Civic Aluminum Radiator

[Charlie1717]

Ok... I've read a few threads on this and couldn't find a very direct answer. Although I know I could get the answer with a simple text message I thought I'd start a thread with a straight answer (hopefully!).

I'm needing to get a slim fan and I decided heck might as well get a snazzy shiny radiator!

I've seen many people get the Civic Dual Core Aluminum Radiator...

What exactly needs to be done to make this work? (and try to make it concise for future searchers!)

Here is a link to the Radiator I'm looking at, pretty sure it is the one everyone has been getting.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/250870519156?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Here is a pic for the day this link is dead!

[sketchman]

One tidbit I learned. You don't have to go with a "small" fan for these. The "standard" way of doing it with the supplied hardware is to use the zip ties sticking through the rad core because it's easy, I guess. But if you pay attention to the one you buy and it has long tabs along the vertical edges, you can use a fan that totally covers the rad and drill holes in the tabs to mount it. Did that on my Escort and was able to use a 14" IIRC fan with it. Probably doesn't matter so much in the grand scheme, but it looks cleaner than having specialty zip ties sticking through your rad.

So, if you're OCD, buy a rad with tabs, measure it, then stick the biggest fan you can fit on it.

[rickter]

I notched the lower core support. Found the right size grommets for the bottom feet to stick in and got a civic upper rad mount for it with the correct rubber bushing
Then for more awesomeness and to help clear my mount I welded a -20 an male fitting on to the bottom and sealed off the original outlet and and then welded another -20 male fitting onto the water inlet fitting coming of the block


This pic is before I notched the frame but you can see the general fitment

[zoom zoom]

Looks like the one I got too, didn't check seller names, but like ^ said, you'll have to figure something out with the lower hose barb. It points directly at the tab onbthe corner of the block. I can't weld aluminum, so ill have to figure out another way to make it work. Probably gonna notch the upper radiator support so the upper hose will clear the disty.

[sasquatch]

i had to make new lower and upper mounting tabs, re-weld the lower outlet to the side of the rad and make up some new rad hoses... its not that bad if you can weld aluminum and have some time to mess around...

[rickter]

I wouldn't recommend notching the top support because its pretty flimsy to begin with. I started out that way and then it was just crappy. So I repaired it and notched the bottom. And if you notch the bottom you can push the radiator outward so that it will angle a little bit and make it easier to get a hose from the thermostat out to radiator inlet

You can take it to a weld shop and have them weld on the bungs and fill the original radiator outlet should cost more than $50

[gauge_half_inch]

When I replaced my lower core support with 2" 1/8"wall box tubing, I welded large nuts to the top of it to hold the lower tabs protruding from the bottom of the radiator. The lower hose I two-pieced with a copper plumbing piece from Lowe's. It fits tight in the hoses. Granted I also had to maneuver the lower hose around my custom turbo downpipe, but the idea is the same.