My radiator has a huge hole in it... What to do?

[naed240sx]

Well today me and this girl decided to just go driving... far away from the city, to go for a hike. I have never been on country roads in my car, and it was amazing. Nothing like 100mph driving with nothing but smooth roads. After stopping for gas, I opened the hood to make sure everything looked ok( I had never gone this far in my s13, and just wanted to make sure it all looked good). Practically the whole engine bay was covered in coolant, and There was a huge hole (about 2 inches long, and 1 wide), right next to where the upper hose connects to the radiator. The car had not even gotten hot during the drive. No clue why it busted. Anyways, I am assuming that it is possible to just replace the top portion of the radiator (the plastic part). If so, where should I get the part, and how would you go about installing it? It has all those metal tabs holding it down. I definately dont want to replace the whole thing. Thanks guys.

[SmithSR]

Yes you definitely Should replace the whole radiator!Phase2 has Koyo aluminum in stock last time I checked. I bought mine from them. This whole problem can be solved by going to http://www.store.yahoo.com/pha....html

[naed240sx]

Why would you say that? I have heard that the top portion is replaceable, and that should be much easier and cheaper than replacing the whole unit. The radiator is fine other than that, and I don't need an expensive racing radiator. My car is nearly stock engine wise.

[SmithSR]

oil coolers, 4 core radiators, oversized brake kits, short shifters, sticky tires, etc..

Do we need any of these for our commuter cars? Not necessarily.

I'm a big fan of the Koyo and it's a part of the foundation for performance modifications IMO.

I'd offer you my old radiator for $0 but it met the junk bin long ago. With the popularity of the performance radiators, there should be a large supply of used good condition oem units nearest your location. Good luck with the search.

Phil...

[TheOne]

i'd replace the whole radiator too, same thing happened to my brother's S14, the top part got this long crack, so he got a *new* S14 radiator cheap, i don't remember the store name though, but it wasn't the nissan dealer nor a junkyard.

[naed240sx]

Seriously though, the radiator worked great before.. I could drive the hell out of the car, with the ac on, in 100 degree heat, no prob. I know that it is possible to replace the top portion, and think that buying a new radiator is pointless. I just need some info on how to replace that part. Thanks.

[KDashy]

Your car didnt overheat because coolant flows from top to bottom and the only affect it had on its performance was the loss of coolant and inability to pressurize the cooling system. Otherwise it will only flow out of the hole at an alarming when you let your car sit and cool down or start up the car cold.

I've never heard of just replacing the top plastic portion before but if its a common replacement, you should go for it. Otherwise I'd try to find an oem replacement.

Also, wasn't there a thread about a radiator test that showed nothing (not even koyo) outperformed the stock radiator with altima fans?

[SmithSR]

Never read a thread like that...

Koyo + OEM fan shroud + clutch fan for the win.

It's a large jump in fluid volume which does in fact translate to more efficient cooling capability. More coolant flowing through deeper vanes is a win-win!

[ILikeMy240sx]

Yes, you can replace just the top portion, it's even laid out in the FSM but its not easier I dont think... You have to un-bend all those alum fins holding the plastic tank and then rebend it again when you put a new one in.

I would just buy a new rad and replace it.

[nismo521]

If you're dead set on replacing just the end-tank, I would get a local radiator shop to do it, b/c if it's not crimped back on correctly, it will leak. But by the time you pay for that, you might as well have replaced the whole thing. If you don't feel like shelling out the money for a Koyo, I got a CSF all-aluminum rad for a pretty good price. The cooling on it is great, the lower hose never gets anywhere as hot as the top one.

[Bruno240]

http://www.radiatorbarn.com

i had a crack in my miata that went from the cap to the other side of the radiator. This company is probably the cheapest for a new one. or u could go to a junkyard.

if i were u i would just get a new one. your's was oviously not in the best condition.

[tonynalli]

if yoy want to replace the header on your radiator i can assure you that i will take a lot of time and unless you ahve done it before it will mess up. there arent many radiator shops that would even waste their time doing it because its cheaper just to get a new one..

[naed240sx]

hmm. How much stuff needs to be removed before you can take out the radiator. I swapped the one on my Integra and it was a *****. I don't have a lot of time to get this fixed, because I am going to a drift event next sunday, and cant work on the car untill saturday. Swapping is looking to be a better idea, but I am definately not paying 300 dollars for a koyo. A guy I talked to yesterday said all you have to do is bend enough tabs back, then use like a pry bar or something, and pull it off.

[Bruno240]

i have never removed a radiator before in my life and it took me like 2 hours and that includes setup and clean up of setting up a stero outside so i had music to listen to. i would say about 30mins of accual work i did.Of course mine was on a miata but all i had to do was drain the radiator. remove the 3 hoses. remove the 2 fans that are attached to the radiator. couple bolts to undo radiator and it comes right out. then reverse everytying.

[tonynalli]

i have a radiator for sale, but you live in texas, and you dont have time to wait for the package..unless you paid extra for the shippping..

[naed240sx]

i have a radiator for sale, but you live in texas, and you dont have time to wait for the package..unless you paid extra for the shippping..

Yeah, i have some tight time conflicts, but thanks for the offer.

[574-240sx]

I usually got my last radiator free from a friend. Usually you can find them used for dirt. I would suggest getting a Koyo from a sponsor. If you want to spend a little less pick order one from your local auto parts store. If you want to spend next to nothing hit up a local junkyard and pull one, you won't have to be gentle and get and idea how to take out you current one and install the new one.

[doainwpg]

it litterally took me 20 min to replace the rad and half that time was spent bleeding the coolant. not to mention a replacement rad cost me $5. drain the coolant, disconnect both hoses, unblot 2 tabs holding rad in place, lift out, move fan shroud to new rad, bolt holding tabs in place, reconnect hoses. bleed system and drive. it doesn't get much easier.

[Koopa Troopa]

I

hmm. How much stuff needs to be removed before you can take out the radiator. I swapped the one on my Integra and it was a *****. I don't have a lot of time to get this fixed, because I am going to a drift event next sunday, and cant work on the car untill saturday. Swapping is looking to be a better idea, but I am definately not paying 300 dollars for a koyo. A guy I talked to yesterday said all you have to do is bend enough tabs back, then use like a pry bar or something, and pull it off.

I just undid a few bolts, removed the shroud and took it right out. Took me like 30 minutes and that was when I was a halfassed high school mechanic.

I'd say go with a Koyo if you got the $500 bucks. Only thing is I was using a DOHC fan on my SOHC and I guess that fan sticks out longer cause I had to modify my fan shroud.