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Jegs Radiator install.
So thanks to this thread, my radiator troubles are over! After replacing my leaky one with an even leakier one, I knew something must be done for less then IAP's $750 solution. I was looking at a similar one from summit but the jegs seemed a better match.
Here's what I did...
The Jegs radiator is a bit higher then stock, but worse, the lower inlet sits much lower then it should. I had to use a dremel with a nice cut wheel to notch out some excess metal around the cross member to allow it to drop down far enough to get remotely in. The first pic is a fuzzy look at this area (it was not I who tried to tow the car by the tie down hooks).
Being a cheapo, I decided to try and save my stock fans. However it became vary obvious that, with the way this radiator was sitting, they would not mount where they are supposed to be. Still being a cheapo, the conclusion was that since the A/C doesn't cool, the condenser will be swapped for fans. The problem there is that the fans are now going (pulling) the wrong way. This was fixed by reversing the wires in the their clip's. Black to white, white to black and now the fans spin the other (push) way. Heck yea! The second photo show's the fans in their new home.
Now for the fun stuff. I had to make some hoses. The Jegs radiator has a 1 and 3/4" inlet in the lower instead of our 1 1/2" hose. Now, there is a T-junction that connects a hose off the water pump to the lower inlet hose and the over flow tank. And the hose from the water pump goes from 1 3/4" at the pump down to 1 1/2" at the junction. There is probably a better way to do this then what I did...
So, I simply took an exhaust fitting that went from 1 1/2 to 1 3/4. Got it at Pep Boys for a few dollars. While there, I got a random 1 3/4 radiator hose with a good curve to it. I some how lost the photo's of all this stuff however, a lot of trimming and squeezing took place onALL the Radiator hoses. I will try and get a photo of the area if any one is interested. The top hose is the right size and was vary non-dramatic.
Next was to get every thing secured in place. Some metal and nut&bolts was purchased from the Home Depot. A strip was mounted down low where the A/C cooler used to bolt. Though I bought a metal strip with holes in it, I had to drill a couple for this myself. The fans however bolted right up. At the top, I just twisted some bits up for a 3 point mount. Well, they ain't going nowhere so no biggy. Next photo from the front!
For the radiator, same metal was bent to a U type shape and positioned at the original mounting point. A shorter bolt is needed then the original.
For the time being, I have just jumped the fan switch sensor wires together for an fans always on scenario. However,will be resolved soon.
Despite not having any numbers off the temp gage, everything seems splendid and staying right cool in the 90 degree heat that just hit. Last pic of a shinny alloy radiator in place (so shiney it caused glare)!
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eb
85 Spider 85 GTV6 71 GTV
Last edited by block; 06-12-2008 at 09:36 PM.
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