Radiator hunt is on
06-13-2015, 05:54 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
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Radiator hunt is on
Been a while since I've been active on here, but I decided to give the old car a set of nice boxster seats I found at a local dismantler. Leatherique'd the hell out of them. inItall was very easy and couldn't be happier. Figured a test drive was in order...
Perfect seats. They look good and keep your nuts off the carpet. Park and celebrate. Uh-oh. Small coolant leak at the very top of the drivers side (tank to core). Seeps at 14psi, nice stream at 18psi. Dive in and remove radiator. Get on laptop to find replacement. Finding parts is usually fun for me. Until discovering there appears to be only one mfr of our rads. L&R. Dealer can get you one for $417, but it's coming from Germany in 4 weeks. Napa can get one for $600. Aftermarket vendors are pretty proud of theirs. I'm retired and cheap. This car doesn't seem concerned with that fact.
Does $420 shipped sound right for an OEM rad?
Perfect seats. They look good and keep your nuts off the carpet. Park and celebrate. Uh-oh. Small coolant leak at the very top of the drivers side (tank to core). Seeps at 14psi, nice stream at 18psi. Dive in and remove radiator. Get on laptop to find replacement. Finding parts is usually fun for me. Until discovering there appears to be only one mfr of our rads. L&R. Dealer can get you one for $417, but it's coming from Germany in 4 weeks. Napa can get one for $600. Aftermarket vendors are pretty proud of theirs. I'm retired and cheap. This car doesn't seem concerned with that fact.
Does $420 shipped sound right for an OEM rad?
06-13-2015, 06:38 PM
#4
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I see quite a few full aluminum radiators on EBay now for under $300. I think I paid over $500 for one that I still haven't put in. I did get a used/guaranteed one from Lart before that probably 2+ years ago and it's still working AOK.
06-13-2015, 06:45 PM
#5
Three Wheelin'
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I saw the ebay rads. They are awfully tempting, (because I'm cheap), but even the nice US made versions have some workarounds. I read everything I could find on here about chinese rads, and I think in my case I'll stick with the OEM. This one lasted 30 years. I guess I just needed to vent a little.
06-13-2015, 07:46 PM
#6
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Also should mention, after I bought the aluminum one I read several instances here where people seemed to complain about running too cool with them. I live in the desert, drive in 110+ degree heat and can't recall ever getting to the half way mark.
06-13-2015, 09:31 PM
#7
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I got my OEM one from Vertex through Ebay here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-PORS...item2a4c5b038f
It was only $369 when I bought it last year, so perhaps you can call them directly and get a little better deal than the $469 they're asking now. They shipped quick, I ordered on a Monday, and was installing it that weekend.
It was only $369 when I bought it last year, so perhaps you can call them directly and get a little better deal than the $469 they're asking now. They shipped quick, I ordered on a Monday, and was installing it that weekend.
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06-13-2015, 11:24 PM
#8
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mtnman, I do like the sound of that! I did read about some fitment issues on some of the alum ones (fan connectors). It sounds like the btu shedding is there, though!
NC, I'll ping Vertex Mon AM and see what they say.
Thanks, guys. I'll follow up and post my results.
NC, I'll ping Vertex Mon AM and see what they say.
Thanks, guys. I'll follow up and post my results.
06-14-2015, 08:38 AM
#9
Race Director
Good to see you posting again! Last one I bought I had the same reaction - seems like the price went up drastically. I ended up finding a nearly new one last year that had just been replaced on eBay out of a parts car. Looked brand new still (and its date code confirmed that it was recent). Good luck
FWIW I tried a aluminum radiator and it leaked, had it repaired and then it blew again. Threw it away and went back to OEM.
FWIW I tried a aluminum radiator and it leaked, had it repaired and then it blew again. Threw it away and went back to OEM.
06-14-2015, 08:34 PM
#10
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Hey Sam! I haven't been to cars and coffee in Indy since last Spring. I heard there is another red 951 showing up there. I should be at one very soon.
I should be ordering a rad tomorrow. I'll bet Luis is sitting on 100 of them! Waiting to unload them when they hit $1000.
I should be ordering a rad tomorrow. I'll bet Luis is sitting on 100 of them! Waiting to unload them when they hit $1000.
06-14-2015, 09:24 PM
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Hey Sam! I haven't been to cars and coffee in Indy since last Spring. I heard there is another red 951 showing up there. I should be at one very soon.
I should be ordering a rad tomorrow. I'll bet Luis is sitting on 100 of them! Waiting to unload them when they hit $1000.
I should be ordering a rad tomorrow. I'll bet Luis is sitting on 100 of them! Waiting to unload them when they hit $1000.
06-15-2015, 01:31 AM
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06-15-2015, 02:02 AM
#14
Drifting
If Lart says it's as new, it is. Maybe you'll get another 20 years out of it. The factory radiator is the best choice for most of these cars. Under $200 bucks, stating you're cheap = purchase.
It's the little things that keep me checking in with Rennlist. Folks like Lart give me hope
G
It's the little things that keep me checking in with Rennlist. Folks like Lart give me hope
G