I know there have been many threads covering radiators but iv done a search back to 2006 and not found any real informative feedback on rad comparisons... and i dont just mean the pricey ones.

 

Looking on ebay there are many many rads available at stupidly low prices, luke sells one for a very competitive price and i believe danny sells a budget aftermarket one too?

 

As far as measurements are concerned, these budget ones seem to be as big if not bigger when looking at core sizes so what im asking is... are the big name expensive ones 'really' any better compared to an unbranded council version :rofl: ??

 

any feedback or advice welcomed...

 

cheerZ

Yeah im still to find any good feedback also, and i dont just mean... "oh yeah mines great it doesnt go about 85degrees" but what about when your thrashing it for longer than 10mins?

I'd imagine most, if not all radiators are sub-contract manufactured anyway. So big name brands might not be as far ahead in quality as lesser named brands.

I'd imagine most, if not all radiators are sub-contract manufactured anyway. So big name brands might not be as far ahead in quality as lesser named brands.

 

i agree si... especially not to warrant a 3 times greater price tag...

Yeah im still to find any good feedback also, and i dont just mean... "oh yeah mines great it doesnt go about 85degrees" but what about when your thrashing it for longer than 10mins?

 

you buy an ams rad... il buy a 2fast2cool cheapo skanky rad and we can compare notes... if yours is much better, we can just swap, job done!

 

deal?

you buy an ams rad... il buy a 2fast2cool cheapo skanky rad and we can compare notes... if yours is much better, we can just swap, job done!

 

deal?

 

erm......... not sure.

Koyo is probably the biggest brand name that radiators are compared to, but I dont highly rate the koyo. Its a perfectly fine radiator but its quality is nothing special, and compared to the Ebay radiators the koyo has a smaller core and plastic bleed screws instead of metal.

 

Cant comment on performance, I personally dont believe the Z has an issue with Cooling anyway, not in regards to the radiator anyway, but a Nice shiney rad with bigger capacity and alloy end tanks is an advantage over an old stock one with broken fins and plastic end tanks.

Edited August 19, 200916 yr by Yowser

Koyo is probably the biggest brand name that radiators are compared to, but I dont rate particulaly rate the koyo. Its a perfectly fine radiator but its quality is nothing special, and compared to the Ebay radiators the koyo has a smaller core and plastic bleed screws instead of metal.

 

Cant comment on performance, I personally dont believe the Z has an issue with Cooling anyway, not in regards to the radiator anyway, but a Nice shiney rad with bigger capacity and alloy end tanks is better.

 

I dont think plastic bleed screws are bad infact id prefer them, wouldnt they create a better seal and less likely to corrode and seize?

you buy an ams rad... il buy a 2fast2cool cheapo skanky rad and we can compare notes... if yours is much better, we can just swap, job done!

 

deal?

 

Actually, if you buy 2fast2cool manifolds, they are rip-offs/copies of AMS, they even have AMS branding on the side! LOL

I dont think plastic bleed screws are bad infact id prefer them, wouldnt they create a better seal and less likely to corrode and seize?

 

They get overtighned and then screw heads are easily damaged and rounded off. Had to cut new grooved into a few to get them undone.

Actually, if you buy 2fast2cool manifolds, they are rip-offs/copies of AMS, they even have AMS branding on the side! LOL

 

yeah i got those manifolds too, ace...

 

They get overtighned and then screw heads are easily damaged and rounded off. Had to cut new grooved into a few to get them undone.

 

you win. the stock rad is plastic to plastic screws so i suppose thats different.

Actually, if you buy 2fast2cool manifolds, they are rip-offs/copies of AMS, they even have AMS branding on the side! LOL

 

Really? :rofl: Not fitted one from fast2cool rad before, but there are quite a few different ones on ebay that I've fitted.

 

I can understand the ams logo on their manifolds, becuase of the casting...but the Logo has to be sprayed onto the rads after manufacturer.

 

Rather than knockoffs I suspect they must have purchased a batch of AMS branded parts from the Chinese Manufacturer

Edited August 19, 200916 yr by Yowser

i have the 2fast2cool divorced downpipes and decats since were on the topic of admitting what cheap w*nkers we are! i think they are pretty good quality... in fact, if you look at it in terms of the price... id say they are extremely good quality.

Jimmer has a new sat at his workshop and showed me them the other day. Quite a few people run with them and they are better than stock as we had a pair sat side by side. I'd run with them. The material and casting look fine to me.

