s13: RB clutch fan setup

[Neejay]

I was looking at Yellow4g63's s14 thread (cut radiator support) and there was someone else who used a Griffin radiator and stuffed it under the s14 radiator support. I was wondering if anyone had any pictures of their s13 setup if it resembles either of these two.

I have access to a RB25 clutch fan for sale locally, and was just wondering if it was worth it.

I already have one 12" puller and one 12"pusher, but now with a FMIC it appears not to be enough.

EDIT: Currently using an aluminum radiator as well.
Modified by Neejay at 11:21 AM 5/4/2009

[Carl H]

if you're using a mount kit and stock rad you should be able to stuff the clutch fan behind the radiator with some creative genius

[Neejay]

if you're using a mount kit and stock rad you should be able to stuff the clutch fan behind the radiator with some creative genius

I have a 2" aluminum radiator.

I can't even fit the slim dual 12" FAL pullers I have, even without the rubber seal that typically goes around the fan.
Modified by Neejay at 12:50 PM 5/4/2009

[Sil240]

Do what I did.Use a Pusher fan.See if you could sell or return those for a set of pusher.Don't know what size will fit if you have AC.

I have a Single 13" Spal fan.Works pretty good so far, but I haven't driven the car regularly yet.

Look up one of Carl's posts.I know he had a nice thread with some pics and stuff in there.

[Neejay]

Do what I did.Use a Pusher fan.See if you could sell or return those for a set of pusher.Don't know what size will fit if you have AC.

I have a Single 13" Spal fan.Works pretty good so far, but I haven't driven the car regularly yet.

Look up one of Carl's posts.I know he had a nice thread with some pics and stuff in there.

Are you saying to use just a SINGLE pusher fan? The core is only 14" high

[Shocker]

I looked into doing this, however wit the s-13 pop ups they really limit the space needed if you are cutting up the rad support. Stock rad and clutch fan looks like it will BARELY make it with a mount kit.

I'm running a fluidyne and I really feel like I'd need to either cut my rad support and make my own, or simply get a custom radiator made to fit below the rad support.

[rb24021]

i did one pusher one puller on oppositie sides...never overheated even on long trips..

[gp_says]

mine is stock R32 rad, it's tight but fit in there.

drove a few of 300 miles,4 hours non-stop long trips(from Spokane to Seattle) without any over heat problem.(knock on real wood)lol

hope this help.pic

[Neejay]

I looked into doing this, however wit the s-13 pop ups they really limit the space needed if you are cutting up the rad support. Stock rad and clutch fan looks like it will BARELY make it with a mount kit.

I'm running a fluidyne and I really feel like I'd need to either cut my rad support and make my own, or simply get a custom radiator made to fit below the rad support.

You're right. I just took my bumper off last night and there's no way to do it without doing a lot of cutting...which I don't have the resources for. I'll have to just fab some ducting.

I'm still skeptical about using a copper radiator vs. my 2" aluminum one currently being used.

[Neejay]

mine is stock R32 rad, it's tight but fit in there.

drove a few of 300 miles,4 hours non-stop long trips(from Spokane to Seattle) without any over heat problem.(knock on real wood)lol

hope this help.pic

That does help. Thanks. If I decide to use my stock-ish R33 one, that picture gives me an idea of how it'd fit and that it's at least possible without cutting the radiator support.

[Sil240]

Yeah I just have 1 13" pusher fan.If you really want I have another one.

My rad has tabs to mount the fan right in the middle.But you could use those push through zip tie attachments. Cheap and easy.I didn't have to cut anything. (keep in mind I don't have AC in my car, so there is no condensor there)

If you don't have room for an E-fan puller, your not gonna be able to fit a stock clutch fan.

[DeformityX]

Hell, i just have one 12" pusher infront of my mishimoto and i havent had a single problem with it... as long as the cooling system is properly bled and you use quality parts you should be fine.

[Neejay]

Yeah I just have 1 13" pusher fan.If you really want I have another one.

My rad has tabs to mount the fan right in the middle.But you could use those push through zip tie attachments. Cheap and easy.I didn't have to cut anything. (keep in mind I don't have AC in my car, so there is no condensor there)

If you don't have room for an E-fan puller, your not gonna be able to fit a stock clutch fan.

Do you have a FMIC? And I would only use a stock clutch fan if I went back to a copper radiator (which I'm not sure if it's even worth it to do).

Hell, i just have one 12" pusher infront of my mishimoto and i havent had a single problem with it... as long as the cooling system is properly bled and you use quality parts you should be fine.

Do you have a fmic?

if you're using a mount kit and stock rad you should be able to stuff the clutch fan behind the radiator with some creative genius

In your opinion: copper radiator + clutch fan over 2" aluminum + e-fan(s)?

[Sil240]

Yeah I have a FMIC.

Just re-read your setup you currently have 1 12" puller and a 12" pusher hooked up.

Do you have the pusher mounted to the rad or the A/C condensor???

You should be fine with that.Make sure you bleed the coolant system properly. Also make sure your coolant sensors are good.

