RADIATOR EMERGENCY

[Romeo5k]

QUICK QUESTION while im at the shop.. can the 90-93 radiator fit the 94-96 Q45? Also wat about the fan clutch are they interchangeable as well. Car running hot and radiator is leaking.. ned help beforei get started asap.. Thanks.. I have 90-93 radiators laying around, but i dont have 94-96 laying. So somone let me know Tha mech managed to stop the fan with his hands twice with no probs and said, it should not be that slow.. so im guess the fan wasnt producing enuf vent, and made the radiator crack... I have axx to 1990-1993 ..will the parts fit?
Modified by Romeo5k at 12:18 PM 2/19/2010

[Q45tech]

The most significant difference is that 94-96 rads have TWO in rad heat exchangers for AT. vs 90-93 single side unit.

The fan must match the rad shroud.

Buying junker parts is all about mileage and age even 15 year old parts is getting iffy by now.

[maxnix]

Only use the earlier radiator if you also install an auxiliary ATF cooler like a B&M 70268. Mandatory in a climate like Houston anyway.

[Romeo5k]

okay.. well.. i just called XL Parts.. tey said 417 for the radiator on my 95 I called junker, they said 85$.. Im sorry, i may be cheap, but dam thats a massive amount of savings...

[Romeo5k]

da damn 1990-93 fan is too big to fit in the shroud of the 95.. Aint that about a b****!!!!

[67fire]

I got a new radiator from Performance Radiator last year and it was about $200.00

Eric

[Romeo5k]

i just got a hold of someone else, and they said it would cost 185$ But i heard that theres is a place that fixes radiators, and they said they fix the crack and put a new tank in it for 75 with the radiator out.So which do i got for? 185 or 75?

[qship96]

Go new for best and longest troublefree operation- look around on the net, brand new CSF can be had for well under 200-delivered in 1 day.

[maxnix]

If they rod and test the radiator, new tanks should last a while.

When you get it out, look between the fins. Probably 5 lbs of fine grit and pebbles trapped within.

Be sure to put in new foam, and I even used a little closed cell foam tape under the AC lines on the passenger side. Omitting this will affect radiator efficiency greatly.

[Romeo5k]

ty all.. radiator.. 175$.. That fan clutch, i replaced with the one from the 93 that i had laying around. Too bad the 93 fan wouldnt fit. As for the dirt, i got that out,. the foam, well, i didnt read this posts until after. Soooo I didnt replace the foam.. I know i suck, ill prolly remove it and do it over.. Probably!!!

[qship96]

So, you bought a brand new radiator?

[Romeo5k]

yessir

[Romeo5k]

now the last thing to do is to find the bumper for my car from a junkyard.. So thats my next project. Find white bumper.. And sis yall know while i was looking for a bumper, i tried to look for the engine cover at the bottom of the car.. The junk yards told me they cut them because no one buys them. And its pour rain down here.. I dont need water touching the engine Ah well.. anyways.. u all did well.. radiator job is like a 90 minute job for me.. if ur a pro, im sure its 30 mins.

[qship96]

Congrats!

[maxnix]

the foam, well, i didnt read this posts until after. Soooo I didnt replace the foam.. I know i suck, ill prolly remove it and do it over.. Probably!!!

You will if you want your car to survive the Houston summer. Otherwise air goes around the radiator instead of through it. Without the under engine tray. the sir goes up from under instead of through the radiator. In hot climate, you need both.

[Q45tech]

After 6-7 years of exposure, the oem system has declined in ability to exhaust heat, obviously the subsequent years had improvements which improved the reserve, BUT nothing works like all BRAND NEW.

Based on some experiments the rubber foam surround seal can make a 10-15% difference at idle in traffic...........the number od minutes - seconds that the system can stay below 195F.

Once system creeps above 195~200F it is a steady out of control rise, assuming thermostat is wide open and auxillary electric fans are already on full.

[Romeo5k]

After 6-7 years of exposure, the oem system has declined in ability to exhaust heat, obviously the subsequent years had improvements which improved the reserve, BUT nothing works like all BRAND NEW.

Based on some experiments the rubber foam surround seal can make a 10-15% difference at idle in traffic...........the number od minutes - seconds that the system can stay below 195F.

Once system creeps above 195~200F it is a steady out of control rise, assuming thermostat is wide open and auxillary electric fans are already on full.

Sooooo, replace the foam?? Or ignore it for now???

[maxnix]

In Houston, he means March.

[Romeo5k]

lol.. Illl trust u Brian... Only cause u are next door to me!

[extreme max]

hey did you find your white bumper??? i went by a junkyard here in the dallas area and they had a 90-94 q45 in the lot with a pretty good looking front bumper i think

i did not pay too much attention it as i was looking for interior partsif i can be of any help let me know

[Romeo5k]

90-93 or 94-96.. 94 -96 has the grill. the 90 -93 doesnt have the grill. let me know.this is 90-93 this is 94-96 on the right i have 94-96

[maxnix]

lol.. Illl trust u Brian... Only cause u are next door to me!

It all depends on your tolerance of risk. Personally, I like to eliminate as much risk as I can.