Radiator replacement... Mishimoto works well?

[wleehendrick]

So starting on the cooling lines I noticed that my donor's radiator has a broken nipple (the coolant return). This would be blocked off anyway, but I'm not confident in a repair to the plastic end-cap, as these OEM radiators do have a tendency to crack. I was going to just use the old rad, despite it being the ugliest thing on the car, but now I have the perfect excuse to upgrade to an all Aluminum one. I'm thinking Mishimoto MMRAD-WRX-01. Koyo also seems popular. Any opinions or fitment issues on the 818?

Thanks,

Lee

[theburner9]

I have the Mishimoto in mine. The only issues I have are the lower rad hose hit the bellows of the steering rack and the upper factory mounts will not work. I've been trying to decide how to raise the rad an inch or so. After that, I'll just bend up a piece of aluminum for the upper mounts and use the factory rubber grommets.

[wleehendrick]

I have the Mishimoto in mine. The only issues I have are the lower rad hose hit the bellows of the steering rack and the upper factory mounts will not work. I've been trying to decide how to raise the rad an inch or so. After that, I'll just bend up a piece of aluminum for the upper mounts and use the factory rubber grommets.

Thanks for the info... the OEM can have the same issue. Craig makes nice brackets for the top mounts that I may get.

[Buzz Skyline]

I have the Mishimoto (we had it mounted on our donor). It seems to fit just fine. I added some spacers to the upper mounting points, but I was under the impression that people have to do something similar with the stock radiator. I'll snap a pick or two when I get back home.

[Harley818]

Hi wlee,
I am using the mishimoto with no problems other than it needs to raise about 3/4 of an inch to clear the steering rack bellows, and I made my own brackets for the top, similar to Mechie's.
In my thread post #51, I show some pics, but I just checked and the images aren't working..... I'll fix them tonight.

This link shows the top view.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36092&d=1417229488

You can use the stock fans, they bolt right on.

[rori]

I make spacers for the bottom mounts: http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?14559-RoRi-s-Custom-Parts-Radiator-Spacers&highlight=

[C.Plavan]

I have one in my R. Works great as long as you dump the stock Mishimoto radiator cap that comes with it. It's a POS cap and leaks (brand new). I made spacers and moved it up also.

[wleehendrick]

Thanks, all. I'll go for the Mishimoto and replace the cap; I'd read it's problematic.

[metros]

I used Rori's spacers for placing the radiator in a better height and they worked great. Good quality piece.

[Wayne Presley]

I sell the Mishmoto radiator and Lee ordered one from me today.

[metalmaker12]

Koyo here

[RM1SepEx]

Do kits still need to space the radiator up? I thought that would be fixed long ago!

[Wayne Presley]

Koyo here

I sell those too :cool: But they cost $50 more than the Mishimoto

[wleehendrick]

Do kits still need to space the radiator up? I thought that would be fixed long ago!

I'm a fairly early chassis, #52, so have the issue... I'm. Just building slow, but the pace has picked up now that it home. You'd think it would be an easy fix in the lower bracket design, but I dont know if it's been addressed.

[theburner9]

if i'm not mistaken mine is #76 and still has the issue as well

[Canadian818]

Which rad is it that has the top coolant hose on the passenger side vs the centre? I know I've seen a few here, but they elude me.

[pwnoz]

I have the Mishimoto (we had it mounted on our donor). It seems to fit just fine. I added some spacers to the upper mounting points, but I was under the impression that people have to do something similar with the stock radiator. I'll snap a pick or two when I get back home.

Same here, I added spacers to the upper mounting point. I have a stock radiator too and it fits just the same as the Mishimoto.

[mishimoto]

Thanks, all. I'll go for the Mishimoto and replace the cap; I'd read it's problematic.

wleehendrick, thanks for the post! We recently redesigned our caps so you should not have any problems with a leak. However, if you should have any problems, feel free to contact us at support@mishimoto.com and our Warranty team will be more than happy to assist you!

Thanks!
-Pat

[Tamra]

Do kits still need to space the radiator up? I thought that would be fixed long ago!

#297 and we will need to add spacers for our OEM radiator.

