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So I just broke the flange off my OEM radiator. I'm installing a shitty autozone/spectra radiator as a temporary solution and will need to upgrade before I go FI. I've read through the thread and from what i've taken away.
BHR = great - no longer sold
CFS = pretty good - not in stock
MazMart/RonDavis = Great - in stock - expensive as hell.
Koyo = major fitment issues
Unfortunately it seems as if most of the aftermarket radiators for the 8 are no longer sold. So what is the next best option? Should I hold off and try to find a second hand BHR or CFS? Is the RonDavis worth the price (3x?). If you overcome the fitment issues with the Koyo is it sufficient for FI applications?
They look to be about the same price right now. Is the dual pass design entirely worth it? How do they make up for the lost flow capacity? Is it wider than OEM?
I have a KoyoRad and am FI. Granted i just blew another coolant seal but i believe it was simply due to the motor being old. However it has worked quite well and i had no fitment issue's at all.
Although, Anything Ray sends you will be perfect and he has better customer service than most.
They look to be about the same price right now. Is the dual pass design entirely worth it? How do they make up for the lost flow capacity? Is it wider than OEM?
Went with the CSF and a FAL 420 and couldn't be happier. When I was first warming the car up I decided to throw the A/C on because it usually heats everything up quicker. Except it would seem that because the fan was constantly pulling it actually took considerably longer. (Almost 10 minutes to hit 200 degrees) Never saw anything like that with my stock radiator/fan.
Acra, How are you liking that CSF radiator. I really like it. It is over cooling on the street lately, but temps have been anywhere from 35-70 when I've driven it this winter. I had to tape it up a bit.
Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
Just get a good aluminum (CSF, Mazmart, Griffin) or don't bother and get a plastic OEM one (Calsonic, Koyo). The cheap ones are not worth the fitment headaches. The MIzu is not available anymore. We just installed cheapy aluminum for a local guy and it fit like ***, had to make brackets, etc.
The issue with these cheap ones is the top bolt holes on the top front of the radiator. They fab them straight up and down on the face of the top on these cheap ones and they need to be at 45 degree angle like on the OEM rad.
Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
CSF makes good stuff.
Originally Posted by logalinipoo
My csf fit great. The top front holes have rubber bushings that are angled. I had to rotate them just right but that was it. The battery box it a bit tight to install but its not a big deal. It just takes a extra minute to get the bolt holes lined up.
Originally Posted by GK1707
Onto the install, its noticeably much thicker than stock.
Fans lined up and bolted on perfectly.
Afterwards
The trickiest part of the install was sliding the aluminum rad back in. The stock one slides out pretty straight forward and as long as you're careful of the AC condenser you shouldn't have much problems getting it out.
But the dual core is much thicker and I had to coax it in you can say. Its definitely a snug fit with the coolant tank and battery box because the rad is thicker but with some coaxing the bigger rad fits.
I didn't get to go on an in depth test drive, but I have a scangauge and I'll be keeping an eye on the temps. I bled the system after the install and filled up new 50/50, I let it warm up to 180F and took it for a short run around the neighborhood for around 20min.
Took it relatively easy with no redlines but I got in a good amount of quick blasts up to about 7-8k a few times and the car didnt see over 190F the entire short drive.
With the stock I would've hit 200-205 on that drive with stop and go traffic including the quick bursts. So far I'm impressed with the CSF and I'll be back in a few weeks with updates.
Originally Posted by Warrior777
CSF radiator is great for the price. Happy to have one. I will finally install it this winter. My buddy bought one at the same time i did and he ran his all summer with no issues. He has done about 4-5 HST events at Hallet here in Oklahoma in 100's temps with no problems.
Originally Posted by Arca_ex
Looks like the CSF radiator has changed in design a little bit. I had one but sold it because it won't work for my custom V mount setup but I know plenty of guys at the track with the same CSF core as I had and they have no issues. I think it is one of the best bang for your buck options to be honest.
Originally Posted by GK1707
CSF still holding up great. Getting mostly the same temps as stock in street driving. Anywhere from 180-190 cruising and up to 207 in traffic. Big difference is that it recovers quicker and temps dont stay above 200 for as long as they did with the stock rad.
Then again its getting colder here in NYC. Although same time last year my stock rad wasn't performing this well. Took a 300~ mile round trip and highway temps stayed solid between 182-184 doing around 80-85mph in 6th. So far no complaints from me.
Originally Posted by derkenblosh
OK, in the market for a CSF and i want to make sure I order it from a forum Vendor ... wasn't sure how to search this, so I'm asking. (I did check the vendor sales section)...
I would LOVE to have a dual pass, but doesn't look like any are in my price range. The CSF in my modified STI, did very well in Vegas.
As it sits, 115k on the radiator, I only drive the car when it's under 90* (vegas). Even in the mid 80's and I see 203 cruising temps.
Psst, it's spring time, seems like a good time for a group buy for cooling products.
Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
Just get it straight from CSF.
I originally replaced my OEM radiator with a BHR/Griffin; but a road hazard occurring when BHR was showing them as backordered forced me to change, and I went with CSF, ordered through TREX Performance (in hindsight, I wished I'd gotten it directly from CSF). It has been a great all around radiator; but because the RX8 was my daily driver at the time, and I needed to minimize down time, I farmed the replacement out to my wife's mechanic of the time. In most aspects, the installation has been free of any issues; but when I went to try to install a RacingBeat REvi intake yesterday morning, I learned that the top tank is sitting a bit too high, and is eclipsing the bottom half to three quarter of an inch of the intake pass through on the front bulkhead.
For those of you that installed your own CSF radiator, is there something about the top or bottom mounts that could cause this? I've been perfectly happy with this radiator since it went in, and I am not keen on replacing it in order to find one with a more rounded top tank (RacingBeat is offering to sell me a Koyo radiator which they promise will fit without blocking the REvi); but I am now concerned that the mechanic cut some corners in the installation and that might cause longevity issues on top of the fitment challenge I'm already struggling with. View from the front of the forward bulkhead, looking rearward, showing the radiator’s occlusion.
Add my vote for the CSF 3164 . I have installed it twice now and it fits without modification. ( I have been chasing my tail on the power steering rack.) The first time I installed it I reused the original rubber bottom and top hardware, the second time around I used new rubber hardware I am still using the factory airbox and plastic tray. The fit is tight but I did not have to shave any part of the radiator shroud, and I have no interference as far as the airbox mating up with the front air intake system.
Picture shows the top top rubber mounted threaded rods, which have taken quite a angled set compared to the new ones, which are straight. The bottom mounts were slightly compressed compared to the new ones. In my case since my A/C dead I also replaced the condensor core too. Removing everything makes the steering rack change as well as the radiator install much easier.
I also got the CSF radiator recently. No fitment issues at all even with the Revi intake. Average temps seem to be about 5 degrees F cooler than the OEM radiator it replaced.
I also got the CSF radiator recently. No fitment issues at all even with the Revi intake. Average temps seem to be about 5 degrees F cooler than the OEM radiator it replaced.
That's good to hear.
Do you also have the RB duct with the REVi? Just asking because that's how my setup is and I'm also thinking of getting the CSF, but the reported fitment problem with the RB intake gives me second thoughts...
Its definitely a snug fit with the coolant tank and battery box because the rad is thicker but with some coaxing the bigger rad fits.
