TL;DR at bottom.

I have spent the last two hours giving myself a headache looking at the most contradicting
comments, posts, and replies on this topic. I'm having a weird idle surge/die problem with my DB8,
and I was going to replace the thermo first, because my gauge never moves, making me think
it is either stuck open, or a fuse blown.

I think my oem stock rad has started leaking somewhere at the top,
and since replacing the thermo involves having to fill with more coolant or even a flush,
I was going to go ahead and replace the rad while doing it.

My car is not boosted right now, but I plan on boosting in the near future, and my goal is 400WHP.
Which makes me wonder if a half rad can support this, even the triple core Mishimoto.
Also, not sure what I would have to do fan wise, like needing both pull and push, and how that would fit.

I don't really care about keeping A/C so that is a lot less heat to deal with though, correct?
I would keep it if it did not really matter but my windows work so who really needs A/C

It is nearly a 50/50 on people saying half rad vs saying "build around the full" basically.
I think if most people had a choice they would go full rad and tight fit. Afaik I will need a full
Ramhorn exhaust for my power goal, plus I would like one anyway for the looks haha.

I have seen pics of a ram with full rad, but it is an insanely tight fit and I don't know if having
to make things fit so tightly would limit me on power gains when it comes to turbo size etc.
But, I still have some to learn about turbos, so that's why I ask if this would effect much.
I am sure it would at least limit something like the A/R because of size limits in tightness.

TL;DR I am NA right now, plan on going turbo soon, goal is 400WHP, which basically requires a ramhorn.
Need to replace Radiator now, wondering which size I need of Mishitmoto to be ready.

 

A half size with a good fan will work fine for you. I’ve ran my car with two manifolds. And neither of which would have fit with a full rad. I have a civic, but I’d imagine building around a full is just more troublesome than what it’s worth.

 

What would a good fan be then? It should not matter the size if it is for a half right?
I see the fan shroud kit by Mishimoto for the MMRAD-CIV-92X half rad is $140 and the part # is MMFS-CIV-92.
Would I be fine using a different, cheaper fan, or bigger, or will I basically require that one?
Plus, if it designed for the civic, will it be a direct hookup to the integra's system as well?

Also, will I need to do any custom fab for using a half rad for the integra,
I know you said you had a civic so you probably cannot answer that,
but I am throwing that out there for anyone else reading this as well.

 

This is a great time to do some research on your own. These things have been covered in depth many times and your answers are out there. Honestly if you’re asking such base questions like “Can I put a half radiator in an Integra?” you won’t get that much help because it’s been done a million times. Google search and YouTube are your friends.

The fan is the key to a good cooling setup. You want a Spal brand fan and either a 12” with a shroud or a 13” without a shroud will also work from what I’ve heard. Do not skimp on the radiator or fan.

 

Mishimoto Triple core can support a lot more than 400whp. As mentioned use a good fan (Spal) and make sure it is shrouded. Also make sure simple things like intercooler end tanks or intercooler piping don't block airflow to the radiator. For Road Racing applications the CRX/Integra full radiators are mandatory - street cars can function well on a good 'half-rad'.

In order to use the Civic half-rad you'll need to cut-off and relocate the one lower radiator mount. Larger frame turbos don't clear with the full-rad - but for 400whp you won't need anything bigger than a T04E compressor housing that can be made to work with compact turbo manifolds and full-rad.

Look into the Go-Autoworks Mini-ram style manifold and kit. It's not AC compatible but positions the turbo close to the block and will be optimal for quick spool and your power target. Ram horns lean toward the more-lag/more top-end side of the spectrum.

 

Yes, I know there are answers out there, I found plenty. The problem is nearly 50/50 of them say yes and some say no to my question. Plus I also stated my WHP range, which I feel would effect in determining which would work or not. And plenty of posts can be old and may have info that’s simply out of date. I was wanting others opinions and personal experiences with them to help determine my answer.

Of course I can put a half rad in an integra, but that doesn’t mean it will work the same for some NA 200WHP compared to some boosted 600WHP car. That’s why I wanted others opinions and experiences if they had them.

I am most certainly not planning on skimping one a single part. This turbo build could end up $10K+ for all I care. I want the best products I can get to save myself headache and have that assurance of quality. I know of Mishimoto and Koyo, when it comes to rads, are some of the best for our cars.

I have definitely seen a few people say to just run a 13”. Does it matter that much if a pulling fan has a shroud or not? Or do I actually need a pusher and that’s what you’re discussing? And is there a reason I should chose a SPAL over a Mishimoto? I see they have quite a few different ones ranging from $100-$200 in the 13” section. Is it worth it to get the best of the best, or will any of them do? While I’m fine with spending as much money as I need, I also don’t want to unnecessarily spend.

 

Thank you for your response. I always thought the inter cooler would always be in front of and mostly block the rad? Or are there some that only fill up half the bumper for this type of stuff? Even if it filled half the bumper, would the piping still not need to go past the front of the rad?

Can you elaborate more on what you mean by “Road Racing” as compared to “Street Cars”? Do you mean cars specifically for drag or street cars that are only used for racing? Or something else entirely and I am an idiot lol.

