Radiator question
 

My car has been in mothballs for about six months, because of a small crack at the top passenger side of the radiator (OEM). A new one is $1600 obviously out of the question, and one of my buddies has offered me one that he is not using for $200 (a real bargin). I was talking with a P-Car mechanic who works mostly on 911s, Boxsters, and Caymans. Very little knowleged of 928s. This is my third 928, and all of them have run hot in the summer. He suggested that I purchase an after market radiator and get an external oil cooler. Is this a viable suggestion?? Will that reduce the high temps:confused: Thanks, I appreciate any suggestions.

You can get a replacement all aluminum radiatior from 928Intl made by C&R (make custom racing radiators) for just less than $1000 (at least it was 18 months ago).

You can get ones with all aluminum side tanks - no plastic tank joints to leak. You may be able to get one with no side tanks too.

Unfortunatley my C&R developed a slight leak after about a year - its been weeping for months (slight). I just took my car in for some AC work and they did locate the leak - tough to repair though - so I'm having it sawn apart, repaired and welded back together now... so I'm a bit up in the air about the quality - however reports are mostly very good... maybe I'm just unlucky with this one...

The radiator is a little oversized (fin depth), fits well, looks good and does seem to cool rather better.

I recommend adding good coolant for aluminum and an appropriate water wetter.

Not sure about external oil coolers like the stock late model ones - they may be
NLA...

Alan

The C&R radiators are $850 at 928Intl. I have heard alot of good reports about them. I'm picking one up next Thursday. I'll take photos of the install and details. It's OK for it to run warm. The engine performs best at the upper range of the gauge. If you are crossing the third line though, it is not good. The C&R with 25% coolant (about 1 gallon) and two bottles of Redline watter wetter will give you great results. If you run too much coolant, it actually hampers the ability of the water to cool the engine. Don't go for the cooler thermostat. An earlier fan thermal switch has helped me before though.

you can have it refurbished. I found a place that replaced the side tanks, flushed the tank, tested flow rate (it went up 6gpm after flushing) and leakage, and painted it..looks like new for $400

Yes, that is a possibility. I spoke with Mark A. a couple of weeks ago, and he gave me the telephone number of the guy that repairs his radiators. I called the man, and he quoted me a price of $160.00. Damn good price as far as I'm concerned. I am more interested in putting something into my S-4 that will avoid the high summer temps (I know that many say the 928 is supposed to run hot). Watching that needle climb while you are stuck in traffic on the 405 on an incline and your butt hole is puckering as each move of the needle instills fear in your hearthttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/chix.gif

Don't know what is happening with Devek Performance Products these days...
Web search got me nowhere.

Their aftermarket radiators had a lot of problems, and they did not stand behind them.

The public side of Devek closed up maybe 6 months or so ago. I think they still do some things, but not service to the general public.

Watching that needle climb while you are stuck in traffic on the 405 on an incline and your butt hole is puckering as each move of the needle instills fear in your heart.

Ha ha! I do feel for you guys that have to deal with Cali traffic on a regular basis. But at least you don't have to endure 103 + degree summers. Talk about watching the needle rise! And my entire climate control system is out of commission right now (going to try and track down the electrical gremlin this weekend). My butthole puckers up watching the temp gauge climb, but that doesn't last long due to all of the sweat seeping down into it from not having AC!

I dunno morris, I live in East County San Diego and it get well over 3 digits during the summer. I am sure not a frequent as Texas though. I know how you feel about no AC. My Black/Black 928 just soaks in all the hot air from the outside wind. Gotta tear into my Center Console and get those vacuum modulators sorted out.

[QUOTE=morriss;4786801]Watching that needle climb while you are stuck in traffic on the 405 on an incline and your butt hole is puckering as each move of the needle instills fear in your heart.

Ha ha! I do feel for you guys that have to deal with Cali traffic on a regular basis. But at least you don't have to endure 103 + degree summers. Talk about watching the needle rise! And my entire climate control system is out of commission right now (going to try and track down the electrical gremlin this weekend). My butthole puckers up watching the temp gauge climb, but that doesn't last long due to all of the sweat seeping down into it from not having AC![/QUOT

Morriss,
Yes, that is a common experience among all 928 owners. Yesterday, the temp here in the San Fernando Valley was in excess of 108:eek: The 928 stayed in the garage all day:rolleyes: Thanks for the comment.

Dan,
I know that you are getting some heat down there in San Diego too. Did you make it over to Rob's on yesterday:confused:

[QUOTE=sparky rowan;4787037] Hey Sparky,

Didn't know anything about Rob's, but I am sure it was big thread on Bannlist. I don't read every post over there, so if it's not here then I snoozed and loozed. What was the Clinic?

The cleaned up GT motor went back into Rob's GT. Original-original plan was to mothball the GT motor, put the new stroker in the GT. Then GTS showed up in his driveway with a bad motor. Stroker now headed for the 5sp GTS, so original engine is now back in the GT. Sunday in Irvine. I go there late, and the engine was already in place and the detail stuff was well along in process. Looks pretty nice, very clean.

For the OP you can buy a new end tank and end seal and take the rad to a repair shop that has plastic end tank tools and have it swapped out.
Last one I did cost 90.00 for the tank /seal and 75.00 for labor . works perfect

I had one of the Devek Rads and because of the different materials used internally and the fact the PO did not ground out the radiator, it corroded and leaked. I ended up putting a stock on in with new end caps. Total cost for the entire thing was $150.00. Runs just fine in the texas heat.

Now if I had the extra $$ to burn, I'd go with Andersons C&R radiator. Top quality product.

Carl Fausett (928 Motorsports) has an all aluminum radiator w/ a 1/2 larger core and coolers in both ends for a list price of $855.00 plus shipping.

Replace your coolant with Evans Cooling NPG+ coolant (no water) and you should have no further worries about your cooling system. (This is expensive stuff, $32.50 per gallon, but what's a H2o pump r & r cost you?)


Just a thought for those who are experiencing cooling issues.

--Russ