Aluminum Radiators from Ebay

[Zs-ondabrain]

I started with a Griffin 3 core that sprung leaks here and there. I replaced it with an eBay 2 core aluminum 240Z radiator with the Dual electric fan set-up.

A little polishing here and there, (was cheaper to polish it myself than pay extra for the polished version) and it's beautiful and works a hell of a lot better than stock and the oversized Griffin.

IIRC I only payed about $140 for the Rad and fans and the Electric Thermo switch was about $30 at NAPA.

Dave

The new 2 core and the older Griffin (last 2 pics)

[cygnusx1]

In this case, the "cheap", in cheap radiator, defines less quality control, and probably the lack of compensation given to the guy behind the band saw (outsourced labor). Functionally, if you get a good one, they seem to be good.

BTW Mr. Brain, that is SEXY!!

Edited January 8, 2011 by cygnusx1

[240zdave]

One downside to an aluminum radiator will be that it will make my fairly stock, definitely not shiny, engine compartment look just a little more drab.

Beautiful engine compartment, Dave.

[Zs-ondabrain]

Sexy? Maybe. Beautiful? I could go with that.

Thanks guys, I blame that pretty radiator and overflow tank.

[cygnusx1]

Yes, Sexy. Not you. Your car.

[Zs-ondabrain]

ME... NOT SEXY!! unless you argue with my wife.

My Car......Sexy as all get out.

I was talking about the car silly, But thanks anyways. By the way.... Why am I NOT sexy?

Dave

[kinfish]

Zs-ondabrain,

Great photos of your setup with that 2-core aluminum radiator.

What holds those electric fans in place on the back side of the radiator?

That Griffin radiator is huge but you imply it was short on heat transfer technology.

My 3-row Silla radiator bought from Z-Specialities (in Washington?) in 2003 doesn't quite cool sufficiently at idle during summer heat. Maybe it is time to make another change since I already replaced the fan clutch with a new Paraut unit, added the MSA shroud and installed the plastic fan upgrade kit.

PS ..... one of these days I will yank my turn signal/combo switch and send to you for electrical magic implants

Edited January 9, 2011 by kinfish
spelling

[Zs-ondabrain]

I think that the Griffin was inificiant because of it's size. I think it held so much fluid that when the thermostat opened and swapped hot for cooled, the rad was so big that it wasn't able to cool as easily as a smaller unit would. Make sense? I hope so, cause I'm confused.

The new 2-core, being a little smaller and thinner, is able to cool the fluid more efficiantly. Being as how it is closer to the size and shape of the 240Z's original radiator, it fits better and does what it's supposed to do, almost too well. it seems to be about 10 to 15 degrees lower than stock.

The Dual fans are held on with the usual plastic push pins with the flat washer style clasps on the front of the radiator. The Thermal switch is the Probe style that goes Into the radiator via the upper hose and a small rubber wedge with a slot cut in it. THEY WORK AWESOME!!! I was able to sit in traffic for over 20 minutes, in 98 degree weather and the fans would kick on every once in a while and cooled it PDQ (Pretty Damn Quick)

The gauge never mover past the middle line due to the fans doing a great job.

Aluminum Radiator and fans $145 ?? (eBay, seller in CA.)

Thermal switch $30 (Napa in Marysville, WA.)

Some power wire, inline fuse and a relay $7 (My own stock)

2.5" x 10" Polished Aluminum overflow Can ($50 @ Dreamers Hot Rod Shop in Everett, WA.)

Total of $232 before tax. Best cooling system I ever owned.

Dave

Edited January 9, 2011 by Zs-ondabrain

[ozconnection]

Dave, do you worry that the weight of the fans will damage the cooling fins eventually?

Maybe the aluminium is stronger than the factory style brass fins because when I did the same on one of my stock radiators, the holes became quite large and the fan jigged around only making things worse. :disappoin

What do you think?

I stayed with thermo fans because they worked really well like you and others have found. I eventually used aluminium strips with small rubber strips between the aluminium and the radiator to support the fans and prevent chaffing on the core. I also used the factory shroud to help cooling even because I have a tranny cooler and an A/C condenser sitting in front of the radiator. A shroud is an option if you don't run with these 'add ons'

[240zdave]

I replaced it with an eBay 2 core aluminum 240Z radiator with the Dual electric fan set-up.

Dave,

There is another thread with quite a few posts on the importance of making sure that the aluminum radiator is isolated from the steel radiator cross-member to prevent corrosion. Your photos don't really show how you mounted your radiator. Did you use some kind of rubber standoffs or something similar?

[Zs-ondabrain]

I used medium Density rubber squares (softer than a tire and harder than a condom ) about 1" x 1". Sandwiched between the support wall and aluminum radiator. and new Stainless 5/16" bolts with lockwashers.

The fans are lightweight and barely weigh over a pound and a half each. So weight is Not an issue.

The New radiator came with the fans and mounting hardware, which included 9) 8" long plastic rods with ball locks, similar to a roud zip-tie.

8) Plastic feet that lock onto the fans with many options for mounting them to the fan.

9) locker feet for the rods (1 extra)

1) sheet of 1" x 1" x 3/8" foam pads to go between the fans and the radiator fins.

Very similar to this set.....

I sucked them to the radiator pretty good, they won't be moving any time soon.. I actually checked them last week, no movement, no wear or damage.

The fans are so close to each other that they act like their own supports, one supports the other from moving.

They came with 2-pin connectors similar to the 2-pin connector on the back of our Alternators. I had the matching ends in my supply bins and the connections now look like they are suppost to. They don't use much power and the 12 gauge power wire to the Relay is more than sufficiant.

I would easily suggest this set-up to any Z owner. Whether it be regular or very how weather conditons. Like I said before, sitting in a traffic jam, 95+ degrees outside, stop and go traffic, and it never went over the center line on the gauge. I was very impressed.

Dave

Edited January 9, 2011 by Zs-ondabrain

[jbc696]

After looking at all the options on the aluminum radiators, I spent the extra money and bought the Koyo, I was impressed, very high quality, nicely packed, no regrets. Used for road racing works great.

When installing your radiator make sure you look at the shrouding, its amazing how much air goes around the radiator instead of through it.