Radiator & 170 tstat...

[Blackwire1217]

Well, this past saturday i took the time to install the radiator and 170 tstat. The tstat is very simple and easy to change, the radiator is another story. It took me 4 hours for both the tstat and radiator which isnt too bad i guess. I will do a "How-to" write up on removing the front bumper (which was actually very easy) sense I havent seen one yet, and will post a couple of pics I took of the factory intercooler etc. etc. when i get home from work tonight. My temps are at 178~183 while crusing, 182~186 at idle with max a/c on (fans always on)... I guess i need to talk to Rick about changing the temp the fans come on at. Well.... Till tonight :swing:

 

[N8rfastback]

awesome!

where did you get the radiator and what did it cost? if you dont mind me asking.

cant wait to see the write up.

-Nate

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Torrie McPhail (www.unleashedtuning.com/content/view/77/17/) is who sells the 170 deg.T-Stat & the Radiator. The T-stat is $59.95 & the custom radiator is $499. Freight is extra. He also sells the 3-Bar MAPv sensor for $100. among other items that are EB & SHO related.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Did Torrie fix the mounting points for that radiator?

Darrell had a bear of a time with the radiator install and ended up sending it back to Torrie so he could re-work it accordingly.

I've been kind of hesitant to pull the trigger on the radiator myself not knowing if that's been fixed or not.

I would start with the 170 Deg. Thermostat. I did NOT get a new radiator for my Brick.... The radiators are the same... It's possible that my Flex has better breathing/cooling characteristics, like a bigger opening, or my custom Carriage Works grille that required cutting out the back panel of the stock Flex grille, but... I DO NOT HAVE COOLING ISSUES... Besides, having the lower temp T-stat is a good idea, even if you end up needing the radiator mod. You can log your temps after T-stat is installed and after your tuner adjusts cooling fans to come on at a lower speed.

Torrie has a radiator mfg. who makes them for him to sell... that's who replaces radiators that had incorrect mounts. Believe they are a direct ship from mfg.

 

[Blackwire1217]

All the brackets on the radiator itself are fine, ie. the mount for the intercooler and the fan housing. The part that was a pain was getting the radiator into the hard plastic housing that holds everything. Your suppose to be able to put the bottom 2 pegs in the holes and with the bushings on the top, tilt it in and screw it down. Reality is that it takes some persuasion to get it in.

I will have to do the bumper write-up this weekend as the pictures didnt turn out too well sense i took them on my phone, but here are some of the pics that turned out decent from my phone.

This is the factrory intercooler...


This is a pic of the intercooler mounted to the radiator...


And this is it all tore down, ready for the new radiator to go in...


Any other questions or concerns I would be glad to answer, just really exahusted right now so let me know if something didnt make sense

 

[thereisnospoon]

I am not trying to bash anyone who has the 170 thermostat mod. Heck, I am actually very interested in this myself. EcoBrick or Darreli or anyone who knows more about this engine than I do (which shouldn't be hard) - what does a 170 thermostat really do for our cars? And, very sorry if this has already been answered in another thread. Given that we have two seasons here (winter and summer) I'm sure the thermostat is wide open regardless around here during the summer. I guess I could actually see more benefit of this during the winter. How sensitive is this engine to heat??

 

[Ishodu]

I don't know why your spending $ on the thermostat either. All it does is control the min temp the car will run. Once the car hit 170 its open till its get to where its going to go too unless it winter and it will close again at 170. It will do nothing to lower your max temp.

 

[First-SHO]

My radiator had the same issues as Darrell's even after we got them back, we still had to move the mounting pins. I hope he has it fixed, because it cost me twice the removal.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Sorry if I accidentally semi-hi jacked this thread.....

The 170 deg. Thermostat cuts the real-live operating temperature of the EB engine by about 7-10 degrees F. The stock T-stat is listed as 180 degrees. Under load, the engine will seek it's own temp. It's just that the T-stat won't close until the engine cools to a lower temp. Both Darrell and I have experienced the same temp drop with the t-stat.

Based on the Data Log Darrell sent me from his last trip to the strip, the radiator definitely works, as his temps during & after his run don't rise as much as mine.

Perhaps someone who has installed the MobSteel grille can state how much more open the front ends up relative to the stock grille and it's backing. That was the only reason I mentioned mine, as it really opened up the front, and may be a big factor in my lack of overheating issues.

My only reason for commenting on using a 170 T-stat first, was to hopefully save money and effort. if it resolves the issue. I actually asked for the T-stat from several suppliers, and it was Torrie that had it made, first for me, and then available for sale.
The reason for the seemingly high price, is that Torrie's supplier takes the stock EB T-stat & modifies it with a lighter spring.