Has anyone ever replaced FFR supplied radiator with the Forte's AFCO radiator?

[Caddy Dad]

My stock ffr radiator sprang a couple of leaks. I'm now thinking of replacing it with the AFCO radiator from Forte's. Just wondering if anyone has gone down this path before and what were the lessons learned?

Thanks!

[edwardb]

FWIW, the Mk5 delivered to me a couple months ago, came with an Afco radiator. In the past FF supplied a different mfg (imported?) but maybe they've gone back to this brand? I've used them before and a quality piece.

[Caddy Dad]

FWIW, the Mk5 delivered to me a couple months ago, came with an Afco radiator. In the past FF supplied a different mfg (imported?) but maybe they've gone back to this brand? I've used them before and a quality piece.


Thanks for the insight! I'll give them a call this week.

Thanks x2

[CraigS]

I would do that in a heartbeat. Afco has a good rep and, since Mike has chosen the correct one (vs trying to figure it out by looking at dimensions etc) it should be pretty pain free.

[Caddy Dad]

FWIW, I was able to find a radiator repair shop about 45 minutes from my house. He pressure tested the original radiator and it was cracked in two places near the lower outlet port. It was deemed to be non-repairable and will need to be replaced. Our best guess is that the metal is of a thin gauge in that area and eventually cracked due to stress and vibration. I never would have thought that there was any stress at all in that area. I'm using the Breeze upper and lower radiator mounts as well as Boig cool pipes. Any suggestions on what I can do to help cushion any future vibrations or stress ?

Thanks!

[Dave Howard]

My 2012 MkIV FFR rad sprang a leak after 5 years. Stress cracks in the top row of tubes. It was mounted as per instructions. I couldn’t find anyone who could repair it so I bought another FFR rad. 5 years later it too sprang stress crack leaks. I brought it to a welder who was experience with aluminum but he could get the weld to hold. The Chinese aluminum rad was an alloy he didn’t know. So, I replaced it with a Mishimoto rad for a fox body mustang. Fit perfect. I also purchased and installed the upper and lower radiator mount kit from Breeze.

[Caddy Dad]

My 2012 MkIV FFR rad sprang a leak after 5 years. Stress cracks in the top row of tubes. It was mounted as per instructions. I couldn’t find anyone who could repair it so I bought another FFR rad. 5 years later it too sprang stress crack leaks. I brought it to a welder who was experience with aluminum but he could get the weld to hold. The Chinese aluminum rad was an alloy he didn’t know. So, I replaced it with a Mishimoto rad for a fox body mustang. Fit perfect. I also purchased and installed the upper and lower radiator mount kit from Breeze.

Thanks for the information. Do you remember what the Mishimoto part number was?

Thanks x2

[ProfessorB]

I haven't had to go down this road yet. Maybe it's a stupid question, but can the radiator be replaced without pulling the body off?

[Caddy Dad]

I haven't had to go down this road yet. Maybe it's a stupid question, but can the radiator be replaced without pulling the body off?

Yes. On the roadster it drops out from the bottom. Raise the front end off the floor and get a second set of hands to help guide it in and out help too.

[ggunter]

My original MKIV rad has leaked three times where the tubes meet the header tank. It is five years old. The rad shop applied some kind of epoxy each time and it never leaked there again. I bought a new rad from FFR and the new rad has a different lower hose angle, which angles upward instead of straight out, which posed a slight problem for hooking up the lower hose unless you have the corrogated hose. I couldn't find any manufacturer markings on it so I don't know who makes the new style rad. So far, no leaks but it's still young. As Caddy Dad said the rad comes out from the bottom but it's kind of a b***h without a helping hand from above.

[Dave Howard]

Thanks for the information. Do you remember what the Mishimoto part number was?

Thanks x2

I purchased from Amazon. Best price at $450 Canadian. "Mishimoto MMRAD-MUS-79 Manual Transmission Performance Aluminium Radiator for Ford Mustang"