be18see1

Any idea of an OEM radiator that would work in this situation, especially something with inlet and outlet on the same side?

Why do you think that? I think I will actually get less air through the radiator.

Mattb16teg

My rad is in a similar location to yours and I was having issues when I first got mine running as well.
I bought the Spal 13 inch, high CFM puller fan, it's like $150 shipped, it cured my issues.

be18see1

Is it shrouded? Link to the model you ordered?

Mattb16teg

Nope, no shroud, was going to make one if it still ran hot but no issues so I put it on the back burner for now.

Let me dig it up, it's very popular with the FI crowd.

**Edit** Looks like it
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/13-SP...Q5fAccessories

be18see1

Cool dude. Thanks! Is your rad sitting slightly behind the headlight/bulkhead like mine is? What sort of temps were you getting while driving? While stopped?

Mattb16teg

Eh, similar, yours is over to the left a bit more. But still both are blocked a good bit:



While driving on a hot(90 +) day, I'd see about 190 or so. Sitting would be like 200 ish. Mind you I also have a low temp(170 degree) thermostat as well.

be18see1

I hit 217 the day we were street tuning. I'd be fine with 190-200.

Mattb16teg

Sounds just like my situation. I had a normal ebay slim fan on it and thought it would do the job. Actually my buddy was also having cooling issues with the same fan in his DSM. We both bought the SPAL unit and problem solved. Flows a lot of air.

be18see1

Awesome. I'll start looking at my options.

Mattb16teg

Lol, I gave you your only one

be18see1

I meant pricing options haha

Mattb16teg

I looked for about a week and my buddy and I both found cheapest price via Ebay.

fcm

I would stay away from any OEM Honda/Acura rads, and look into a "full size" dual core aluminum rad, something like you have now but full size, maybe a universal with upper and lower hose connections on the right side.

Because your problem is airflow, I agree with Mattb16teg a high CFM read fan is a must.

What kind of fan do you have now, [CFM]?

a fan shroud would also help, making sure air is pulled through the whole rad, not just where the fan is.94

TunerN00b

Why isn't the rest of the front opening next to the radiator blocked off? Air shouldn't be allowed to go around the radiator into the engine bay if you're having cooling issues...

Mattb16teg

Your radiator looks fine, the fan WILL do the trick. Shroud will also help a lot too. I just didn't need to venture down that road yet.

TunerN00b, you are right it would be ideal to have it blocked off. The block off from the civics with no AC will work with some adjustment, it's just hard to locate.

KARSON

if you flip the slim fan you'll see a couple degrees difference. and you'll have room too

Mattb16teg

He has it set up now as a puller, normally puller style fans flow more air.

TunerN00b

I wouldn't bother trying to locate the stock part, much less pay for it. I'd use cardboard.

I've had an exposed cardboard plate work just fine for several years on one car. In fact, painted cardboard was the factory shroud on that car (and air dam, transmission tunnel (wish that was a joke, but I'm not kidding), cabin to trunk divider, etc...). Years of washing and driving in the rain didn't damage it.

Test with plain cardboard and verify it will help with temps. If it does, wrap the edges with tape, primer, paint with latex, and enjoy saving money. Cheap and easy to do.

be18see1

I'm not putting cardboard 3 inches from my turbo, downpipe, and dumptube. Sorry, but that would be incredibly short sighted. I think aluminum flashing or some aluminum or SS sheet metal might do the trick. Also, it would decrease the volume of air passing through my intercooler and my IAT's would go up. so that's a big trade off for me.

Mattb16teg

Yea I def would never put anything cardboard that close to all that heat, seems like your begging for trouble!!!!
It wouldn't affect air flow moving to your intercooler because it would be behind it, so in theory air would still flow through it. Unless it creates some weird vacuum type effect, that however I know 0 about, lol.

be18see1

ah but it would. If the air behind the intercooler has no where to go, it's sort of stagnant. Since air is already stuck back there, trapped against the block-off, more air can't go through the intercooler. Instead it will go under, over, around the intercooler wherever it can. Now I realize it's not like a 100% blockage but it could definitely result in increased IAT's in my thinking.

Mattb16teg

Yea it COULD but it COULD go either way lol.

be18see1

Got my exhaust wrap in today so I'll install that and see if I get any change in temp. I think I'll drop a few degrees for sure.

rtimeteg

I have to agree with couple guy go with full size radiator and move things around a bit. if not try a homemade/aftermarket scoop to get air to the rad pass the intercooler. or both

Mattb16teg

Full size will not work in our cars. Unless you get one of the custom tuck radiators which is big $$.