I am gathering parts for my fathers 90 EF Si Hatch we are restoring. I will post pictures of the install and what is involved when I get the car back in about a week or so from paint. I haven't found any installed pictures or issues with this Skunk2 Half Size Radiator that is made for the EF chassis so I decided to make a thread on it.

Picture Below is the visual comparison to a stock EG/EK 92+ radiator

Skunk2 Alpha at the bottom of the Aluminum End Tank to the top of the Aluminum End Tank it is 16". Which is good same as my old F-R/PWR EF Half Size made for that chassis. With the top of the radiator cap it is 17".

Stock EG/EK 92+ Half Size from bottom of End Tank to Top of End Tank it is 17.5" to the top of the Radiator Spout it is 18.5"

 

Is it worth it to get the radiator

 

Well the height is right in order to not have a huge gangsta lean. The welds and the quality looks decent.

I have purchased quite a few cheap aluminum radiators off ebay years ago. I had one back in the day last forever in my crx. They seem to always have issues either a weld gives in at the inlets and outlets and or the inlet and outlets aren't the right size which causes leaks and swelling of the radiator hose. Even with new hoses... I then in last few years swear to never buy a cheap radiator again. Been using PWR or Koyo. I like that the radiator resivoir spout is a thread in like PWR/F-R was.

F-R/PWR I had was a great piece but for good quality it cost a penny.


If it fits, no cooling issues, no leaks, new hoses fit good with no swelling... I'd be happy...

The thing I like the most is with the product you get a Skunk2 product card that is used if there is an issue within 12 months. So that makes me at ease.

For $169 shipped we will see how it goes...



JVT unit I custom mounted below. Was a massive radiator but never had an issue only cheap one that lasted [/

 

Are you going to be running the stock fan and shroud or something aftermarket?

 

Slim Fan Blox 10" pretty much only cheap slim fan I like. No shroud.

 

Into seeing the outcome.
Does this require moving mounts the stock lower mounts?

 

I think the smaller rad is suppose to let you use the stock mounts, right?

 

I do not have the car with me to try this out it is getting painted will be about another week or so.

From the appearance of it. The stud in the middle of the bottom end tank tells me it may try and use the passenger side bottom OEM tab. I would guess you would cut the driver side tab and move it and reweld it if you wanted a 2nd prevision. I would imagine this would be the correct way to mount it. However having only 1 tab or stud of the radiator doesn't worry me. Since the prevision is in the middle of the radiator and radiator hoses also help hold the radiator up.

I have a few options I could do. Above being one. Or make tabs or tab hole previsions on our ESP EF Traction Bar System.

Or make a bracket out of 1/8th steel x 1" wide and make 2 holes for the bottom radiator mounts, use piece of rubber tubing on each stud of the radiator mount it to the piece of flat metal. Then weld a stud on bottom for the passenger side OEM tab.

Last option which I did with my old F-R/PWR radiator was mount it using the core support drill 2 holes and use ruber tubing on the radiator studs and done. However I do not think I will be going with this option because I would like it to sit lower.

The old F-R/PWR radiator

 

Do you have any problems with running high temps while you daily drive it with the half rad especially since your not running a fan shroud?

 

Why not use the Skunk2 full size CRX rad?

 

Does it clear turbos? That's generally why people use the half rads in the CRX is to make room for the manifold.

 

Only time I had a heating issue (F-R/Pwr) was when I first had the H23V Turbo Crx built and was running a 50 trim that I had purchased from a rebuilt turbo Co. Was and seemed legit but turbo pooped on me seals etc. Didnt even have it for 1k miles. Overheated upon pooped out. Then went SC6176e and never had an issue again. I also powder coated my downpipe and dumptube with high temp flat black, then wrapped both with thermal wrap and also put on a turbo blanket. Never had an issue. I dailied this car for some time as well. One of the most trouble free cars I have had.

For the possibility of turbo later on on this D project.

 

Good thread! I spotted this Rad a while back and was waiting to see one reviewed. I can see this taking off if it works well.

How thick is it?

 

I heard you had to pound on your hood like 1-3cm in order to close the hood on the cap depending on how beat up your hood is.

 

I've been looking for a cheaper alternative to the Full-Race radiator for a while. Did this just come out? I feel kinda stupid for missing it.

 

This guy on CRXcommunity.com has a great idea to help with the radiator solution. He is using a full size radiator from a 85 VW Scirocco. Here is the link to his setup. Scroll more than halfway down the page it looks like a nice setup if you staying n/a or not going with a backdoor intercooler setup. http://www.crxcommunity.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=47995 Sorry I dont know how to post a direct link to the post so you will have to copy and paste.

 

I thought about this and I've heard there are actual fitment and mounting issues that he didn't run into. I was planning on doing this with my turbo build, but I have opted for a half rad since then.

 

Well yes mounting points are def going to be different, but it is very easy to modify and make brackets to make it fit. I like the clean look of it makes it look more like a shaved engine bay and mostly likely will give you way more room to fit a 3in downpipe. Im sure there are tons of pro's and con's to running a new setup like this but Im def going to keep this as an option for my build.

 

It does look alright. But it poses issues with the intercooler to radiator gap. You still have to put fans on it too. Try it, it may work out for you. My engine bay is function over form for sure. Not clean looking at all. Very factory looking set up.

 

End Tanks are 2" wide
Core is 1.5" wide
Dual Core

Yes when I was in the market for a radiator I was also looking at the VW Scirocco Radiator. However the fit really is not great, too much to modify, have to add a spout. I also wanted Aluminum all around as well. I picky on how it looks and functions felt what I had purchased would be much better.

The F-R/PWR I did have to cut little webbing of the hood for the spout. But I think I did that because how I decided to mount it up higher on the core support.

Our ESP EF Traction Bar System main bar is 1/4" under stock radiator tabs, so I may mount it on there.

 

Did this ever get finished?

 

Sorry guys for the wait. My painter took a little bit but came out great.

So the measurement to top of the cap on both is hair under 2 3/4" so for now looks promising. It uses the driver side stock bottom radiator mount and the top right stock radiator mount appears to work as well. Which I think is enough to hold it once the hoses are on. For now waiting on hood from painter but looks like it may clear. Will update shortly next few days.

 

Cool, looks good, maybe some pictures farther out as well.

What happend to the fins though?

 

Well here is where I am at right now. The Inlet and Outlet of the radiator appear to be much larger. I have brand new hoses and there is just no way. I even tried to use sloppy larger used ones again. No way.... On the phone with S2.

S2 says OEM should fit with a lot of work and stretching. They said the inlet and outlet is for larger B series which is 1.25". They more less hinted you need to make a trip down to the parts store and get larger aftermarket hoses and search for the right bends on the wall etc. etc. Which is what I did. The new OEM hoses EF D are like 1 1/16". No matter what they were not going to fit on the new radiator. Even old used hoses I had on it that are swelled still was no making them fit on the radiator. So new gates hoses is what I got spent about 15 minutes searching for the right hoses and bends. At this point I have to use ratchet clamps instead of the OEM clamps which sucks.

 

My full race is the same way. When choosing a larger hose the B18B hoses should work. Appears to be the same shape. Another reason I am not a fan of skunk2 lately. I have had to many things not work without modifying there parts or just plain dont fit.