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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Hold fan to radiator, best way?

Sept. 16, 2011 9:10 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

Ok, so...

Radiator on the MX6 bit the dust last night. This one lasted 14 months. Now... for the THIRD radiator i'm going to put in here, i want to make sure it lasts.

I had the fan attached by those push pin zip strip thingymabobbers. The radiator is leaking right where one of those is, looks like it rubbed through the passage.

Is there a better way to hang fans? I'm probably going to buy two of those ebay fans at the same time. I'd like to be able to make a shroud, but i'm limited to "pusher" style setups due to space constraints caused by my large-ish turbo.
Sept. 16, 2011 9:53 a.m. oldtin Dork

Fab up some brackets to hold it?
Sept. 16, 2011 10:07 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

Not really anything there besides the radiator... Unless i made the brackets long enough to mount it to the radiator support.

And i suck at fabbing.

But, i'll check that option out once i have the bumper off again. I might be able to just drill some sheet aluminum into the supports and have it overlap enough to bolt the fans to it. Thanks!

Are these push pin things "bad?" Or did i just suck at using them this time around?
Sept. 16, 2011 10:16 a.m. tuna55 SuperDork

My opinion is that they are bad. Find another way. Plumbers straps could work pretty well if you're really cheap and in a hurry.
Sept. 16, 2011 10:21 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

tuna55 wrote:

My opinion is that they are bad. Find another way. Plumbers straps could work pretty well if you're really cheap and in a hurry.

I'm trying to figure out how that would work.... but coming up with nothing. THIS is why i suck at fabbing.

How would i do this?
Sept. 16, 2011 10:27 a.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

Are these push pin things "bad?" Or did i just suck at using them this time around?

i've never had a problem with them. make sure you have the foam tape under the feet where the fan housing contacts the rad, and under the big end of the push-pin retainer on the other side of the radiator, and pull them tight. really tight. tighter.

OK, now check them in a week and pull them tight again. There should be NO relative motion possible between the fan and the rad, and the foam tape should be crushed to near-zero thickness.
Sept. 16, 2011 10:29 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

^I think that's where i messed up. I didn't re-tighten and the foam doesn't seem to be that compressed, so it likely just moved around enough to "saw" through the radiator, you think?
Sept. 16, 2011 11:20 a.m. turboswede SuperDork

How about take the radiator and the fan to a radiator shop and have them add brackets to hold the fan(s) in place?
Sept. 16, 2011 11:24 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

turboswede wrote:

How about take the radiator and the fan to a radiator shop and have them add brackets to hold the fan(s) in place?

Brackets that loop around the top and bottom of the radiator? Sounds like a good idea, actually...

Probably even better idea if i get an all-metal radiator this time. I still have room in the budget for a performance radiator, if i could figure out wtf fits.
Sept. 16, 2011 12:00 p.m. ransom HalfDork

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

^I think that's where i messed up. I didn't re-tighten and the foam doesn't seem to be that compressed, so it likely just moved around enough to "saw" through the radiator, you think?

That makes perfect sense.

I've run a fan mounted this way for a couple of years with no issues.

I felt like I was doing something badly wrong the whole time, though. Next build gets "real" brackets.
Sept. 16, 2011 12:12 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

turboswede wrote:

How about take the radiator and the fan to a radiator shop and have them add brackets to hold the fan(s) in place?

Brackets that loop around the top and bottom of the radiator? Sounds like a good idea, actually...

Probably even better idea if i get an all-metal radiator this time. I still have room in the budget for a performance radiator, if i could figure out wtf fits.

Measure the stock radiator when you pull it out and go to Summit Racing, I swear they have every size know to man.
Sept. 16, 2011 12:23 p.m. clutchsmoke Reader

I bet a Miata radiator would fit. Take the dimensions of your current one and see what matches up on the Mishimoto website. Mishimoto makes good stuff.

http://www.mishimoto.com/mazda-radiator-performance-aluminum.html
Sept. 16, 2011 12:26 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

clutchsmoke wrote:

I bet a Miata radiator would fit. Take the dimensions of your current one and see what matches up on the Mishimoto website. Mishimoto makes good stuff.

http://www.mishimoto.com/mazda-radiator-performance-aluminum.html

Inlet/outlet is on the wrong side, and MX6 is quite a bit smaller. (Already checked out the one on my miata, and my spare brand new Escort GT radiator. And my spare MX3 GS radiator. )

I'm going to check out Griffin's catalog some more... took me a while to find the one i got for the Escort.

Stock MX6 is 25.38" x 15.75" x 1.5" or so. (Actual thickness is debated.) Inlet is top on driver's side, outlet is bottom on passenger side.
Sept. 16, 2011 2:01 p.m. rotard Reader

Rx7 radiator?
Sept. 16, 2011 2:52 p.m. T.J. SuperDork

For my 2002 project, i used a cheap ebay electric fan set up as a pusher, and i made some brackets from some scrap metal that attach where the radiator mounts. It was really easy.

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