What company has the cheapest 4-core radiators for the 280ZX? I really want an aluminum one, but it looks like I'll have to wait a while for that and I don't want to. so for now, I just need a 4-core, aluminum or not, I got about $200 to blow right now.

 

Why do you need a 4 core?

I have a 1 core in mine...

What are you running?

 

power wise the 4-core is to allow future mods without worrying about the cooling as much, for I have a lot of plans. in the 8 years my mom and I have had this car, it has had 3, 3-core radiators that work perfect, then a lot of overheating occurs with no real warning, I think i'm just gonna go with an electric fan for now, will that help? what other low-cost mods can I do for overheating issues? As it is I can't drive my Z unless it's less than 85* and all last weak it was 92*-99* the one day I did drive, I had to drive with the hood popped!

 

wow sounds like you have a serious cooling issue.. may i suggest replacing your thermostat and water pump? i run the stock radiator and i live in houston, tx and i NEVER have gone past half on my guage..

 

thanks assimilated, I just got my catalog in for MSA and will be ordering both on monday.

 

I agree with Assimilated. Unless you have bad rust, core damage or a leak, you shouldn't see failures like that.

I would suspect it's a problem with the fan clutch, water pump or thermostat.

Make sure the fan shroud is securely attached to the radiator as well. I assume you still have the fan shroud? This is critical to ensuring you get the proper air flow over/through the radiator.

For the cost of 2 factory radiators, you can get a high capacity aluminum radiator from http://www.JagsThatRun.com

It's a single core, high capacity and the temp on my turbo hasn't gone over 165* since I installed it.

 

I had major cooling issues here in the desert. After I replaced my thermostat with a brass lifetime warranty one. And put the top and bottom fan shrouds back on the car. My cooling issues pretty much stopped. My '81 would really only overheat on the freeway. He would be fine on regular streets, but as soon as I jumped on the freeway, the needle in a few minutes would sweep over to the right quick.

 

Yup. People don't realize how important those fan shrouds are.

They force the air to go through the radiator core rather than just re-circulate the hot air already inside the engine bay.

 

The trouble was my '81 never came with the top piece. And I had a heck of a time finding one. But man what a difference after I installed it, and got the brass thermostat!

 

just ordered the thermostat and water pump at a local autoparts store, it was $15 cheaper than through MSA! no S&H! The thermo is a 180*, that'll be good right, MSA has 180 and 160, but at the store they could only get a 180 for me.

 

180 is standard.. they usually open a few degrees off than specifiied but with that you should get better cooling..

 

I run 192 but 180 is fine also. I never have had any cooling problems after I bought a new stock radiator. but my engine is basically stock too.

 

The stock radiator is an excellent piece of equipment and should suffice unless you're doing something crazy like running over 20psi on a water cooled turbo...!