Aftermarket radiator question.

[CrawlinZX14]

Im looking to start doing my FMIC and hard pipes off a J pipe, and I figure if im going to need to put slim E fans in, I may as well swap out the rad while im at it, so I know its clean and in good condition. All I have been finding is MT rad's. Nothing for an auto, so my question is, are there provisions in the OEM rad for AT cooling, or is there a separate trans cooler like there seems to be an oil cooler as well as a PS cooler? I have been thinking about buying an aftermarket trans cooler and installing it near where the OEM side mount would be, then putting a PS cooler in the middle, while routing the oil cooler to the opposite side as the trans cooler. Any input would be great, I just have not really found any auto radiators in the aftermarket....

 

[Lil' Shaun]

the trans cooler is inside the radiator. just run an external cooler for the trans and get the radiator for the manual.

 

[CrawlinZX14]

Thanks. I am really itchin to get this thing put together and want to make sure its all done right. I know on other model vehicles we would do the same thing, but wanted to make sure on this one. Dont want to break my car right now. What sized trans cooler is recommended? I was thinking a large one with an integrated fan.... Over kill? I dont plan to stay auto in this, but until I build an engine to toy with, im not swapping to manual.

 

[crash89]

Aftermarket radiators are really not needed. A simple cooling system flush would suffice and work just fine really.. Why spend more money then needed when the OEM radiator is proven to cool sufficiently and work just fine?

 

[CrawlinZX14]

My oem one is not in the greatest shape. I really dont want to have to rake all the fins out and go thru all that. Seems like it would cost less and take less time to just swap it out. With working 70+ hours a week i just dont have the time to try and clean that thing out. I have however thought about swapping to a half radiator for future mod plans. It would also make it a hell of a lot easier to pipe in my FMIC and not need to route it around anything.

Also im a little concerned about air flow thru the FMIC once its installed and cooling issues as a result.

 

[bryanwheat]

You can run a short route 2.5 inch piping on each side of the stock radiator. Just buy a new oem style replacement, it will probably last longer than most cheap aluminum aftermarket radiators.

 

[CrawlinZX14]

Need slim e fans in place to run a short route off a J pipe correct? I was looking at mine today and tried to plot out the routing for the piping and the J pipe looks like it will smack right into the OEM fan shroud. Plus the FMIC I was given to me when I bought the car has the outlets in the front and not the sides. so it makes for a bit of a pain to route it properly. I am looking into buying a different FM with side outlets however. Im not looking for anything wild, just better than the side mount. So I have been looking at Ebay ones to work for now.

 

[bryanwheat]

You do not need a slim fan, it will fit.

 

[Leonthefaded]

Hey OP check this out. It doesnt have a auto trans cooler, but an aftermarket one can be easily installed imo
High Performance Direct Fit Radiators for Mitsubishi • by FLUIDYNE®

2GNT.com Forums - Viewing topic - aftermarket radiator

These two links are helping me out ALOT except I'm trying to get a aluminum rad for my MT NT

 

[CrawlinZX14]

I will take a picture tomorrow when its light out to show what I mean. I know that with the stock fan there it will not fit, there is only 1 3/4 in clearance between my turbo inlet and my fan where I would need to put a 2.5" tube. IDK if the previous owner changed anything but my fan is on the pass side and the drivers side has no fan. Should I just move the fan to the other side near the hot side of the turbo?

 

[bryanwheat]

With stock fans it will work, i've done it on atleast 10 different cars. I didn't use a 2.5 right out off the j pipe. I run a 90 degree off the j pipe down to another 90 degree than off that couple it to 2.5.

 

[CrawlinZX14]

Hey OP check this out. It doesnt have a auto trans cooler, but an aftermarket one can be easily installed imo
High Performance Direct Fit Radiators for Mitsubishi • by FLUIDYNE®

2GNT.com Forums - Viewing topic - aftermarket radiator

These two links are helping me out ALOT except I'm trying to get a aluminum rad for my MT NT

fluidyne radiators are not bad. I have used them in the past. I have had many bad experiences with mishimoto that was mentioned on your other thread. Generally speaking the only radiators I run are KOYO or Fluidyne. Their fitment and quality have always done well in my experiences with them. If I swap to a MT rad, I will use a trans cooler. But I am weighing options right now. Just looking for input.

