Replacing radiator 280zx, need help.
 

Hey guys! so im about to purchase the MSA 3 row aluminum radiator from TheZstore for my 83 280zx, but the problem I was just faced was the Electric fan mounting bracket, for the Tornado El. fan, I was going to purchase doesn't fit for the 280zx 3 row Al. Radiator. Because I really want to have an electric fan to installed, I cant use the tie downs or my warranty will be declined if I want to return my radiator. So is there another sort of way to install the fan without damage to the radiator? I also want to know if its possible to install earlier model performance radiators to the 280zx. They all seem to have the same kind of mounting design with the bolts, but I think the dimensions are different. Let me know what yall think. Thanks!

Msa is expensive I got mine for 175 shipping included. Be aware that the three row aluminium rat. Cools great!! in cool weather almost to good. I'm going to have to change the thermostat to prolly a 200'. Because the heater no longer blows hot more like Luke warm. As for mounting I do know that the 280z is smaller and the holes do not match up. As my buddy tried to put my old one in his 75.

Yeah I hear a lot of good comments of MSA rad. but just recently right after I purchase also the Tornado Elec. fan and the bracket for it. Apparently the bracket doesn't fit for the rad.

Got any pics of the electric fan?

I say just fab up your own mounting brackets... If you have some scrap metal and a grinder you can probably make something work. If you have a welder... it should take 5 minutes. :)

Well turns out the Electric fan will mount onto the Radiator without a hazzle, by what one of the workers at Motorsports Automotive for Thezstore, has to say. I still haven't received it yet in the mail so it'll take a bit.

By the way NismoPick, im about to install a 240sx TB onto my 280zx, what kind of tubing did you use to fit the TB to the AFM? And where can I purchase one?

You bought that fan from MSA? isn't it like $175? You can find dual 12's (2k CFM each) with a thermostat and relay package for like $70-$100 on amazon/ebay, with free shipping! I am interested however in finding out what exactly comes with the package and how well it works!

Best of luck,
-Gene

I have a 280zx Turbo (L28ET) so I connected the TB to the intercooler pipes. :) You can buy whatever size of silicone couplers and tubing you need on ebay. Just remember that it's a worthless upgrade unless you also use a gut-swapped turbo AFM.

Yes. ebay. :023:

^NismoPick, okay cool, i was looking through Summitracing.com seeing what kinds of tube would fit, but i have'nt been able to find one that has the same or close enough design as the 280zx non-turbo comes with. As for the AFM i do have a gutted model. I did all my research for the TB swap before asking a lot of questions. Thanks NismoPick for the help. Really appreciate it man!

Too late for that now....:075:

Ebay can be sketch at times, yes. I look for high seller ratings and large # of sold products most of the time, haven't been too badly burned yet...

Nuthin' wrong with Amazon though!

Im just hitting myself in the head for i why i didnt just go to amazon and purchase the dual set for a even lower price of one! Well im just gonna get spend happy again and make it a triple fan set onto my radiator. Dual fan for pulling and the single fan for pushing.

You're probably overkill on the fans. I had a dual setup and ran it in single fan mode and even in traffic in the summer and the turbo hot it never went above where it normally sat on the temp gauge. Spend your time and money elsewhere. If you find you need it add it later. You already probably have more than enough just by having a three core...

ok so this may not be relevant to the post but as a quick tip in my gallery i posted pics of my ebay radiator that was $140 all aluminum 3 core. That was way cheaper than the MSA one and does the same job with small fab work and using stuff from around the house. For the ones that want to save money.

I did the same thing - had to do a lot of cutting/measuring as the bracket needed a lot of mods but it was just removing materials. Awesome rad otherwise...