Making my own radiator

AL · Postby AL » Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:49 pm

As the title suggests. I'm interested in making my own aluminium radiator in the PWR style but i'm at a loss as to sourcing bits to do it. Google has come up with nothing and I don't think your average radiator shop would be too interested in helping as they are in the business of making them themselves.(Happy to stand corrected on that.) Any thoughts or help would be appreciated. Cheers AL.

Striped 63 · Postby **Striped 63** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:16 pm

Order the core direct from PWR yourself.

Postby **Okibi** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:32 am

Yup get one from PWR or your on a tight budget a commodore core might be cheaper.

Now repco stock PWR I wonder how much a PWR MX-5 radiator is?

You could make one of these:
http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?deptid=4532&parentid=0&stocknumber=09-16500%20%201990-97

Postby **Okibi** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:36 am

I just checked the Repco catalogue - RX7 Rads are $776, VB-VK commodores $866 and V8 Falcon $866.... if I get time in the next few days I might get a quote on the MX-5 radiators and post it here.

CT · Postby CT » Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:42 am

MX5 ones start around $770......should be getting my new one in the next couple of days.

Al, you could get a K&J thermal core and get tanks made up, but it's much less hassle to just get the PWR ones - they are very good.

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:42 pm

I got my PWR for $750.

AL · Postby AL » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:20 pm

Doesn't anybody else think $750 for a radiator is a rip-off.

Duj · Postby **Duj** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:44 pm

hey buddy,
I reccommend finding a self serve wreckers and find a commodore/magna radiator thats been recored shortly before the car was wrecked and then take it to a radiator place to have the mounts redone and you should have a big tough radiator for 200-250

I did it and 40c days stuck in traffic aint a problem for me

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:52 pm

AL: yep. But for an all-alloy rad, there isn't much choice.

AL · Postby AL » Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:10 pm

Hi Duj. I had a look through a wreckers a couple of weeks back and found the cores were no bigger than about 30mm. I'm thinking 40mm. I'm not having any cooling issues on the road, just the track. I've found \"ARE COOLING\" online and will call them tomorrow

Postby **Okibi** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:21 pm

Do you have your number plate blocking air to the radiator at all? That can cause overheating on the track.

AL · Postby AL » Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:43 pm

Okibi wrote:Do you have your number plate blocking air to the radiator at all? That can cause overheating on the track.

I take the front number plate of at the track but I do have a 450x300x70 intercooler and an air con condensor core spoiling the air flow .

CT · Postby CT » Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:03 pm

AL wrote:Doesn't anybody else think $750 for a radiator is a rip-off.

Al, I guess I see it like this. There's no way I could make it for that myself and have it not leak, or fall apart, so putting it in perspective, it's well priced. Considering the price of alloys at the moment in the raw materials sector and the cost of running a foundry and buying tig welders, I reckon it's pretty good too. But the killer is, they always fit, are great quality and the last one instantly solved an overheating issue and the potential to junk a $10k motor. For me, that's easily justified.

Your options are a factory one (few hunge), a recored/retanked factory one (basicly new - around $500 with a K&J heavy duty core), a brass one from Adrad (around $500) or make one yourself. I personally reckon the premium is well worth it having been through 95% of the options and more than the price of a PWR on the other options before, then had to purchase the PWR.

Boags · Postby **Boags** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:12 pm

How does the brass one from Adrad rate against the PWR? 2/3rds of the price, is it 2/3rds quality? And are they twice as good as the factory plastic unit?

Boags

Duj · Postby **Duj** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:44 pm

CT wrote:
AL wrote:Doesn't anybody else think $750 for a radiator is a rip-off.

Al, I guess I see it like this. There's no way I could make it for that myself and have it not leak, or fall apart, so putting it in perspective, it's well priced. Considering the price of alloys at the moment in the raw materials sector and the cost of running a foundry and buying tig welders, I reckon it's pretty good too. But the killer is, they always fit, are great quality and the last one instantly solved an overheating issue and the potential to junk a $10k motor. For me, that's easily justified.

Your options are a factory one (few hunge), a recored/retanked factory one (basicly new - around $500 with a K&J heavy duty core), a brass one from Adrad (around $500) or make one yourself. I personally reckon the premium is well worth it having been through 95% of the options and more than the price of a PWR on the other options before, then had to purchase the PWR.

Well Said...