With stock fans it will work, i've done it on atleast 10 different cars. I didn't use a 2.5 right out off the j pipe. I run a 90 degree off the j pipe down to another 90 degree than off that couple it to 2.5.

Is this the stock pipe off the turbo? I have one that basically runs strait down toward the ground, so I am limited. As I said, I will get a picture tomorrow. Its aluminum or I would just add a 90* bend to it and then open it up to a 2.5 after that. But I cant weld aluminum right now. I have also considered having a 45* bend to clear the fan. I think I need to get a different FMIC tho first. Or atleast a ton more couplers to route this to the rear outlet in place of a side outlet.

 

[crash89]

Which fan are you trying to clear? When I was running the 16g I only used the factory "slim" fan. The one that goes on the drivers side because it IC pipe wouldnt clear the passenger side fan.. I ran only one fan for a good 3 years in California with access of 110 degrees daily in the summer. And this car was my DD. I never had any overheating problems with an OE radiator and one stock fan.

Knowing which kind of FMIC you are running will also help us let you know a better way to run your hard pipes. I was using the VRspeed IC and off the 16g j-pipe I just had a 45* coupler right to the LICP..

 

[CrawlinZX14]

I honestly dont have a brand name for this IC at all. When I bought the car I was given 2 FMIC's. One looks identical to the godspeed FMIC for a supra MK3. Which is a stock upgrade and not that great of a bar n plate design with the tanks on the top and bottom both exiting the same side. The other looks like a mishimoto FMIC with the tanks at both ends but the outlets face the radiator and not out the sides.

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This is what I mean about the fan. Can I just move that fan to the other side to allow for clearance of the J pipe? The pipe will end up going right thru the bottom of the fan housing if I were to install it.

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And this is the FMIC I am looking at installing that pressure tested good. I have been thinking about buying one with the outlets on the ends of the tanks however. Just figured if I could use what I have I would.

Im thinking im just going to get 2 pushers and put them where the AC used to be in the mouth at the front. Should leave me more than enough room in the engine bay and not get in the way of anything else I plan to run either. Im going to move the power steering cooler and swap that out with a small trans cooler and locate that where the fog light would be on the drivers side so its out of the way of the IC pipes but still gets clean air. Then locate the oil cooler into the pass side where the OEM side mount would be.

 

[crash89]

That actually looks like a 14b man, Youd have to take the intake "snorkle" off and look at the compressor wheel to be sure which turbo it is. As for the fan, I had to run this fan with my set up too since my stock slim fan would not clear my ext wastegate. I had to cut about a 3x1'' section out of the plastic shroud to clear my IC pipe on the passenger side.. But if Im understanding this right you are running a side mount IC right now, correct?

If you were to run the one you posted a pic of you would need a different J pipe. That would also give you a little extra room on that side of the bay. Even if you went with two 10" fans (pull style) those would fit with no problem at all. Let us know what you decide.

 

[CrawlinZX14]

Yeah its a 14b. I found that out when I picked up the eprom. It was on the car when I bought it and the kid i bought it from thought it was a 16g. So I am running into boost almost immediately, and I personally think this turbo is on its way out. Im starting to hear the intermediate shaft whining under full boost in higher RPM ranges. I am planning to pick up a big 16g for the car and new lines for it since I dont like banjo fittings.

I think Im going to pick up a bar and plate FMIC off Ebay I think. Im not looking for anything wild, just something that will do for now and not cost a ton of money. I am indeed running a stock side mount with stock rubber tubes for the IC. And those all look like crap, starting to crack and so on, and im sure they will not last to much longer. So I already have pipes to replace them with, I just want to do the FMIC while I replace them since they dont cost a ton.

So im thinking slim pusher fans, and a side outlet FMIC are going to be my next orders. Then after that to save a lil and pick up the turbo.