GasDreamz

I am going to tell you how to put an aftermarket EG style radiator into your EF. Now I'm going to expect that some people will not like my methods. If you don't then you don't have to do it my way. I wanted to put it in without buying that crazy expensive front crossmember. Now my car is a 1990 Honda Civic Si with a DOHC ZC swap. < this will be my referance for the work, you may need to change things a little to meet your specific application. Now as always, I am not responsible if you take this and damage something on your car, this is for information purposes, it's to help you.

The Car: An EF (this is mine)


The tools:
Rotary/Dremel Tool- Plug in so your battery doesn't die. Or Dye Grinder.
Dremel Reinforced Cutting Discs- 4-5 packs
Drill with Drill bits
Small electrical repair kit from local auto parts store
small set of wrenches
small ratchet set
flat head screw driver
slip lock pliers and channel lock pliers
Side/diagonal cutters



Materials:
EG style radiator
Aftermarket electric radiator fan that fits/92-95 Honda Civic Radiator fan.
Plate steel strip with 3/8ths inch holes
New radiator cap, I got one for a 1992 Honda Prelude (16psi)
Upper radiator hose from a 1984 Honda Accord- you'll have to cut this a little
Lower radiator hose from a 1992 Honda Civic
hose from parts store that will be long enough and the right size for your application that will go from the little outlet on the radiator neck to the outlet on your coolant rezivour.
^^ I don't remember what I got, but I got four foot of it and cut it to length!
at least two (2) screw on style hose clamps four (4) would be suggested.
Package of Zip ties

The Process:

You'll need to remove your old radiator and radiator fan.
Then you will need to take your rotary tool and cut away the upper portion of your radiator support bracket so that the EG radiator will fit.


You will need to fabricate your upper bracket, test fit your radiator with fan to make sure everthing clears adjust until you have the positon you need for everything to clear and for your hood to shut properly. It is very important that everything clears and your hood shuts properly because you will not want to undo everything after you have it all together, no one I know likes doing the work twice! The slot on the bracket is for easy removal because I didn't want to ever have to completely remove the nut/bolt combo from the front center peice. Also the radiator just kinda sits on the old radiator support but I've been driving mine around alot and it hasn't moved around the hood and upper bracket keep it in place along with the radiator hoses.


You will probably want to cut an access hole for the bottom of your bracket bolt/nut combo. This is what I did!


Now this is what it looks like when you're finished. Also I've noticed that with this setup my car has been running cooler than before, but that was expected with the thicker radiator!






Sorry that some of it is kinda vague, but I did it a couple of days ago, and I don't want to get into too much detail because I know that not everyone has my same setup, if you would like extra help that would be more fitting for your application I will be more than happy to help where I can. If I would have had more time to figure things out or if I could do it all over again I would do it a little cleaner. I did that very special thing that everyone calls "winging it", so it's not perfect. It's mine though and I'm happy with it. If this helps anyone I will be very happy. Also feel free to comment on what you think.

88Hatchy

What holds the bottom or the radiator in place?

GasDreamz

It sits on the flat spot I made when I cut away the top portion of my radiator mount. The upper mount and the radiator hoses keep it in place and when the hood shuts it touches the top bend on my fabricated mount to keep everything in place that much more. So when I shut the hood I set it down gently and then push down to completely lock it into place. I have just dropped/slammed the hood shut too and it hasn't hurt it so far because it is only hitting the top bend of a peice of steel plating. My radiator is completely 100% secure, so if you do it right yours should be too! But if you want to know if there is a mount or anything specifically designed to keep it in place, no there is nothing but a combination of pressures put on it from different things. If I have any problems with it moving or shifting at all I will post it immediatly after I find out, then I would follow up with the solution which could be the fabrication of a special bracket to resolve the problem.

Je2RiT

dude thats awesome!
What you could also do is;
maybe paint the area you cut away from the X-member so it doesnt rust!
I do plan on gettin the aftermarket X-member though. For future turbo plans.

ys1civicsi

Ghetto, And what was wrong with the full civic rad? Doyou plan on turboing this motor or did you just want that blinging radiator?

4g4dcruisin

x2

aaronhume

if you want another cooling solution, look into a 90-93 integra radiator. it looks normal, but is slightly bigger and is a 2-core, you might have to dremel a little bit away for upper clearance near the headlights, but not noticeable. it also fits in the lower radiator mounts perfectly.

not ghetto.

Spaceballsthelunchbox

Well... you made it fit. I also tried to do the rad install but there was too much hacking needed at the cross member. Is there a way to make it sit level? It looks a bit to rigged that way.

ERKK

i have a 3 ply eg rad in mine i didnt cut nothing at all and mine sits fine

IBWiglin

nice write up.

Patty

No offense but that doesn't look too good. I know it's function over form but...
Good write up tho.

GasDreamz

First yes it is "rigged" I winged it and I said that in the write up. Second the reason I put it in was my stock radiator cracked on top and I got a really really amazingly cheap deal on this radiator, which was brand new. Yes I do plan on turbo charging the motor eventually. I am sure there is some way to make it sit more level, I just didn't because it works. Thanks for the idea of painting the cut section, I will most likely do this tonight as I am changing my clutch. If I could do it again and I had the money and resources to get the crossmember thing I would. Or I would have gone with my original idea of getting a Koyo stock replacement. I just thought by doing this write up I might help out someone else that is in my situation (no money, cheap replacment radiator, and able to wing it pretty successfully)

apekd

**** i got a stock EG half rad. I just wanted a half size to make more room. full size rads just annoy me with how HUGE they are. good write up man

nitewolf

what happened to the pics?

skipbudlong

I cant see the pics either. WTF!!!

zeb1117

im putting an eg rad into my ef right now but i cant see any of your pictures. do you think you could repost some?

placid888

half size radiator works great for turbo

GasDreamz

I'm sorry. I don't have the pictures anymore and my photobucket got deleted. I gave the car to my girlfriend. I might be able to snap some pics of it when she comes home this weekend. If I do, I'll post them up here for you if you still need them.

scottmog

message me if u want my email. i can put them in my photobucket. itll never get deleted.