You can throw your multimeter on the connectors, they should either build resistance as it gets hotter or do the opposite.

[Neejay]

Yeah I have a FMIC.

Just re-read your setup you currently have 1 12" puller and a 12" pusher hooked up.

Do you have the pusher mounted to the rad or the A/C condensor???

You should be fine with that.Make sure you bleed the coolant system properly. Also make sure your coolant sensors are good.

You can throw your multimeter on the connectors, they should either build resistance as it gets hotter or do the opposite.

Nope, no AC condensor. So basically, I should be fine with my current setup. I'll try re-bleeding AGAIN

I took the bumper off and drove around like that and the temp stayed below 180 and only heated up to 180 when I got on it a bit.

Do you have any ducting? Thanks a lot for you help/replies!

[Sil240]

Yeah just try that.Nope I don't have any Ducting, but my car doesn't drive on the regular.

Ducting definetly can't hurt though.!!!

Yeah you already have a good Rad, and 2 fans.Just make sure you have them in the correct place.

The Pusher goes on the front of the Rad and the Puller goes on the inside (by the engine).

Are they offset from each other?

[Neejay]

Yeah just try that.Nope I don't have any Ducting, but my car doesn't drive on the regular.

Ducting definetly can't hurt though.!!!

Yeah you already have a good Rad, and 2 fans.Just make sure you have them in the correct place.

The Pusher goes on the front of the Rad and the Puller goes on the inside (by the engine).

Are they offset from each other?

Yeah, they're on the correct sides. And yep, I don't have the fans overlapping at all.

I'll be going to grab some prestone coolant flush after work.

[Carl H]

i had cooling issues with the koyo radiator...the fin spacing is too close to allow good airflow thru it.i have had good luck with my griffin core and the ebizzle special cxracing r32 skyline radiator, it has nice fin spacing and keeps the vh car nice and cool...fan rarely kicks on.

[Neejay]

i had cooling issues with the koyo radiator...the fin spacing is too close to allow good airflow thru it.i have had good luck with my griffin core and the ebizzle special cxracing r32 skyline radiator, it has nice fin spacing and keeps the vh car nice and cool...fan rarely kicks on.

Yeah, my aluminum radiator is a cxracing one too.

I'm running some prestone super radiator cleaner to loosen/clean out some of the rust in my system. Then I'll re-bleed, 1 bottle of 50/50 coolant mix, 1 bottle of water wetter, and the rest distilled water.

I'll report back tomorrow night.

[Sil240]

Yeah maybe there are chunks of rust clogging up your water jacket.I know mine is quite orangey/red.

Carl VH??????Veryy Nice!!!

[krayton]

i had cooling issues with the koyo radiator...the fin spacing is too close to allow good airflow thru it.i have had good luck with my griffin core and the ebizzle special cxracing r32 skyline radiator, it has nice fin spacing and keeps the vh car nice and cool...fan rarely kicks on.

is that what it is? always wonder why they suck so much and require so much ducting. i just repaired the r33 stock rad, so gonna try that and the clutch fan

[Carl H]

yeah, with my twin spal fans on full blast you could feel very little air thru the cores...was no bueno.

[mattleegee]

clutch fan FTWcutting needs not to apply

[Neejay]

i had cooling issues with the koyo radiator...the fin spacing is too close to allow good airflow thru it.i have had good luck with my griffin core and the ebizzle special cxracing r32 skyline radiator, it has nice fin spacing and keeps the vh car nice and cool...fan rarely kicks on.

I went out of town over the weekend, so I haven't gotten a chance to rebleed the system. Depending on how this goes, I may get the R32 aluminum one...looking on ebay, I see some R32 ones are 32mm/1.25 inches vs. 240sx one of 50.8mm/2 inches. I would hope I could either fit my dual puller FAL fans there or a clutch fan.

[Yellow4g63]

clutch fan FTWcutting needs not to apply

Fine if your running stock radiator.

[Neejay]

clutch fan FTWcutting needs not to apply

Stock radiator?

Fine if your running stock radiator.

Right. I don't trust running a stock radiator...

[driftin_galant]

Modified by driftin_galant at 11:14 PM 5/12/2009

[USMCgetsome]

all those pics are rocking the stock rad. But what if you wanna beat on your whip? Temps are sure to rise!

[Carl H]

from the looks of it they are using the skyline radiators which are dual core from the factory ala s14 ka...plenty of cooling with a proper clutch fan.and to think that everyone laughed when i refitted my clutch fan and to have a shop which belts out AMAZING swaps fit them as standard.

[Fibre guy]

I'm running a 2.5" aluminum radiator. I measured 2.25" between crank pulley and rad, the same for power steering. The bottom radiator support cannot be cut or modded to move my radiator forward. So I measured that if I cut the top in and tilted the radiator forward 2.5" I can fit a 14"x3" puller fan on the left with a 12"x2.5" on right, and have a better flow from intercooler to rad since my intercooler is tilted in the same way to help with cooling and ducting. Plus I won't have to relocate the radiator cap because mine was high to begin with.Also, see the link in my sig that is for fan and rad setups.