Adding center rad notes, and ways to save money
04-01-2016, 03:42 PM
#1
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Adding center rad notes, and ways to save money
Living in TX, and wanting to use my AC regularly, I'm concerned about the cooling of my car, given that we can damage costly engine bits with even a very modest overheat.
So - I added the center(third) radiator to my car this week and here's a few suggestions. Of course, as always; YMMV, not an endorsement, and may cause **** leakage.
When removing the front bumper, get a helper because you need to expand the wrap-around section outward and might be easy to scratch shiny bits. Good job for a willing wife, or teen. Work slow, and go straight out with the bumper until well clear of the car. Now is a good time to send it off to the painter for some touch-ups on the scuffed bottom below the visual line. Same advice on install, get another pair of hands.
The rest of the job is discussed well on the Pelican site, and it went together much as they said. Also a great time to remove both side rads, and have them flushed and blown out from the back to the front to remove dirt, grit, animal bits, feathers, cig butts, etc. I thought I was going to have to replace them but after a couple of hours, finally satisfied. I used a high pressure washer set on medium and got them nice without doing damage. Use water, then air, then water, then air and tap them with the face down on concrete gently to knock loose stuff out.
Also a good time to check the operation of the fans. Once jacked up, and bumper off, you can run the engine with the AC on, and test both speeds. Mine was working well so no need for me to make the modified resistor pack, or change out a fan.
The routing of the new left hose from the top of the rad to the center rad is a bit dubious. I"m going to go back in later and put some wrapping on the hose as it tends to rub and may eventually abrade enough to fail. Thinking of some kind of sleeve for it that will provide abrasion resistance. Maybe do that in advance if you think of it.
Last bit of important advice: When you unpack the brand new rad, all the fins are very straight and well formed. Do yourself a big favor, cut some sections from the box it came in to cover the front and back of the fins, set the cardboard on the front and back of the new rad, and gently tape around the top and bottom. You will be working and moving this rad several times during installation and if you work with it raw, the fins WILL get bent. After mounting and connecting, cut and remove the tape and cardboard. So - don't get bent.
Saving money on the job: If you don't mind full retail spending you can stop here. I chose to shop around a bit and did the job for less than half of the Pelican 'kit' price. No, I didn't get the factory approved look and feel, but I'm happy with the job.
Rockauto.com has the Behr center rad for $200 shipped most anywhere in the US.
I bought my Porsche center rad hoses, clamps, and the 73F thermo from my good buddy Roger at 928srus.com. He's expecting your call.
I made the frame mount for the rad out of 18ga SS sheet metal. It's a be-otch to shape and form well, and I admit I was a bit rushed, but it didn't turn out too badly. If you have no patience or ability to shape and cut metal, buy the pre-made braces from Pelican or Roger. They are about $190 shipped. I used some hard rubber bushing material from Ace hardware on the post supports for the rad to isolate it from the frame. About $4.80 or so.
I think I'm into the whole job for just under $300. I'm a cheap bas, so no need to belabor that point. Hoping my car runs cooler with the new rad and thermo. It never overheated before, but with the AC on, it did tend to creep up when stopped.
So - I added the center(third) radiator to my car this week and here's a few suggestions. Of course, as always; YMMV, not an endorsement, and may cause **** leakage.
When removing the front bumper, get a helper because you need to expand the wrap-around section outward and might be easy to scratch shiny bits. Good job for a willing wife, or teen. Work slow, and go straight out with the bumper until well clear of the car. Now is a good time to send it off to the painter for some touch-ups on the scuffed bottom below the visual line. Same advice on install, get another pair of hands.
The rest of the job is discussed well on the Pelican site, and it went together much as they said. Also a great time to remove both side rads, and have them flushed and blown out from the back to the front to remove dirt, grit, animal bits, feathers, cig butts, etc. I thought I was going to have to replace them but after a couple of hours, finally satisfied. I used a high pressure washer set on medium and got them nice without doing damage. Use water, then air, then water, then air and tap them with the face down on concrete gently to knock loose stuff out.
Also a good time to check the operation of the fans. Once jacked up, and bumper off, you can run the engine with the AC on, and test both speeds. Mine was working well so no need for me to make the modified resistor pack, or change out a fan.
The routing of the new left hose from the top of the rad to the center rad is a bit dubious. I"m going to go back in later and put some wrapping on the hose as it tends to rub and may eventually abrade enough to fail. Thinking of some kind of sleeve for it that will provide abrasion resistance. Maybe do that in advance if you think of it.
Last bit of important advice: When you unpack the brand new rad, all the fins are very straight and well formed. Do yourself a big favor, cut some sections from the box it came in to cover the front and back of the fins, set the cardboard on the front and back of the new rad, and gently tape around the top and bottom. You will be working and moving this rad several times during installation and if you work with it raw, the fins WILL get bent. After mounting and connecting, cut and remove the tape and cardboard. So - don't get bent.
Saving money on the job: If you don't mind full retail spending you can stop here. I chose to shop around a bit and did the job for less than half of the Pelican 'kit' price. No, I didn't get the factory approved look and feel, but I'm happy with the job.
Rockauto.com has the Behr center rad for $200 shipped most anywhere in the US.
I bought my Porsche center rad hoses, clamps, and the 73F thermo from my good buddy Roger at 928srus.com. He's expecting your call.
I made the frame mount for the rad out of 18ga SS sheet metal. It's a be-otch to shape and form well, and I admit I was a bit rushed, but it didn't turn out too badly. If you have no patience or ability to shape and cut metal, buy the pre-made braces from Pelican or Roger. They are about $190 shipped. I used some hard rubber bushing material from Ace hardware on the post supports for the rad to isolate it from the frame. About $4.80 or so.
I think I'm into the whole job for just under $300. I'm a cheap bas, so no need to belabor that point. Hoping my car runs cooler with the new rad and thermo. It never overheated before, but with the AC on, it did tend to creep up when stopped.
04-01-2016, 05:21 PM
#2
Race Director
When you unpack the brand new rad, all the fins are very straight and well formed. Do yourself a big favor, cut some sections from the box it came in to cover the front and back of the fins, set the cardboard on the front and back of the new rad, and gently tape around the top and bottom.
04-01-2016, 05:58 PM
#3
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Even with all my metal frame bending, and swapping it in and out a dozen times, I managed to keep them all straight except for the top and bottom of the rad where there is no coverage to protect them. Those kinda folded over in a nice clean domino effect.
04-01-2016, 06:03 PM
#4
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$300 is pretty inexpensive. The least I've seen is around $450 US +shipping from Gert/Carnewal...