Radiator Feedback Thread... post your experience here.
 

After seeing a couple of people here lately have some issues with radiators(I don't remember if they were the same or not) I think we should post feedback of what radiator you have, if modifications are required to install, and any drop in water temperature after installation. Overall, the stock radiator in an FD normally does a sufficient job cooling, I replace them due to the end tanks being plastic and brittle. Here are the ones I've used:

Fluidyne: Very well constructed, direct bolt in-no modifications required, water temperature dropped a 2-3 degrees if I remember correctly. It's a little more on the expensive side, but if you run into a deal on one I would buy it over a standard Koyo. Has a drain plug on the bottom

Standard Koyo: Also very well constructed, mine bolted right in... I have heard some people have had to make modifications to the mounting brackets to fit. The water temp dropped a few degrees. Has a drain plug on the bottom.

MazdaComp: Very similiar to the Fluidyne. Very well constructed, direct bolt in with no modifications. Temp drop is a few degrees. Normally on the expensive side, but if you find a deal I would buy it over the Koyo or Fluidyne. Has a drain plug on the bottom.

Koyo N Flo: Triple Pass radiator. Best cooling radiator I have used. I have this on my track car(Pettit CC III and no AC or PS) and no modifications were needed when I installed mine. However, I'm told that most cars will require modifications. I can track my car for 30 minutes and the temp will never get above 85. On a 70-75 degree day, It will stay between 81-84 on the track. Has a drain plug on the bottom.

Those are the ones I have used. Please add your experience, either with the same radiators that are posted above or ones that are not mentioned. I know Landers had some issues with a radiator not too long ago and Chad had to make some modifications to his as well.

Brent

I installed a Fluidyne a few years back. I think 150% larger than stock. Very impressed with construction, materials and overall quality, but it was pricey at (IIRC) about $400. As for installation, I thought it was "drop in" too. But like many other things on these cars, nothing is universal. I had to dremmel a little bit of the "lip" of my bumper reinforcement to get it to sit all the way down properly. Other than that, no big issues. It's been a while, but your estimate of temperature drops is probably pretty close. I think recovery after high boost sessions (like at autocross events) was also improved significantly. Absolutely NO issues since installation.

I don't have a concrete data for all the radiators I've used, but here are few things I remember of...

Fluidyne - used it on my blk FD with Greddy FMIC. Worked pretty well, but w/ FMIC, still goes upto 90+C when boosting. When used with SMIC, no problem.

Koyo - I was one of those people who used it and had to get rid of it as fitment wasn't great (w/SMIC). I think I was using this with PFS IC/duct, and the intake

PWR - This was VERY similar to fluidyne. Fitment was good and construction was VERY much the same as others.

Mazdacomp - I currently have this on my MB FD. No problem and seems to be about the same as the fluidyne. construction is good and fitment wasn't a issue. Like Brent said, price on these are much higher but not sure the gain is worth the money.. if there is any.

Koyo, N-flow - I also picked up one of these and will be using it with my Blk FD. By theory, this seems to be the best. by extending the flow and using the larger capacity of coolant in the Koyo Rads, I'm hoping to run cooler with this.... instead of cooler, I should say this will help maintain more stable temperature. I know Chuck Westbrook used this in hot Houston weather and saw good results.

Also, there have been many debates about radiators.. in my opinion, I think stock rad does pretty good job. If you are worried about the plastic tanks, you could also go with brass replacements. But most bad stock radiators I've seen goes bad around the core instead of the tanks. I'm sure others have seen otherwise..

PWR Radiator:

I bought my car with this installed, so I can't really comment on installation. BUT, it didn't appear that anything was modified or hacked to fit it in. Construction of the radiator itself seems excellent. I have never had any cooling issues with this radiator, although I have seen some relatively high temps ~215-220F when really pushing the car on a very hot day. I generally start easing off when I see the temps get that high, and I think a second oil cooler will allow the oil to do its fair share of the cooling to eliminate these high temps.

I did have an issue with fitment when I installed my PFS SMIC. The IC duct interfered with the radiator fans, so I had to modify the upper rad mounts to drop it down a bit. Even with that I still had to hack up the IC duct to get everything to fit correctly. However the PWR radiator fit perfectly with all the stock equipment.

That's interesting, I didn't have to do any modifications on my Fluidyne. Never ceases to amaze me the variations from car to car.

Anyone have experience with AWR?

AWR is a Ron Davis/Mazdacomp Radiator.

Dan

is that the same as Mazdacomp?

i have a koyo and it was perfect for the SMIC since it sat in the stock location but after i went single, it needed brackets to be fitted.

my biggest thing is that i need more cooling that probably any other car on this forum.

Yes

Exactly.
Note that Afterburn indicated fitment issues with the PFS SMIC and his PWR. And Herblenny indicated that PWR is the same as Fluidyne. Yet I had absolutely NO fitment issues w/ my Fluidyne and PFS SMIC. :dunno:

Good stuff. I don't remember much about mine now as this was around 2000, but it was installed with the stock intercooler without issue. I later installed the PFS intercooler and didn't encounter any problems either :icon_tup:

Lots of good info. here for the forum so far. Keep it coming.

I have a Koyo N-Flow and it required some modification to install. I eventually got it all in there with the undertray back on. It cools very well although i don't have solid number data. if you are looking for a bolt on radiator i would definitely not recommend the Koyo.

i just had to drain the stock rad tonight and the factory drain plug got stripped out in the screwdriver slot so i ended up having to drill two holes and using a pair of needlenose pliers to turn it out... so im thinking new one made out of metal! i dont know why they would make a drain plug from such soft plastic...