Anyone had any luck with one of the 3 core aftermarket civic racing radiators cooling a mild sbc engine. The diminsions are right for the space i have and was wondering if it would do the job.A mustang rad is too tall and i will have to go behind the front cross with it which would work but the civic rad could sit on the a crossmember and fit fine and i can get one for just under 100 bones. .
I have not tried it, but just thinking things through, a Honda's what 2 liters? And an SBC is like 3 times that. So it might stand to reason that unless Honda is super over-engineering their radiators, you're going to have trouble. But I am sure there are lots of experts who will chime in shortly.
I'm running what my shop buddy thinks is a 4 cyl Pinto radiator, and it works even with inadequate side sealing, so I don't see how a newer Honda 3 core would not do as good a job or better.... I've been planning to upsize for my car, this measures like 22 x 19 I think...
What kind of car do you have? There's GOT to something that will work. Keeping your engine cool is something you kinda need to crack open the wallet for. That Honda radiator ain't gonna do it. It's meant for an engine that requires half the cooling as a stock V8, muchless one that's mildly hopped up. (question to above post) If it's working, why are you up sizing?
What kind of car? I have a four core I ran in a Model T with a built 454 that much to my surprise did pretty well. It could be yours for a small fee!
31 Model a coupe sectioned 4 inches channelled 5 inches zee'd frame 4 in front 8 in back ,model a front crossmember, 283 chev engine std bore 9.1 compression soon to be shortened 34 ford pickup grill shell.
Here is one of the radiators, the cooling area is 13 1/4" by 14" 2" thick, if it was a single core it would be 26 x 14 inch. Yes it is small but if the engine was a stock or mild build in an open wheeled car so it gets more ambiant air flow could it work? I can see where less water volume could be a factor but aluminum does cool better than copper, and what about a higher pressure cap to raise the boiling point?
An early Mustang 289 radiator is very small too . I have used them and they cool down cammed SBF engines with no problems . They are easy to find and cheap ! I will be using one in my 55 Ford with a well cammed 302 . I am not worried about how well it will cool either . There are some small radiators out there to use but please no tuner parts in a hotrod ! Retro Jim
i dabbled in the import scene for a little bit. a "stock" honda radiator wont be able to handle the cooling a V8 needs. but a aftermarket Honda Radiator should be able to. **** thos 4 cyclinders are pushing 500-700hp on pump gas, so if your wanting one for the dia that you build requires you might want to look in honda performance radiator.
No tuner parts on a hot rod...lol. The one i posted in an aftermarket custom radiator that fits in one, but it can be used for anything.
The only thing I don't scrimp on is a radiator. Especially in Southern California where the freeways look like parking lots. I bought a triple p*** radiator in copper/br*** from U.S. Radiators. I was planning on installing A/C in my car. I couldn't be happier.
lol my dad would shoot me if i tried to put a honda part my 53 Vic also. but just trying to answer his Question
15" tall 19" wide total would be great but could fudge on width a tad its going in a 34 shell so could be like 20 3/4 wide total.
Im not fighting the mustang deal it wont fit,it will hit the centerlink with the lower tank after i mount it behind and below the front crossmember so as to get it lower than the cowl,Suppose i could dog leg the centerlink to get it to clear.I really don't care for the look of the radiator and grill going upward from the cowl but to each his own on that.
ok there has got to be a simple calculator for this.. its just surface area and what materials the water is flowing through, cant be too hard, i have seen many british cars with small and big blocks stuffed into them, with tiny little radiators, and they run at a normal temp... so anyone actually have a good formula for this? I would like to know too as i have an aluminum radiator i would like to use for my 600hp 413.. so wheres the numbers minded folks?
Have you looked at the various radiator size dimensions posted in a thread on here ? The dimensions are taken from Chester's book on How To Build A T Bucket For Under $3000 . I am using the small 72 dodge radiator 2 row's for 318 v8. I do not know how it will cool a 350. Project not drivable yet. Cost me $20 for swap meet radiator that I can upgrade for a new one at $220 latter if it cools sufficently.
Look into 1980's jeep radiators. I originally had mine mockup up with one. It's a little shorter than a mustang (I eventually ended up going with a 4 row mustang ). Lesson learned during my build - buy the radiator during mockup. Some times just the tiniest design decision allows you to get away with a less head scratching. But hind sight is always 20/20. M
Always wondered bout them Jeep radiators too, cuz of their dimensions. Anyhow I run a 4 core "be cool"(1964 style) mustang radiator in mine, fits perfect!
I have been using this companys radiators, they sell different sizes with different outlet positions, mine works great with a stock SB chevy, have not tired with anything modded or a big block yet. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Model-...pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr
If asking me, I plan to swap in a stronger motor, probably make 500hp, and this rad has big gaps so I was going to improve it anyway. And it does struggle some in July.
after 1993 they went wide,the early cherkee were the small ones they hold up to small block chevy pretty good,
Truth is, some engines will some engines won't. Ron Shuman came through here in 1988 running a sprinter using a pair of motorcycle radiators , and of course he was using methanol. Never got above 180 degrees. Friend of mine put methanol on his formerly gas engined sprint car, and had to get help on getting the heat up in 90 degree weather! Crazy is all I can say! Some engines will run cool on their own water it seems. I have noticed this however- every single 'backyard rebuild' engine I have gotten over the years that DID NOT have the cam bearings changed out, ran hot. That has been a constant that I don't understand.
Why don't you contact some of the big radiator suppliers-Walker?- and ask them for their opinion? info@walkerradiatorworks.com
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