Early vs late 944 NA radiators - no mods?

[IdahoDoug]

I have a 1984 944 NA with a leaking radiator. The posts from Google searching all say there is a difference and various boards with varying comments say the lower right radiator hose, and the upper right radiator hose (goes to expansion tank) must be changed. The vendors who sell them variously say the one that needs replacing is either the lower right hose, the upper right hose, or both.

I'm trying to get a handle on it, but it seems the ACTUAL and ONLY change on the later radiators is that the nipple on the upper right was moved down - about an inch.

If this is so, then I should be able to use my existing lower right hose. And my existing upper right hose looks like it could easily handle attaching to the same nipple if it were an inch lower.

However. My factory twin fan shroud looks like it would NOT fit back onto a newer style radiator with the upper right nipple moved down an inch. That would interfere with the plastic fan mounts.

Could someone who's been there please enlighten me? I found this new vs old radiator on the NA to be full of error prone information and some urban legend. Bottom line: Can i put a newer radiator in my 1984 944 and reuse my brand new hoses? Or is there a fan shroud issue as I surmise that somehow is not getting discussed?

[drkshdw]

The only difference I know of between the early and late radiators is how it mounts into the car. The early cars use a rubber grommet plug thing and a bracket and late cars use a bolt. Not sure about the hoses. Fans and shroud are the same between early and late (different for early cars without AC).

[grendiers]

I just put in a radiator from an '88 924S into my '83 944 track car. The '88 rad has a rubber nipple on the each bottom corner, and the upper brackets with rubber nipple apply downward pressure to hold it in. I used a six-blade fan too, bolted right in.

[v2rocket_aka944]

completely 100% interchangeable, rads and fans regardless of year.

hose length was modified on the "lower" rad hose that goes from rad->water pump because the whole radiator got moved down and inch or so after the 1985.5 refresh.

[9FF]

Originally Posted by v2rocket_aka944

completely 100% interchangeable, rads and fans regardless of year...

+1 also the larger turbo radiators will also interchange, they just require the deeper turbo radiator bottom mount. Whichever you fit use a bottom hose from the MY radiator you are fitting and not for the engine.

[mattdavis11]

Not 100% interchangeable. Radiators made for a manual transmission do not have an internal cooler for the automatic transmission. The radiator for an automatic will work on a manual car, but not the other way around.

[IdahoDoug]

So, again - lots of conflicting info.

Drkshadow and Grenedier indicate the mounts are different, giving rise to the specter I'll discover the new rad will not plop into the rubber mounts but need some kind of modification to be properly on rubber isolators.

Vrocket says the lower hose mount is farther down, but does not indicate if my current brand new lower hose can be re-used.

So to my original question: Bottom line: Can i put a newer radiator in my 1984 944 and reuse my brand new hoses? And to that is a new concern about the mounts for the radiator - yes they'll fit or no I'll have to mess around with the rubber isolators by purchasing new ones, etc.

Thanks in advance, guys.

[v2rocket_aka944]

Again, they're all interchangeable. The actual rubber mounts changed over the years, but the spot on the radiator tanks that the mounts go to is the same regardless.

And yes the auto rads have a cooler but you can still use it for a manual car.

[IdahoDoug]

Interchangable = Doug can use his existing new hoses?

[9FF]

Originally Posted by IdahoDoug

Interchangable = Doug can use his existing new hoses?

If your existing new lower hose is for your 84 and you are fitting a later radiator then it is not interchangeable by your definition. Like I said earlier you need to buy a hose for the MY radiator you are fitting not for the MY of your car.

[IdahoDoug]

OK - copy that on the lower hose on the right side. How about the upper hose on the right side? It goes from the radiator to the overflow reservoir. Thanks.

[IdahoDoug]

I just got done putting the new radiator in and it went well. While it was out, I pulled the upper timing cover and checked the new timing and balance belts I put in about 1000 miles ago. I also soaked the a/c condensor with Simple Green while the radiator was out and exposed the back side of it. After soaking, I blasted water from the engine side forward and cleaned out oily dust, insects and a quantity of grit. That's an old trick of mine and I've measured a typical 5 degrees cooler a/c at the vents after this simple move.

I also put a hotter fan switch in the new radiator as I think the cooler one was a mistake - stupid fan came on all the time and seemed to stay on way too long. Neighbors started to think the 944 was fan-powered... Can't wait to drive it tomorrow (Saturday!). Thanks to all who contributed advice - used all my existing hoses and radiator rubber mounts.

[mattdavis11]

Good news. Every time I have a radiator out, I first use compressed air to remove debris from the condenser. Then use coil cleaner and water, always engine side out. When I worked at an a/c shop, we used acid. Can't recall which one. It makes a big difference.