New toy - Evo radiator option.

[swinks]

Well, couldn't resist and had to try another option in research for better cooling solutions.
Here it is:
Evo 7 -9 alloy high flow radiator + thin fans shroud.
1. Coolant hoses are almost identical. Lower one p&p, upper needs bit fiddling, but if you get evo 7-9 one should be p&p as well. Unlike Evo 4-6 radiators upper hose is not in the way of air inlet snorkel.
Mount bottom pins (most important mounts) difference is... 2mm hence p&p.
There is only one thing to modify: upper driver side pin. Evo rad is shorter so metal upper mount of driver side can be moved about 2in towards the centre or any adaptor metal bar will do a job.
Passenger side upper mount pin is p&p.

Here my finished new rad, ready p&p:
P1060006.JPGP1060008.JPG

[Atik]

Looks good Tomasz.

Be interesting to see how good it works and if it makes a cooling difference.

I think Nick tried an 'uprated alloy rad' but still suffered/suffers heating issues when on track.

[swinks]

For track use is only one solution: separate engine oil cooler. That makes serious difference.

Radiator above is 50mm core thick so thin fan shroud is "must be".

[adaxo]

That's a big fat radiator, Any pictures fitted in car yet??

[swinks]

Not fitted yet, but measured inside out vs stock one. Overall little slimmer with fans than stock one with stock fans.

[Nick Mann]

How much slimmer, Tomasz? Especially by the front tub?

[Ryan]

Bradc also has an Evo radiator - Tomasz's one look virtually identical.

[swinks]

Can't tell you exactly, but here is Brad's thread about fitting the same size Evo 6 radiator with slim fans, so you can see on pictures that there is some clearance. With alloy shroud it may be 8 to 10mm less but still allright.
Anyway, Evo 7, 8, 9 radiators require minimum modifications of all evo's radiators.

[Ryan]

Cool, I'm sure it will do the job

[swinks]

Quite disappointed today.
Tried to fit new radiator. Unfortunately my measurements were wrong.
Here problems with fitting radiator:
- lower fittings don't match, so either both pin are to cut off and tig weld to proper locations (will do a picture tomorrow with marked points were it should be) or long plate bar to fabricate with holes for radiator pins and fixed bolts as being fitting points
- clearance with turbos and engine. Must say... almost... it's approx. 2cm and no movement up, down or sideways because this clearance will go away. Not much room for fiddling. Hence lower points are so much PITA.
- upper right (battery side) mount is p&p
- upper left side bracket needs to be relocated approx 3cm to inside
- both water hoses will fit almost p&p

That's for now. Fitting is postponed till I find tig welder and to new lower pins, or fabricate something temporary.

[Louis]

remove drivers side lower pin, and turn upper brackets and use one bolt hole.

[Gly]

i did the evo rad con a while ago, used the 4-6 unit,
since i wanted to keep the rad warranty, i decided to move the lower mounts,
just drilled out the spot welds, and drilled and riveted them in the correct place to suit the rad,
cheaper and quicker option.

and for the upper mounts, i used some single bolt hole ones from a Nissan (bluebird or pulsar i think??),
gave them a slight bend and they bolted right up using factory holes and reached the evo rad points nicely

[Gly]

heres some pic's (using a evo 4-6 alloy rad, and a push fan setup)
since changed to x3e red silicon rad hose's...

[swinks]

Thanks Carten for pictures.
So lower brackets are riveted then? I thought they are welded to frame. That's quite easy job to relocate them I think. Anyway, I can cut off lower mounts and use upper brackets from Evo (I have spare) instead.
Carsten, I can't use push fans, I have big FMIC and crash bar is "pushed" back, also I have oil cooler fitted. So, that location of fans is a big no-no. BTW, what are those upper brackets you have used? Looks neat.

[Gly]

originally spot welded, i drilled the spots out,

then drilled and riveted them in there new home,

the upper brackets are from a nissan, just have them a slight bend to fit,
think they were mid/late 90s pulsar or bluebird?

[swinks]

Thank you Carsten, very helpful info. Have Wednesday and Thursday off so gonna try again

[swinks]

Well, today, after 5 hours fight, sweat and swear I've done it!
New radiator happily sits in vr4.
Lower brackets made from former Evo upper ones. Just turned upside down and riveted. Had some problems with removing lower stock mounts. Yes, Carsten they are spot welded but mounts itself are "wrapped" around crossbar. So finally I couldn't get to few weld points and I had no choice but use angle grinder to cut them off.
Clearance is "just", but enough, much better with fan on battery side.
There is still one issue remaining - upper radiator hose. Stock one is massively streached, and ordered Evo 8 one still hasn't arrived.

Here some piccys:
P1060045.JPGP1060035.JPGP1060043.JPGP1060046.JPGP1060038.JPGP1060034.JPGP1060040.JPGP1060037.JPGP1060039.JPG

[Gly]

yep sorry forgot to say i cut along the top as far back i could on the original mount,
(a coulpe of the picks you can see this..)
drilled the bottom ones,

then riveted it all back in place. just had enough metal along the top to rivet it there aswell


anyway,,, looks good, job well done,

the reason i didnt go with the 7 rad is the top nozzle is to close to the center and looked a bit close to the turbo outlet,
and wanting to do td04s in future id have to use larger piping and it may foul?

[psbarham]

well done bud, looks good.

have you considered using 2 90degree bends to re align the top hose?

[swinks]

Yes, but Evo hose is already shaped like this. Waiting for delivery. Tell you what... removing air, bleed system is a PITA job. Stil not sure of done correctly. Did few short runs yet and noticed that engine getting temp quicker, but once gets half the scale stays. It maybe down to hot weather, or capacity of rad, big tank of boiling fluid which is more difficult to cool whilst stationary. Also need check if fans working.
Never mind, there is other thing which bothers me now. That sssttt whisle like noise from front engine. It is only when idle, any revs and it's gone, so ruled out turbo compressor wheel. Now i wonder if it's steering pump pulley. But that's for another thread.