Aluminum Radiator

[P.J. Romano]

I know that aluminum radiator has been installed by some members but I just can't get over how much it improved the cooling of my GT. My original radiator was in a very good shape, cleaned and pressure tested. Still at the speed over 110 kph (70 mph), the needle was creeping up toward 3/4 of gauge range. I am now driving with aluminum radiator for a week, at some real hot weather and the needle never went over 1/2 on the gauge.

The aluminum radiator that I installed is originally used on Honda Civic and its size is very close to Opel GT radiator. I had to fabricate radiator brackets and to modify upper radiator hose and that was it! It took me about 3 hours.
Here are some pictures.

[newman27]

And it's nice looking too! . It looks like it has a drain plug unlike the stock radiator...

[Gumby]

Do you have the part number for that radiator. It looks like a simple enough installation. I need a new radiator for my 2.4 EFI swap.

[P.J. Romano]

I bought it from these people:

eBay Motors: KOYO ALUMINUM RACING RADIATOR 92-00 Civic Del Sol B16 (item 280244455287 end time Aug-08-08 00:55:22 PDT)

I am surprised how they raised prices, though. I paid the radiator one month ago $49.99 + $40.00 S/H. They are now asking $284.99 + $200.00 S/H to Canada!
I do not know what is going on but you should certainly shop around.

[oldopelguy]

That's the one I've been recomending for years for GTs, glad to see it worked out well for you.

[blancojp]

That's the one I've been recomending for years for GTs, glad to see it worked out well for you.

I believe I showed how to install this type of radiator on a GT last year. Look at the thread called " Cooling system upgrade" early last year. I had one of these installed on the animal cooling a V-6 and did it with no problems.

For you to get the extra 33% cooling this type of radiator offers, you must find one with twin 1" tubes which is approx. 2.25" in width. Godspeed makes one which is affordable and usually sells for about $90 with freight.

The other part of this story is that it saves 10lbs on the front end of the car.

[rrossjr]

I know that aluminum radiator has been installed by some members ,,,Here are some pictures.

Nice work, Looks very stock.
No fan/shroud, or am I missing something?
Ron in Indy

[markandson]

Nice work, Looks very stock.
No fan/shroud, or am I missing something?
Ron in Indy

No fan shroud is needed the Electric fan is in front of the radiator

[markandson]

Do you have the part number for that radiator. It looks like a simple enough installation. I need a new radiator for my 2.4 EFI swap.

I think you need an extra nipple on the top of the radiator for the 2.4 EFI setup. I got mine from OGTS a few weeks ago. They had it special made for the EFI engines it was around $550. The only complaint that I have is that for that kind of money the brackets should be exactly as original and they are not so the install is not as pretty as it should be. The bottom radiator hose also is tight to the oil filter making it difficult to get the hose on and the filter off. I had to remove the filter at the end of my build just to be able to get the hose on. The good thing about it is that they made it so that the original 1.9 upper radiator hose can be used and they added the nipple on the left side to connect to the triangular tank. They also had a special bottom hose made that I bought along with the radiator.

[P.J. Romano]

No fan/shroud, or am I missing something?
Ron in Indy

Here is the pic of my electric fan (still showing old radiator though). I put a piece of fuel hose around the fan to prevent fan touching the radiator. That ensured quiet, vibration-free functioning.

[rrossjr]

Here is the pic of my electric fan (still showing old radiator though). I put a piece of fuel hose around the fan to prevent fan touching the radiator. That ensured quiet, vibration-free functioning.

So I was missing something!
Nice. Thermostatically controlled or always on?
Is there enough clearance with the new radiator to run a stock (belt driven) fan? Any reason not to use both?
Ron in Indy

[P.J. Romano]

Ron,

It is thermostatically controlled, 14" fan. The supplier claimed 2000 cfm. If you look the radiator pics earlier in this thread, you will notice sensor line in the upper hose. The thermoswitch incorporates 30A relay (this is aluminum box on the left side of radiator).
Electrical fan alone keeps my engine cool at any stop and go condition (I have normal 1.9 engine). By removing standard fan, I gained few HP and engine works quieter.

[heimue]

That thread came up just now, while I'm searching the net for an aluminum radiator... great souls think alike!
What are the overall width and height of this one, mine should go in my new "Jägermeister", I have a maximum space of around 18x18" available.
Is there any website where I can pick a "standard replacement" by size (width x height x thickness) from any of the rice cooker's models?

Dieter

[P.J. Romano]

What are the overall width and height of this one.
Dieter

The size is 16.5 x 14.25 x 2 inches.

[krewzer]

eBay is loaded with aluminum radiators for the Honda Civic with the same dimensions and features. Running around $40 and $40 for shipping.
Wes

[Opelupogus]

Does anyone know if the Del Sol Aluminum radiator could be made to work on a GT that has an automatic transmission?

I suspect that the most common recommendation will be to change to a manual transmission - but since I already thought of that one I'm hoping for some additional suggestions.

[Gumby]

Does anyone know if the Del Sol Aluminum radiator could be made to work on a GT that has an automatic transmission?

I suspect that the most common recommendation will be to change to a manual transmission - but since I already thought of that one I'm hoping for some additional suggestions.

Why would the fact the GT has an automatic have any bearing on radiator choice? Or am I missing something...

What are the dimensions of the Del Sol radiator?

[grslightng02]

Does anyone have a pic of the stock radiator with the radiator shroud. My GT came with one but was not installed. I was told this is used to channel air in and improves the stock radiator without having to buy a new radiator or install an electric fan. I have yet to see a pic of one installed though.

Thanks Neil

[oldopelguy]

Does anyone know if the Del Sol Aluminum radiator could be made to work on a GT that has an automatic transmission?

I suspect that the most common recommendation will be to change to a manual transmission - but since I already thought of that one I'm hoping for some additional suggestions.

You would just need to get one for a Honda with an automatic trans and hook up your cooler lines same as on the Opel. Probably will need either some adapter fittings or some hose barbs and hose clamps, but either should work.

Gumby, the automatic transmission cars have a cooler for the trans fluid installed in the lower tank of the radiator. It's actually a pretty common thing to do, most manufacturers do it.

[krewzer]

I saw at least one radiator listed on eBay that had the tranny coolant lines on the bottom of the radiator for the auto trans. Same price, same dimensions.