So I will have to have the lower mount removed by welding, as well as then have it welded back onto the frame in a different spot to make sure it fits, correct? But, you seem to sound like I would be fine with a Full Rad because you believe I would be able to fit everything between the block and rad with what I would require for my goal?

Thank you, I've been trying to find different brands of things for the build and I did come across Synapse, or whatever it was similarly called, but it seems they went out of business a few years ago. I can’t see the point in people keeping AC with stuff like this, it creates such a massive hassle and extra work, I don’t believe it’s work it.

And yeah, I did know that about the full ramhorns, and damn they look pretty cool though. Although a quick and low rpm spool would be nice and good for DD, I feel like I wouldn’t have a problem with the lag a ramhorn would have, and even probably enjoy it. I will do the mini ram if I have to, but my preference is definitely the full ramhorn style.

 

So in 2017 you had a 95 Civic DX, in 2018 you bought a 99 Civic with a H22 swapped into it. Now you have an Integra? You have been a member for roughly 3 years and have made 4 posts, one of which said "How much boost, and how much nitrous, could a B18C Type R handle?"

Now hear me out dude...I'm all for helping. But you got to imagine that your questions and trend leaves me to believe you aren't going to take this seriously, so what's the point?

I'll help you in this part. I have an Integra and I'm going with a Koyo half radiator over a Mishimoto as I feel it is better. I will be putting a 13" Spal puller fan on it part #30102044 and some Skunk2 radiator hoses.

 

I’m running an old Wigglys racing Aluminium radiator and an OEM fan. Even on warm days, the max I see is 195 in traffic or drive through. On the dyno it didn’t see over 185 crushing. This a 325whp turbo GSR.

 

Run this setup and ur good to go, I have this same fan on a half size rad in my boosted EK civic with no cooling issues

 

I don't really appreciate the remark. I did not realise I had to continue to update the internet on my vehicles.
If you absolutely must know, The DX was my daily for 7 years before I wrecked it last year. Then I got a ninth gen V6 Accord Sedan. I daily that now and love it.
The H22 swapped Civic was one of many vehicles I have flipped before. Although I had interest in keeping it longer than I did, I still finished what I started,
completely fixing everything wrong with the vehicle and selling it for a profit of $2,300.

The Integra DB8 is one of my dream tuner cars, and I have spent a year looking for one in amazing condition, I have finally found that, as you can see.
Also IIRC, that post of the B18C was purely hypothetical but people did not appreciate hypothetical questions apparently.
And just to really satisfy you, I also own a BB6, a 240SX S13, 1979 Impala with a 350, and a 1987 Firebird.
Would you also like me to post my address to the internet so anybody can come down to verify?

So, besides that, I appreciate the rest of your response. I was definitely thinking about the Koyo, but I have heard so many good things of the warranty for the Mishimoto rads.
What are your reasons for choosing the Koyo over the Mishimoto? And are you going to run a shroud with the 13"? Afaik I thought you could only fit a 12" with a shroud on these half rads.
Are Skunk2 stuff any good? Although I have had products from them before, it is always a mixed bag from what I have read about them over the years, and depends on what products you get as well.
And are you talking about silicone hoses or normal rubber lines?

 

Wow that's crazy, then I should certainly be fine with a good half and good fan. Are you also running with A/C and/or PS?

Do you also agree that I should choose a Koyo over a Mishimoto rad? That fan doesn't fit with a shroud either, does it? Afaik it can only fit a 12" with shroud.

 

I've personally never had a radiator of any brand go out, so a warranty on a $100 radiator to me isn't that big of a deal. I've read nothing but Koyo radiators are better than Mishimoto, never the opposite. I don't think I would say Mishimotos are BAD but I think there are better options. And from what I've been told the 13" Spal fan is too big to run a shroud.

This is what I'm running. You could go a different route but I think this to be among the best routes to go.

Radiator: https://jhpusa.com/products/koyo-alu...vic-d-b-series

Radiator cap: https://www.rallysportdirect.com/par...SABEgJEM_D_BwE

Fan:

 

My rad is not a branded one, jus a regular aluminum double core half size, but it works good, I didnt try to fit a shroud with the 13 fan, cause the fan covers more area than the 12,i always wondered if I out a shroud on if it wud make more of a difference with cooling

 

No AC or PS for me.

 

Well, I got the 13" SPAL and the half rad Mishi X-Line on the way.
Will take my car to my friends shop to weld the brackets into the spots they need to be,
because afaik you have to remove the brackets and weld them in different spots, at least one of them correct?

 

there are tons of step by step threads about this with pictures and you can even find videos on it.

 

Not if the fan meets past the edges of the core

 

Thanks, it probably will cause I have a 12inch aluminum fan shroud

 

Either is fine. I ran an oem civic half radiator when my car was turbo b series and had a water cooled turbo. Temps were around 198-200 on 90-95 degree days

 

No welding at all, unless you're referring to a water fitting bung from a turbocharger. Otherwise, no welding needed.