Dan87951

I bet you could have Griffin build you a radiator for a lot cheaper than a stocker. I had them build me one for my 944 Turbo about 8 years ago and it was less than 400. No plastic what so ever and it fit perfectly. Phenomenal build quality to boot.

blown 87

They built one for my Corvette and it has been great for at least 8 years, but don't kid yourself, it will not fit like the stock one.

outbackgeorgia

I dont agree on the"junk" comment, but I have only one example. While my 928MS all aluminum radiator is only a few years old, it has performed flawlessly in my DD. It is beautifully made, very high quality. Definitely runs cooler (could be because it is clean)
That said, it is not yet 20+ years old. I am keeping my leaky Behr ready to put on end tanks in case I do have a leak.
Dave

V-Fib

8 years ago or so, I bought a radiator from a then 928 supplier (they are no longer around) that was getting them from Ron Davis Radiators. While mine and the matching twin electric fan setup has been exceptional all these years, I believe others had a problem with them.

Don't take what the others are saying personal. No one doubts your skill and abilities. It's just this is not the first time this topic has come up......search and research....

If you find a better way, share it with us.....as others are sharing their experience with you.....

17prospective buyer

Well my thing is that the 928 rad is just that, a radiator... they all do the same thing. What's the big deal?? I don't see why i couldn't use the existing lower rad mounts, would just need to weld some pins into the bottom where they go into the mounts.

Another rennlister on here has offered me a 928 rad with a trans oil cooler for $400. That would be a drop in fit. But, i'm going to think it over before i make a decision.

brutus

You could just go to the junk yard with a tape measure and start looking through the wrecks. You might find something close. You can always use coat hangers to hold on the fan schroud and duct tape to seal up the gaps along the sides. Just loop the cooler lines for the engine and you're good to go. Just remember to tell all your friends that you drive a $100,000 plus supercar.

17prospective buyer

Yeah thanks dude. I see what you did there! I wish i had lots of money to spend on parts like every high class individual in this forum. Why don't you get a life? Sometimes certain people here make me sick with their completely snobby attitude towards people, and the overall negativity.

hacker-pschorr

Sorry, but myself and most in the 928 world agree with Brutus.

If you cannot afford to properly take care of the car, you cannot afford to own one.

You comment "a radiator is a radiator" shows your inexperience in the automotive world.

If I see a 928 with such parts installed I assume the rest of the car is a cob job basket case. If that is how you want to represent your car and the 928 to the world, so be it. Just don't expect everyone to pat you on the back for it.

Snobby? Negative? Hardly.....I've been in the 928 community since the early 90's - I just get sick and tired of seeing these cars treated like run of the mill Honda's.

That being said, just watch out for good deals. I picked up a brand new, in the box, 928 radiator on eBay a few years ago for $200 shipped to my door. The auction title was incorrect and no reserve. His mistake was my gain.

brutus

Not negative, I am quite positive that you can and will find a cheap rad to fill that hole. I actually saw one running with a rad from a chevy van. And it probably worked O K . Just looked like hell when you opened the hood.
Your best option is fix your rad or buy the used one for $400 and everything will work correctly. You will have the right threaded hole for a fan switch , overflow tubing and correct mounts for the fan schroud and an engine oil cooler. Plus should you ever decide to sell your car you need not feel bad when you open the hood. People have made aftermarket rads for 928s for longer than you have been alive and when you customize one to sort of fit it ended up needing lots of work and all that made it way more expensive than a $150 chevy rad. Problem was it was STILL a core for a $150 radiator and no where near the quality of the original Behr.
If that comes off as snobby stop and think about it the reason that a Porsche is a Porsche and desirable is the design enginering quality control that went into making it.
And I too wish you could afford to own a 928. Because it is sad to see one that was not.

Dictys

I had an all aluminum radiator made for my car for approx US$500 which I thought was a reasonable deal, it fits perfect. This is because my mechanic discussed every item of the build with the radiator builders, it went back three times so it was up to the spec and fit I required. Even then they didn't get the thread size right on the drain plug, so I have a metal plug rather than the porsche plastic one.

At present the same guys are making me a new a/c condenser for about US$135 which is a considerable saving over the OEM one. I am sure this too will end up a perfect fit.

The other reason also for having things made rather than buying OEM is that shipping to this part of the world is very expensive.

JHowell37

Why do you need the radiator? Is yours' leaking? If so, where is it leaking? Is it leaking at the joint between the end tank and the core? If so, that's an easy repair that can be done with hand tools.

So, if you're finished with your bout of "I hate my father" teen angst, maybe now that I've asked these questions twice, you'll take a minute to answer them.

NoVector

I know exactly what you mean. Normally, I have James, my personal attendant, review Renlist posts in the evening and then prepare written responses for my perusal the following morning. If I agree with what he wrote, I then post them at my leisure. This works well as it allows him to stay up all night and scour the WSMs to make sure my posts are 100% accurate. Well the other day I sent James and the maid to purchase some Grey Poupon, crisps and wine for a little GTS owner’s GTG. While they were gone, I took the liberty of logging onto Renlist and reviewing some of these threads myself. Like you, I couldn’t believe some of the comments that were written and the tone they were written in. Obviously, other Renlist posters do not have a personnel attendant as thorough as my James!

Seriously, I get your drift – it’s not a question of Porsche quality, it’s the price tag that goes with it. I hope you find a solution; as long as it’s either “equal to, or better than” factory. Some examples come to mind: Volvo motor mounts, the Ford radiator fans, Ford fuel injectors, Jerry’s tire (and now) cowl cover, rear hatch release grommet, 928 Intl’s under-belly tray, Pkensioner, Greg Brown’s fuel hose, etc.

Alan

Fact is even of you buy the almost equally expensive C&R purpose built aluminum model for a 928 - it doesn't fit perfectly, and eventually leaks anyway... its in the nature of these things that it just doesn't work out very well. Stock just works.

If you want to save cash - look for deals on stock, repair what you have or just buy used - rarely is a non stock alternative an easy drop in painless choice.

Alan

Mongo

Technically, you could buy a used radiator and new plastic end tanks with seals. Afterward, find a radiator shop to rebuild the radiator and flush it. It would be cheaper. I went this route since I didn't want to spend $1,100 for a new radiator at the time. However, you can only replace the side end tanks once, after that the metal clamping surfaces snap like twigs on the next attempt to bend them back.

17prospective buyer

Well then i think i'm going to go with the used one for $400 i got offered from a fellow rennlister. He sent me pictures and it looks to be in real good condition.

Howell: There is a part of the core itself rusted out (the fins and a pinhole in a pipe due to rust). The top and bottom rows of the core are falling apart as well. Not only that, but this radiator is either aftermarket or has had it's side tanks replaced (badly) a number of times, one end tank looks to have been replaced by a brass end tank painted black. It's on it's last legs IMO.

Also to Howell: My post had nothing to do with "teen angst". I just think sometimes people here are overly negative towards people like me who just can't justify paying that much for a radiator.