and a thermostatic controller left over from an earlier project. Still on the fence about whether the electric fans have more advantage than drawbacks. I'm leaning towards leaving the old fan in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 (edited) Â I am running the 2 row core aluminum radiator shown in the pics above. Â I paid $99 new, on ebay. Â I feel guilty because it's probably not employing anyone in this country....but hey I'm unemployed so I gotta resort to the cheap stuff. Â Anyhow, it works. Â I use the mechanical fan on it. Â It had a small microscopic pinhole in the corner weld of the top tank. Â I discovered it after noticing that the underside of the hood was getting sticky. Â A rat tail file over the hole and JB Weld fixed it right up. On the drivers side edge, the aluminum channel is a perfect size to wedge a snapple bottle into. Hold it in with a zip tie. Â I use one as my overflow/expansion container. Â Drill a hole in the cap and stick a hose to the bottom of it. Â Works great! Â You can see the snapple bottle in this pic. Edited April 30, 2010 by cygnusx1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yetterben Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I have this jobber too. I am pleased to say it can handle the 360+hp i am throwing at it. How it does after 500+ i dunno. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozconnection Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Â ....but hey I'm unemployed so I gotta resort to the cheap stuff. I wish I was as unemployed as you mate........your engine looks sick as......cheap doesn't look like that where I come from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 (edited) I had most of the parts laying around, under grease, and since I "found" the time, I figured I'd put all those old Z parts to use....it took a lot of elbow grease. Â Elbow grease is free here. Â Â Edited April 30, 2010 by cygnusx1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted May 3, 2010 Share Posted May 3, 2010 Just put the MSA dual fan unit in a 240Z that is currently someplace east of Tennesee by last SMS I got... Across CA, AZ, TX and then into the big rain storm... Running 160 thermo the front of the engine is 10-20F cooler than at the rear (dual gauges installed...) The fan manufacturer/packaging information was all cut off the MSA boxes, so no help from me there. But the MSA aluminum unit worked well enough for that torture test. This one? Who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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