If I can get one for $140 that only needs one fitting relocated, that could work. What model is your 26"?
If I can get one for $140 that only needs one fitting relocated, that could work. What model is your 26"?
GameboyRMH wrote: If I can get one for $140 that only needs one fitting relocated, that could work. What model is your 26"?
They are $129 now w/ free shipping. Different widths are +/- money. http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Chevy-SBC-BBC-Universal-Aluminum-Radiators,3557.html
That one's 7" too tall and has the wrongest possible fitting placement...I've tried searching on Summit for radiators with upper-right inlets and lower-right outlets (only one model with a bottom-center outlet that's way too tall), there's nothing in 27"-25" widths that's short enough to fit so far.
Edit: still no luck at lower widths. I'm going to manually confirm how much space is available for the radiator this evening, and if there's any room to lower it.
These are the ones that come closest to fitting. Both would just need a radiator cap fitting added:
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/gri-1-26221-xs/overview/
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/gri-1-26221-x/overview/
GameboyRMH wrote: If there's a company in the US that can do this, sending it there and then to me could be an option.
If you send a radiator to the US for modification and it is returned do you still pay the heavy import taxes? If not maybe send a radiator to someone here to "repair" it by buying a better one and mailing it back to you ;)
JThw8 wrote:GameboyRMH wrote: If there's a company in the US that can do this, sending it there and then to me could be an option.If you send a radiator to the US for modification and it is returned do you still pay the heavy import taxes? If not maybe send a radiator to someone here to "repair" it by buying a better one and mailing it back to you ;)
Hahaha I'm not old enough to know if that ever worked! Items leaving need to have their serial numbers checked - if they don't have serials, they need to have a number stamped into them by customs. And if you pay to get work done on something you send out, you need to pay VAT on the labor cost too! They say there's no free lunch, but around here there's no affordable lunch either!
GameboyRMH wrote: These are the ones that come closest to fitting. Both would just need a radiator cap fitting added: http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/gri-1-26221-xs/overview/ http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/gri-1-26221-x/overview/
would a cheap inline radiator cap fix that problem?
Yeah that could work. Might give me a cm or two of extra height room as well.
Great news: The 27" width is correct, but 12.75 is the height of the core itself. The overall height of the radiator is just about 16." This opens up lots of new options including the Griffin rads above.
Edit: Also on closer inspection it looks like those Griffin rads do have a fitting for a cap.
Looks like one of those is the replacement model for the other, not sure which though.
OK so it looks like the best options are the Griffin rad and recoring the existing one with a 2-row copper core. They pretty much cost the same.
The Griffin rad is lighter and has better cooling power, but installing it will be a mess - I'll need custom mounting brackets and adapters (extra cost) for the coolant ports, and it's a good bit thicker than stock.
A recored rad will be heavier but it will bolt right in like stock. Not as much cooling power but should still be plenty. I'll also have local "warranty" support for it.
I'm leaning towards the recore just because I've had my fill of fiddling with custom parts already.
Sounds like recore is the best option you've proposed, though none of this sounds very "third world budget" to me. Is DIY out of the question? Like cut down a suitably wide junkyard brass/copper truck/large car core, cut it down and modify the tanks/mounting tabs as needed? I don't think there's any exotic tools or supplies involved with that kind of work, plumbing solder and flux, and a good propane torch should be fine.
I wonder if you don't have more vertical space than you think. What's the limiting point at the base? The overall height on the Miata rad is 16.25" but there's a bunch of space available underneath it. It clears the under tray by 1.5" and the subframe is significantly lower than that. I based my mounting position starting at the top, using the cap on the filler as the highest point for hood clearance. Then checked the lower clearance. The e30 install looks like a very similar install process.
Here's one install that used 1/2" steel tubing as a cradle that went up to the stock hangers. But anything could be built to hang the radiator using a drill, hardware, rubber and hardware store metal.
I'd have to take a closer look, but an inch or two below the bottom of the radiator is the bottom edge of the radiator support/unibody front structure, if I want to go lower than that I'd have to lose the stock splash shields and it would make the radiator's lower tank one of the lowest points on the front of the vehicle.
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