I have 2fast2cool divorced downpipes and decats too. I did however have fitment issues with mine, to do with the angles they came out at. As you can see :

 

 

 

 

It seems a few have had issues, but they are fine for the majority.

Edited August 19, 200916 yr by Yowser

putting a thicker rad in can decrease cooling as the air cannot travel through it as easily. standard rad is fine.

putting a thicker rad in can decrease cooling as the air cannot travel through it as easily. standard rad is fine.

 

will be interesting to here from danny on this 1 regarding his budget rad...

 

the standard rad might fine for bimbling around street use but what about when thrashing the tits off it for 20-30mins non-stop?

will be interesting to here from danny on this 1 regarding his budget rad...

 

the standard rad might fine for bimbling around street use but what about when thrashing the tits off it for 20-30mins non-stop?

 

I've just come back from an hours hard drive, a proper blast & thrashing.

The engine is obviously very hot (as always), but its fine & have got a standard radiator albeit a brand new one. And its been a very hot day.

I've warped my discs in this short time though & cooked the brakes!:(

One Word. Mishimoto. :D

altho, it depends on how much you want to spend, but in the past I have used Koyo, Fluidyne e.t.c... and the last one I bought for my other car was a Mishimoto, they are a relatively new company, and I highly rate them.. I haven't bought one for my ZX yet, but if the quality is still as good as the last one I bought.. they are still something to consider...

Edited August 19, 200916 yr by 300ZX_DRE

putting a thicker rad in can decrease cooling as the air cannot travel through it as easily. standard rad is fine.

So you dont think the air having more surface area to cool the rad is going to be beneficial then ?

Hi Joel,

 

Only just spotted this thread ... apologies for the delay in responding.

 

The DTA-Motorsport "budget" performance radiator is in fact using a KOYO core and aluminium end tanks. So pretty much identical to a KOYO radiator but ours is less than half the price! Quality wise they are identical, cooling capacity and efficiency is also identical so there isn't really a need to pay the premium to get a KOYO branded radiator. Our radiators do need to be secured with our stainless steel rad brackets as they are nearly twice as thick as stock rads.

 

I'll check on up-to-date pricing in the morning when I get back into the office but last time I checked our performance radiator was priced at around the £160 mark. I'll let you know and post a picture as well.

 

Cheers!

 

Dan

Hi Joel,

 

Only just spotted this thread ... apologies for the delay in responding.

 

The DTA-Motorsport "budget" performance radiator is in fact using a KOYO core and aluminium end tanks. So pretty much identical to a KOYO radiator but ours is less than half the price! Quality wise they are identical, cooling capacity and efficiency is also identical so there isn't really a need to pay the premium to get a KOYO branded radiator. Our radiators do need to be secured with our stainless steel rad brackets as they are nearly twice as thick as stock rads.

 

I'll check on up-to-date pricing in the morning when I get back into the office but last time I checked our performance radiator was priced at around the £160 mark. I'll let you know and post a picture as well.

 

Cheers!

 

Dan

cheerZ dan...

any updates on a price for this dan?...

 

if you could total me up for the rad, the bracket and a set of ds2500 for the front on a r33 gtr brembo setup that would be munchos grandos, ta.

I have 2fast2cool divorced downpipes and decats too. I did however have fitment issues with mine, to do with the angles they came out at. As you can see :

 

 

 

 

It seems a few have had issues, but they are fine for the majority.

 

I have that problem with mine.... not using the 2fast2cool downpipes though. I'm using them with some slightly more divorced downpipes for that bit extra. Strange, strange but true!

Hi Joel,

 

Please see the attached pic. It also includes the two types of radiator brackets that I do. Both are made from miror polished stainless steel. One is plain, the other has the "Z" logo cut out at the centre. The radiator uses a 55mm KOYO core with aluminium end tanks tig welded onto the core.

 

Prices as requested:

 

RAD001: DTA Performance Radiator (Twin Turbo Manual only): £160.00

RAD003: DTA Performance Radiator Bracket (plain): £50.00

RAD004: DTA Performance Radiator Bracket (logo): £55.00

DEL001: Next Day Delivery (Courier): £10.00

 

If the bracket is purchased at the same time as the radiator I'll do it all for the princely sum of £200.00 plus delivery.

 

Please note that this radiator currently only fits TWIN TURBO cars only. This is due to the mounting points being different between TT's and NA's. I'm working on a cost effective solution for this.

 

Also, this radiator can be use on AUTOMATIC cars ONLY if they have a separate A/T box cooler already installed.

 

HTH

 

Dan

Edited August 26, 200916 yr by DTA (UK)