XBLADE

Which should I purchase a s4 or s5 Radiator ?

I have a s4 body with a s5 engine. I'm not 100% sure if the holes are the same to mount the radiator or not or if the temp sensor is the same.

I'm looking at Koyo radiator if I have to get a s4 one or a GodSpeed if I need a s5.

Thanks for any feedback

clokker

iTrader: (2)

The chassis mounts for the radiator are the same between S4 and S5, so either rad will fit your car.
The Godspeed part requires that you reuse your OEM rad mount brackets and it will only accept the S5 ones.
If you have an S4 rad in there now, those brackets wouldn't work...although I suspect they could be modded to suit, I haven't done it personally.
The Godspeed allows for use of the water level sensor but has no provision for a temp sensor (if you need one).

XBLADE

I'll just go with a s4 Koyo then, as long as it's not bad for the engine or anything to cross the series of radiators with the engines.

I do notice that the dimensions of the Koyo aluminum radiators are slightly different between s4 and s5.

XBLADE

Anyone else got any input?

Bamato

iTrader: (6)

Avoid the godspeed ones at all costs. All the ones being sold on Ebay now are complete garbage. Welds look like thumbless children ran them in the dark, bent cores, wrong sized fitting holes, terrible water line connections, etc.. I ordered (4), all from different vendors, and they were all junk.

I finally sprang for a koyo. There's certainly better out there than koyo as well, but you'll spend more cash on them.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

Al L bracket material and a drill also works for most aftermarket radiators and looks better.

i prefer the series 4 radiators even in series 5 cars, the S5 filler neck is a horrible design and can stress crack if you lean on it accidentally. had one car come in that had a bad connection at the radiator with a S5 aftermarket brass radiator and it was brand new.

satch

iTrader: (1)

Afternarket shmaftermarket. While they cost more, the stock ones work fine.

Evil Aviator

The stock radiator is one of the few pieces of junk that Mazda put on these cars. While the stock radiator in good shape may cool a stock engine just fine, the cheap plastic end tanks crack with age and stress.

bigdv519

iTrader: (3)

Until the plastic end tanks crack...

Fluidyne > All.

satch

iTrader: (1)

But how would the aftermarket replacements hold up after twenty years or so of use? Better, same or worse? I've read where the Koyo replacements would leak after a year or so on the job. Never heard of that occuring on the stock units.

Evil Aviator

I have never heard of a Koyo radiator only lasting a year. However, if it did develop a leak, you could at least weld it. If you race your car in a severe manner that would tend to cause cracks, then you would be better off with a radiator specifically designed for off-road use, such as those by Ron Davis or Griffin. The popular Koyo and Fluidyne drop-in radiators are designed more for steet cars.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

i somewhat agree, the koyo is the most common replacement and it is pure garbage. the seams always seem to leak and the aluminum tends to erode far too easily with even minor impurities in the coolant.

i've seen about 4 koyos fail within 2 years, granted 2 were severely overheated, one rotted out and one has a pinhole leak from somewhere that i cannot seem to locate(seems it leaked a tiny bit right out of the box but just ran it and never really had any issue but replaced it when i re-rebuilt the engine last year to avoid the headache any further). perhaps those were just luck of the draw, some were operator error overheating the engine severely, but seems to me they're a little too thin and cheap on the cores. i haven't seen a single FD koyo fail yet so who knows.

most shops won't attempt to weld them, they're far too thin.

MMoore4545

iTrader: (7)

+1
very simple/cheap to do

I have had a godspeed radiator for a little over 3 years now,
Never any issues with it, quality welds, no bent finds, just a nice oversized aluminum radiator. Has kept my turbo vert cool (highest the car has ever seen is 190) during many Florida summer drift/track days

I actually decided to buy it because my factory s5 radiator filler neck broke off, twice.


I suspect whichever you buy will serve the needs of your car just fine.

Bamato

iTrader: (6)

^^ I should have pointed out that it seems to me that the older Godspeeds were better (hence why I tried four times). But order one now, and trust me, it's a complete pile of pooey. I'm assuming the manufacturer changed, or the Godspeed label became more "laxed". But none of the rads I ordered EVER looked like the photos that were posted.

