well i juts changed my radiator houses and all that issh ... and i see that my radiator is hangin on by a thread....

i check the bolts and they are all tight and looked closer and the mout ing brackets are actually breaking free.... :/

i had the radiator in my 85gsl rebuilt and i liked it but i think a aluminum one would look nice and have coolin bensoo what im askin i guess is does anyone know where i can get one that fits with lil installin problems?.....

and yes i did SEE AND USE the search button haha and didnt find anything conclusive .....

soo please help if ya can ( if not i guess i will juts hope to find another one to rebuild)

 

AN alum rad, if you can find one will be $$$$. Autozone sells a stock replacement for like $130.

 

AN alum rad, if you can find one will be $$$$. Autozone sells a stock replacement for like $130. I think racecar engineering here in Orlando sells a custome Howe alum rad.

 

Alumimun radiators aren't that bad cost wise, you just need to be willing to custom make the mounting brackets. If you have access to a fab shop that welds aluminum, it may be cost effective to buy a universal one, say for a chevy engine and have the top hose inlet moved to the other side. That is probably what I am going to do. But if you don't have easy access to to a shop that will treat you right it may not be cost effective.

 

i dunno if id feel comfortable buyin a radiator from autozone..... :/
do you own one or know anyone who does..... i kinda like to stay genuine mazda parts on stock stuff.........

rx7carl- "I think racecar engineering here in Orlando sells a custome Howe alum rad. " you have a website or a number i could call? and is it custom built to fit?

and i can weld i juts cant weld aluminum... i have a shop could most likely trust on the modifications but ya, they would proly $rob$ me even they would do a good job haha

anywho any body else have input?

thanks

 

I just bought a radiator from radiators.com. It is a stock replacement and it cost me $124 shipped to my door next day. It is made by Samsung and looks of good quality. It has a 1 yr warranty and the guy suckered me into paying 5 bucks for labor insurance(they will pay me like 50 bucks if i have to pull it out & replace it if its defective).

They had one for more money but the only difference was that it had a lifetime warranty.

I just saw a Samsung radiator on ebay for $109 but I dont think it includes shipping.

 

Ahhh, the aluminum radiator debate. *steps out for a moment to kick a dead horse* Conclusion: get a stocker unless you're pushing MONDO psi or have a port job larger than my you-know-what. Aluminum rads are very expensive and the stock rad will get most any job you need done. A better investment is the 79-82 (maybe 83 too, I cannot remember for sure) oil cooler. This will do more for your cooling than any aftermarket radiator.

 

Ive seen aluminum stock replacement rads for the 1st gens for like $500. I just dont remember where . Anyway, I dont think its worth the money. I got mine from www.radiators.com as well. Its great.

~t.J.

 

I have an aftermarket one for my SE made by CSF which I bought coz I thought my original radiator was leaking, which actually wasnt the case...I clamped the lower hose too tight and it did spring a leak It can be rounded out again with a screwdriver or since you say you can weld, simply replace the lower hose connector. Id be willing to let it go cheap.

 

Rollin82, I bought 2 from Autozone, one in the streetcar, one in the racecar, both have been trouble free and fit well.

Chris Wire or TeamWireRacing is his name here. PM him. He works for them (Racecar Engineering.)

 

thanks guys

i think im gonnna do the radiators.com thing

question though.....

i remeber reading somthin about 84/85 gsl automatic radiators being 3 core... and the gsl-se has a larger 2 core or atleast it looks like i do....


would the automatic 3 core radiator cool more than the 2 large core


once again thanks for all yall help


peace

 

rollin82 - let us know how easily that radiator from radiators.com fits into your GSL. Thanks.

 

I own an AutoZone radiator and have been using it for several months in my 1st Gen. Advantage? Lifetime replacment warranty baby!

Temps are slightly higher than I saw with my stock rad (I've gone as high as HALF WAY as opposed to the 1/3 the stock rad gave me), but since even that doesn't approach hot - I'd say it's working just fine.

 

^ question on 3 core

 

What kind of paint can I use on a radiator? Will the regular Rustoleum hold up to the heat?

 

The early <83 radiators were 3 core units. These radiators are also short to accommodate room for the oil cooler underneath. The 83-85 radiators are 2 core radiators but are also taller. Will the 3 core cool better? Well, I did this switch and it appeared like it did run cooler.

It looks like you have a GSL-SE. If I were you I'd get the stock size radiator. Switching to the earlier 3-core will require you to change your fan shroud for sure and the cooling difference is negligible at best.

 

There are special paints formulated for radiator applications. It's important to use a paint that isn't too thick that it will interfere with heat transfer but also can withstand high temps. And of course you don't want it to flake off. http://www.eastwoodco.com/ has a radiator paint but I'm sure you can find similar products locally as well.