17prospective buyer

What's to stop me from using a BMW 3 series (for manual tranny) radiator?? Other than having to join the oil cooler hose for the absence of an oil cooler? Radiators for our cars are INSANELY expensive and BMW rads are still made by Behr like ours, so there is no issue with quality. From the pictures of the rads i'm seeing on Pelican's parts area, they look like horizontally oriented rads as opposed to vertical, so that shouldn't be a problem. If it helps, my AC is gone including the condenser, so space shouldn't be an issue.

dprantl

Mark Robinson reported he was able to get a domestic radiator to fit that was much cheaper. He never did give any details though...

Dan
'91 928GT S/C 475hp/460lb.ft

17prospective buyer

I'm looking on summitracing.com right now and they have all aluminum universal rads for $144 and change.

Couldn't you get an automatic tranny rad that has the separate rad for the auto tranny fluid and just use that for an oil cooler? The only thing i would need to do to the universal rad is get a good welder to drill a hole and weld in an appropriate piece of tubing into the top area (for coolant overflow line that runs across the rad).

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-380331/?rtype=7

dogleg

personally i wouldnt use anything other than a porsche rad or a porsche rebuild rad.the job this part does is just too important.its protecting a very expensive motor!i realize your age but if you can afford to buy one of these cars you have to be ready to maintain it.

dprantl

You are missing the point. The stock Porsche Behr unit does not have some magical Porsche beans in it. It is just a normal run-of-the-mill German radiator that is the right size and has the right attachments for the 928. If someone can duplicate this size with a similar quality core and end tanks, then there should be no problems.

Dan
'91 928GT S/C 475hp/460lb.ft

SanDiego928

I am very, very happy with my used radiator from 928 international.

JHowell37

If you're looking for a radiator because the end tank(s) is/are leaking where they're attached to the core, then replace the end tanks. When the tanks are off, you can have it cleaned if needed. Or you can buy some of the flushing stuff you run through the system for 15-20 miles and see what happens. I did a write up on end tank replacement. It's not hard and can be done with simple hand tools in an hour or two. If end tank leakage is your problem, then end tank replacement is the cheapest solution, and it's just as effective as a new radiator.

hacker-pschorr

The part in bold is kind of important though.

If the volume was high enough, Behr could and would do it.

How long do these typically last? 20, 25, 30 years? My 81 still has the original radiator. That is $32 per year and counting (at $1,000 for a radiator). How is this expensive?

$1,000 is only enough gas to propel my 928 4,250 miles.


I also doubt those BMW radiators are the same quality as a factory installed unit. Sorry, that's just how the auto parts industry works. Ask any shop that specializes in German cars if the replacement units last as long as the original....I already know the answer

danglerb

There is a segment of 928 owners that are as cheap as they come, if there was a reliable alternative to the factory radiator we would all know about it. Its not a question of magic beans from Porsche, its that many times the reasons behind factory choices don't become clear until you diddle with them and something doesn't work right anymore. Over time many of us cheapskates have learned saving money on non Porsche parts wastes money in the long term.

IcemanG17

Yes a true Behr 928 radiator is NOT CHEAP......but 928's are not cheap cars....sure they can be purchased for insanely low prices in todays market.....but the parts still cost a pretty penny......

for my $$$$ I will only run stock parts or parts made by a reputable 928 parts supplier.....yes it will cost much more than a $144 rad from Summit racing...but I don't care....

Dan87951

I'm parting a 87 928 S4 right now that has a good transmission cooler. Is that what you need?

SteveG

Except 17 is already talking "drill and weld" the overflow line. You have to source the 90° nipple thingy or are you going to canabilize it from the old one? That's a magic bean right there. The chance that the hoses will be an exact fit a question. Will the fan cowling fit on to the lip properly?

17prospective buyer

Exactly my point. From looks at the PET diagram and actual experience, all i would need to do is drill and tap for the temp sensor, and weld in a piece of piping for the overflow hose.

Thing is, figure this: A brand new rad for the 928 will cost at LEAST $700. With the summit rad, you get all aluminum construction to boot. If you even figure that getting a professional welder to weld in a piece of piping with a small flare for the hose will cost $100, and me having to get a metric tap and die set for $100, you're still way ahead! Radiators all do the same thing. I think that you can use non-Porsche specific parts so long as they are of the same durability, same function, and the job is done right. I don't consider myself being cheap right now, i just don't see the point of spending lots of money just to spend lots of money. I'm confident in my abilities, and i know i can do the job right.

danglerb

Talk to me again in a year or so.

Don't get me wrong, you find a good, long term reliable alternative and people will line up to use it. The catch is that people have been trying cheap solutions for 30 years and we have a VERY short list of stuff that works well.

BTW if you can't find a good used radiator with fresh tanks and seals for less than $400, you aren't looking very hard. That is the cheap target to beat.

Imo000

Haven't anyone yet learned that the aftermarket all aluminium rads are JUNK!!!