[Junty]

Chassis 131 (RHD however) and the Mishimoto fits without spacers. This could have a lot more to do with our RHD steering rack? They look a lot different to most of the LHD builds - maybe these RHD don't need spacers at all?

[wleehendrick]

Chassis 131 (RHD however) and the Mishimoto fits without spacers. This could have a lot more to do with our RHD steering rack? They look a lot different to most of the LHD builds - maybe these RHD don't need spacers at all?

I would assume that the RHD steering rack is a mirror image of the LHD but the radiator is the same? If so, the driver's side bellows (which interferes with the lower coolant hose) might de slightly different so that could explain it.

[wleehendrick]

wleehendrick, thanks for the post! We recently redesigned our caps so you should not have any problems with a leak. However, if you should have any problems, feel free to contact us at support@mishimoto.com and our Warranty team will be more than happy to assist you!

Thanks!
-Pat

Good to know, thanks!

[Scargo]

Re, my 818R:
I'm looking at my stock STi radiator and it looks about a half-inch thick! I went with a Ron Davis on the STi.
Now, I (at least) need fans for it. Is the radiator up to the task of a 270 WHP motor and what size fans are people running? My STi appears to have 13" fans. I see Mishimoto sells a fan and shroud that has 12" fans. That bugs me a bit. Essentially I'd be blocking off some of the radiator compared to the STi fan shroud.

[Hindsight]

The concern I have about thicker radiators is that they put up more resistance so you need more air pressure for them to work. It will also impact your AWIC front heat exchanger as well. Need to do a really good job sealing the ducting to the radiator and ensuring the hood exhaust works (reports so far haven't been great about the hood exhaust).

[Scargo]

I'm looking at a 14" fan (http://www.amazon.com/PROCOMP-ELECTRIC-COOLING-AUTOMOTIVE-RADIATOR/dp/B003U7UR3A/ref=sr_1_5?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1427492937&sr=1-5) that puts out 2000CFM. It's $35! I'd just run one in the middle. What do you think?

[JeromeS13]

I'm looking at a 14" fan (http://www.amazon.com/PROCOMP-ELECTRIC-COOLING-AUTOMOTIVE-RADIATOR/dp/B003U7UR3A/ref=sr_1_5?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1427492937&sr=1-5) that puts out 2000CFM. It's $35! I'd just run one in the middle. What do you think?

I'm actually a big fan of the OEM fan setup, if they're compatible with your aftermarket radiator.

[Harley818]

I bought the Mishimoto and used the stock WRX fans. Bolted right in. Started my engine up and after I got the system burped, the fans turned on and cooled from 205 F to 180 F in about 30 - 45 seconds.

[Scargo]

I feel like I'm not making sense... I have a stock STi radiator available to use. I don't have any fans. It's a race car.
Do I try the radiator and see if it is capable? I mean, I'm only asking 300 HP out of it. Since I don't have fans, should I just buy used Subaru fans?

[FFRSpec72]

I feel like I'm not making sense... I have a stock STi radiator available to use. I don't have any fans. It's a race car.
Do I try the radiator and see if it is capable? I mean, I'm only asking 300 HP out of it. Since I don't have fans, should I just buy used Subaru fans?

The issue with the fans is that they are ECU controlled, so when in pits/grid you may need fan, during the race the fans may actually be a blockage for the air flow and you would want a way to turn them off manually

[JeromeS13]

I feel like I'm not making sense... I have a stock STi radiator available to use. I don't have any fans. It's a race car.
Do I try the radiator and see if it is capable? I mean, I'm only asking 300 HP out of it. Since I don't have fans, should I just buy used Subaru fans?

I would never use an OEM radiator in anything other than OEM trim.

[bbjones121]

Yonaka aluminum radiator is very nice and comes with fans and shroud. Mine is sitting in a box still waiting to install. I took it out once and it looks very nice.
$182.40 Shipped
http://www.tunersports.com/yonaka-radiators-ymar025_p4152.html

[Scargo]

I just purchased these 13' fans from JEGS. (http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/52103/10002/-1?parentProductId=) If I need to shroud them I will. Used Subaru on Ebay were really pricey and most of them damaged and old. I'll probably just run a manual switch.