HOZZMANRX7

iTrader: (43)

Been running Koyo's in all three of my Verts for 6+ years, never an issue. Conversley, they were installed to replace stock units that were weaping at the seams of the tanks.

One more point.

It's been advised in a BUNCH of other threads, so perhaps redundant to repeat. But to avoid a bunch of grinding modification to compensate, you need the stock radiator brackets from an S5 to mount an S5 Koyo, and stock S4 brackets to mount a S4 Koyo.

MMoore4545

iTrader: (7)

Did you order it directly from their website?
I've found ebay/online vendors often sell products they claim are godspeed products, but you end up with a non-branded quality control nightmare ntercooler or radiator when you end up getting them. Has happened to me a few times with intercoolers.

Bamato

iTrader: (6)

^^ A good point. Every single one was an Ebay purchase. I had debated on trying the website on the fifth try, but was so angry and frustrated that I just went Koyo.

The ebay auctions used photos from Godspeed's website with the godspeed water mark and everything. Even used Godspeed part numbers. Looked pretty legit, and the sellers had good ratings. Long story short, they all took the garbage rads back no problem, and refunded shipping both ways, so no money lost on my part. Just time and irritation.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

that's pretty low, i mean Godspeed sells mainly cheap chinese parts that somewhat work. trying to steal the identity of that is about as cheap as one can get. are the russians knocking off chinese parts now?

Bamato

iTrader: (6)

Who knows. I assumed/hoped out of the (4) transactions I made that I'd get something usable. I should find the photos of the crap I got... laughable. I would have been surprised if they even held water, let alone under pressure.

Aha, found them...

Think this would have held a hose on?


It's hard to tell in the image, but even at this size you can tell the welds are poo poo..


You can't tell in the photo, but the top is crooked, and sags. And the bung for the temp sensor is the wrong thread, which leads me to believe it's a bleeder instead (meaning you have no temp sensor)

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

there's the old saying "you get what you pay for", lol. which most of these chinese knockoff parts are just slapped together with no regard to quality.

they have no idea what a jig is, they just grab a pipe or bracket and weld it on wherever they feel like.

at least the cores are mass produced and seem to somewhat work for the radiators and intercoolers, the welds and geometry though, uhh no. modify the car to fit or take a hacksaw to the part.

look at the bracket on the bottom, what purpose is that supposed to serve? and what i meant by just weld **** on anywhere they feel like. you can't get a bolt through it or even a push lock plastic retainer... it will hit the core and fins.

Bamato

iTrader: (6)

No, you're absolutely right. I was being cheap. Thought I was getting a "good deal". Just a warning to some potential buyers out there.

bigdv519

iTrader: (3)

Wow that is a garbage radiator...how much was it?

Black Knight RX7 FC3S

iTrader: (7)

wow, how does a hose even fit on that?? Theres no space left with the heater hose nipple sticking out like that lol.

clokker

iTrader: (2)

The pictured rad looks nothing like the Godspeed I bought two years ago.

MMoore4545

iTrader: (7)

That isn't even a half attempt at a Godspeed, too many parts are completely different. Filler, Heater Hose outlet, are totally different, drain is on the back instead of bottom of the radiator. The Bleeder isn't on the top of the inlet pipe, and the radiator coolant level sensor bung looks off. Not to mention those welds. Even if we could blame it on quality control, I'd say that these parts aren't from the same bin.

It does look like one a local guy ordered a godspeed after seeing mine and then was smug about saving 50-60 bucks on ebay compared to what I paid.

I've noticed that what seems to happen is that "vendors" on ebay will buy even cheaper parts and label them as Godspeed, and sell them 30-100 bucks cheaper than anyone else. (for example their "fmic kit" ranges between 389 to 450. both min/maximum prices are with free shipping)
The only consistent thing with the knockoffs are that they don't have the Godspeed embossing on the tanks.

wouldn't be surprised if someone is actually taking advantage of Godspeed's hit-miss reputation, or if they're the reason for even causing it (at least exacerbating it).


Either way, whichever you decide, search through the Vendor classifieds forum, there may be a few sales/coupons that could bring your prices down.

I'm not trying to champion the brand. Just sharing my experiences (3 intercooler cores (plus a few returned) and a few radiators.)