RA23/28 radiator upgrade

[TurboRA28]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has fitted different/larger radiators to RA23/28's ? I'm due for a new one and was thinking there might be better options out there then just re-coring the standard one.

I put an excel radiator in the AE86 which is an unreal radiator but too wide to fit into the 28.

I've heard some holden radiators being used before?

Cheers
Joel

[thechuckster]

fwiw, radiator place in Sumner Park that i go to had on their computer/catalog a heavy duty option for RA23/40 radiators - basically they stretched the existing tanks over a 3-row core. By being a list item, its not a custom price and they turn it around in 24hrs.

Might pay to ask the shop that you would normally get a re-core from?

Not as good as going alloy but the width always comes back to bite you.

[Screaminrolla]

If you remove some metal the excel radiator will fit, i currentlly have one waiting to go in mine, or a MA70 radiator is a good fit but metal needs to be removed for that too

[TurboRA28]

Hmm thats interesting, last time I measured it up it was like 100mm too wide? Will you be sitting it between the chassie rails, or up on top of them?

[Screaminrolla]

Its going between the rails. The radiator is out of a early 90's excel. What model is the one in your AE86 out of ?

[TurboRA28]

Umm not sure the year, it was the more boxy early shape Excels.

I think from memory it was 620 maybe 630mm wide? Where the RA28 one was in the low 500mm .. Was awhile ago now so those measurements might be off..

[Screaminrolla]

Yeah mines out of the early boxy ones aswell. I think its around 600mm wide.

If you remove the metal that the stock radiator bolts too from both sides it gives a opening of a bit over 600mm. It all comes down to if you want to cut up the front of your car to make it fit

Heres the opening in mine

[hypo23]

3 core camira in mine fits ok

[TurboRA28]

Much cutting required Steve?

Cheers
Joel

[TurboRA28]

Heres the opening in mine

Wow quite a bit removed hey. Going to make life a lot easier though getting radiators and intercoolers etc in there. I'm struggling to keep mine as unmodified as possible but its not easy trying to get everything to fit.

[hypo23]

ill get some pics up tonight hopefully for you, got too get pics of control arms too

[TurboRA28]

Well I grabbed a Camira radiator today. Seem like a really good radiator, using a remote header tank etc. The inlet/outlet pipe was on the correct side also. Nice large thermo fan on it.

Hey Steve, how'd you go about mounting the base of it? The top mounting will be easy as I can make brackets off the radiator support panel. But the base uses those rubber mounts that end up sitting over the brackets that hold the radius rods,sway bar mounts etc. Its not very flat there.

Also, with the external header tank, how'd you plumb that all up?

Cheers
Joel

[Steve M]

I'm very interested to see how this turns out.

Joel, when you fit it, can you get some photos, as I'll be needing to do something similar.

Also wondering where Sumner Park is, QLD?

Thanks

[TheToyman75]

The GA70 Radiator upgrade works really well and fits nicely. I assume the MA70 Radiator is very similar ?

Here is the standard Rad opening:



And heres a shot with the GA70 Rad in place. You can see that the radiator support panel has been opened back to the factory fold in the panel on both sides



The botton rubber mounts dropped into a length of 90 deg alloy angle. The top mounts were just the standard toyota ones bolted onto the top of the rad support panle and releived heavily accross the top to stop them rubbing on the bonnet.

[thechuckster]

Also wondering where Sumner Park is, QLD?

yes. western suburbs.