Radiator in front

Germain · 07-13-2000, 11:32 AM

Anyone here do an engine swap and put a radiator in the from of the car? Does it require the peices from a fiero? What about trunk space, can you aviod loosing alot of it? Thanks.

72_914 · 72_914's Garage

You ought to check out Red Dawg Bytes They have a pretty good front trunk radiator setup for thier v8 conversion.

[This message has been edited by 72_914 (edited 07-13-2000).]

JP Noonan · 07-13-2000, 10:54 PM

It seems there are several ways to do it. Some use all the trunk space by bringing in air from in front/under the car and evacuating it trough the bottom of the trunk after the radiator. Others bring it is the same but them use large holes cut into the fender wells behind the tire. Both compromise the structure of the 914 since it is a uni-body, but I think the first is less damaging. I personally would think about welding in some serious cross bracing to compensate for the removed metal.

Of coarse if I were to put in a V-8 there would be extensive reinforcing needed, the 914 was only made to handle 120 or so hp.

my $.015

Germain · 07-14-2000, 08:52 AM

Well, I'm not putting in a V8, I'm putting in a Dodge 2.2 Turbo... Thanks for the advice, what do you guys think about putting the radiator in place of the rain try of the bonnet?

rich · rich's Garage

TFI used the 2.2 Dodge turbo motor and mounted the radiator sideways in the engine compartment.

Germain · 07-14-2000, 11:21 AM

TFI and I have been in close communication for a while about this now. I'm looking at a way to install heat into my car at the same time. Thanks for the advice though.

TFI · 07-14-2000, 11:45 AM

i don't really like the way red dawg has their setup.. they have it exiting under the vehicle, which at high speeds causes a cushion of air underneath. cushion of air=lift=sucky handling.

i just had an idea hit me.

mulitiple heater cores plumbed in, in parallel, in the front trunk/front air dam area as if it were an auxiliary oil cooler setup? the only difference would be the type of plumbing and the stuff inside would be green. the filler cap and overflow container could be in back in the engine compartment to keep the coolant level below the filler cap.

just a couple of cents from me.

-jim-