I recently converted over to a half-size -- I don't have AC. This past weekend in 100 degree heat, my car overheated in ~2 laps for the first time ever. Previously I ran DA (full width) radiator without any problems.

I suspect that with my Full Race bars and a half-sized unit, air is allowed to escape around the half sized radiator. There's big gaps all around the unit.

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed the same issue? seems like this should have been an obvious problem, I don't think anyone mentioned it. Thoughts?

 

if your car is tracked often you should just make a removeable shroud to direct the airflow towards the radiator. also, a splitter underneath will help airflow from traveling under the car instead of through the radiator, and heat extraction vents would help out too. remember, on the track it's function before form. do what you have to to keep it reliable.. it doesn't matter if it doesn't look the best if you're constantly placing high.

 

ugh i hate to hear this....

there's always the gangster hood rake where you prop it up in the back.....

does anyone think a FMIC would further aggravate this problem?

 

maybe, maybe not. it depends on how much airflow the intercooler allows through it, and how much space it stops air from going around it. if you stack an intercooler on top of the radiator, then yeah, it might become a problem if you're already overheating. the hood rake helps a little bit, but not enough to make a difference. what are you running for coolant? what kind of thermostat? do you have a front picture of your car, like, eye level with the bumper openings? what about a top down shot of the space around the radiator, these will help me figure out why you're overheating on the track aside from the obvious.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mahatma &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ugh i hate to hear this....

there's always the gangster hood rake where you prop it up in the back.....

does anyone think a FMIC would further aggravate this problem?</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you prop up the back of the hood air goes INTO the back of the hood not OUT of it therefore it will not help your radiator, it's a high pressure area thus Cowl Induction hoods...

Creating a duct to direct air through the radiator will most likely help ALOT.

Yes of course a FMIC will further aggravate the problem, which means it will be more likely to happen, this dosen't mean it will necessarily cause a problem but if you're allready having a problem it's definately gonna make it worse as would any other obstruction to the radiator.

WWDTrackRacer: Is there any way to use a DA radiator with the Full Race crossmember? Are you using Full-Race's tiny little radiator or a regular EG half rad?

 

I converted to half-size as well...mine overheats a lot in So cal weather, but if i have teh fan on its fine

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bob_760 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there any way to use a DA radiator with the Full Race crossmember? Are you using Full-Race's tiny little radiator or a regular EG half rad?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes I was running a DA radiator with my FR crossmember. I broke off the spot welded mounting nubs off the bottom and it actually sits a little higher... but it works. I didn't like the potential vibration damage over time that would happen s ince this is a track only car -- so I decided to go with a FR/PWR half size radiator.

I'll take some pictures of the big gaps around the half-size rad. I think it's pretty obvious that I will need to block out the escape routes for air flow.

 

What's your fan setup?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ermil &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What's your fan setup?</TD></TR></TABLE>

On my Civic / DA Integra radiator, I ran the OEM Honda fan. In interest of weight savings, I ditched the fan. Overheating has never been an issue as long as I keep the car moving.

It's pretty unusual for the car to overheat so quickly. When I originally put the B16 in on the Civic radiator -- it took about 6 laps in 100 degree weather on a low speed track to overheat.

On a high speed track, it overheated in 2 laps. I'll post some pix up this weekend. I'm sure I will need to fab up some ducts.

 

if you're running a b-series with an oem half sized radiator for a 92-95 d-series your problem may be just that.. the del sol b16 radiator (still half sized) is a two or three core as opposed to the d-series single core. That DA radiator was made for a b-series ya know.. could always cough up the $300 for full-race's radiator

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IT GUY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> could always cough up the $300 for full-race's radiator</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WWDTrackRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so I decided to go with a FR/PWR half size radiator.</TD></TR></TABLE>
...

Anyhow i'd put a slimline fan on it just to be on the safe side (and so you could cool it down in the paddock) but if you're overheating at speed a fan obviously isn't what you need. Any sort of baffle should drastically help, a totally sealed setup should solve the problem for good even with that little radiator.

 

You could try and get a new Thermostat. One that opens at a lower temp.

Also some sheetmetal, to block off the large hole where the radiator use to extend to. (in front of the exhaust manifold)

 

 

Get a nice strong fan from summit the bigger the better, I use a 14” pulls like 1400-1500 cfms. The stock ones and the cheap “slimline” suck ***. Bigger is better.

here is the one i use
http://store.summitracing.com/...w=sku

 

Ok I read this time, air is like my roommate, it always takes the path of least resistance. With a full radiator air was forced through it, but the half will let most of the oncoming air to go around it. You could just cut a piece of sheet metal to block off the open side. Or run the fan.

 

So I took a peek @ my EG -- to see if Honda directed airflow better for the half size radiator setup on it. Looks identical to my EF. WTH? Then again, I've yet to trackrace the EG in desert fire-starting weather.

 

I had the same problem. I SWAIN coated all my manifold and downpipe and now i have no problem

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WWDTrackRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So I took a peek @ my EG -- to see if Honda directed airflow better for the half size radiator setup on it. Looks identical to my EF. WTH? Then again, I've yet to trackrace the EG in desert fire-starting weather. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yea but if you ever noticed honda never left a gigantic hole next to the radiator so air could go around it rather than though it. honda made a plastic panel that goes in right next to their rad for civics without AC. thats to keep the air moving though the rad. i think it you put a shield between the header and the rad (or wrap the headers) and block off the huge hole be side the radiator you'll be ok. mabey get a slim fan for insurance

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mrtoastyjr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yea but if you ever noticed honda never left a gigantic hole next to the radiator so air could go around it rather than though it. honda made a plastic panel that goes in right next to their rad for civics without AC. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Are you talking about EG or EFs? Good to know info... thanks for the response! I guess my EG might be prone to overheating if I'm not careful. But it does have a stock fan on it.

 

im talking about 92-95 civics and i think 96-00 civics to. any civic without ac.

 

i have the same problem on eg VTEC double core radiator, with the old one i never had this problem

 

what radiator is that your running ?

 

Does anyone know of a bigger radiator that will fit with the full race bars? I have the same one and my b20 vtec tends to run a bit hot on the highway. Water wetter mixed with some regular water helped but When I track this car it will overheat for sure.

 

Where is the radiator fan??

 

he isn't running one