Best radiator

[Oldschool]

I am finally getting my front engine dragster. I want to put a radiator in it for rounds. What would you recommend that would fit between the rails ?

[GlennLever]

When Roo Man built my dragster he used a custom built radiator from Spike Products

http://www.spikeradiators.com/

I ran it as a normally aspirated application



and then as a blown application with no problems



I would think you could contact him right here or

Spike Products
464 Johnson Lane Unit F
Brownsburg, IN 46112
ph: 317-858-0074
fax: 317-852-8448
spikeproducts@aol.com

[BK]

 Are you running gas or alcohol? Makes quite a difference. With my 355 on alcohol I used an aluminum Honda Civic radiator off Ebay. About a $100.00.

[PSweeney]

if running gas, I'd also recommend locking out the timing to help control engine temps.  My altered was a mid 8 sec car on pump gas but I found I was racing big inch alky dragsters in Super Pro who were doing half track burnouts and slow back ups to put heat in their motors whilst I sat and cooked.  I had a CSR pump, aluminium radiator and fan all going, but the heat going into the cylinder heads with low static timing was causing me to almost boil over.   

Locking out the advance mechanism changed everything, the car took longer to get up to temp and was almost capable of being cooled by the small radiator, so much so I started driving it back to the pits.  With this set up I could make 6-7 runs per day no problem

[225digger]

i have an aluminum rad from a civic also . got it on ebay . its a pretty small rad , i need to alter the inlet and outlet for AN fittings, im still putting the car together but i think it will do good . im going bbc with alky injection to start out .

[Oldschool]

Thanks for the info. everyone.Glenn what about the tubing you used to the engine from the radiator ?
I have a 434, gas, carb. Combination ,so I can get together and make runs. Then look at changing to a alky injection set up.

[GlennLever]

Thanks for the info. everyone.Glenn what about the tubing you used to the engine from the radiator ?
I have a 434, gas, carb. Combination ,so I can get together and make runs. Then look at changing to a alky injection set up.

Originally I ran a custom aluminum tube that coupled with a stock rubber hose but have gone to an AN fitting with a braided hose.

I'm was originally trying to be able to hot lap the dragster, but now am in the mode of being pulled back to the pits and using the setup to cool the engine, I can do a pit turnaround in 15 to 20 minutes.

Welded the fitting to the "stock" blower outlet


90 degree fitting puts the hose right where I want it




A lot of stuff to see here, right side of the picture you can see the black cloth braided hose coming off the fitting and going to the radiator.
Left side there is a small "burp" tank to get the air out of the system, a small line runs from the bottom of the tank to the water pump and at the top of the tank there is a small line that runs from the intake (highest point in the coolant system) to the top of the tank. When the pump is running there is a constraint stream of water coming into the tank from the high point (along with any trapped air) and the pump is constantly pulling water from the bottom of the tank.

[Racing6]

we are running one from a rabbit works real good, and only $80 new from auto parts store. they even had it in stock

[BK]

i have an aluminum rad from a civic also . got it on ebay . its a pretty small rad , i need to alter the inlet and outlet for AN fittings, im still putting the car together but i think it will do good . im going bbc with alky injection to start out .

When I did mine I bought an 11/4" or 11/2" by 1" aluminum reducing bushing. Turned the threads down until it fit nice and welded it in.
 I drove my car back after a run never had problems with engine temp. Leave line at 180deg would be 200deg at the finish line and 160deg when I got back to the pit.

[buickfed]

we run the ebay Honda radiator also, but its the only cheap one that will fit between the rails which are only 16" wide. special 16's" are costly. new rails are a lot wider so they have more choices. but the engine does get hot. hopefully the electric w/p will help the issue.

[DON]

What year Civic would that be from ?  What overall dimensions for it ?

[buickfed]

like this one. I've asked about making a 4 core and got turned down

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRI-CORE-FULL-ALUMINUM-3-ROW-RADIATOR-92-00-HONDA-CIVIC-EG-EK-DEL-SOL-INTEGRA-DC-/400696296230?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d4b5c4326&vxp=mtr

[spitzerscott]

We run a Perma-Cool unit,  Good Vibrations sells them.  No problems so far.

[BK]

like this one. I've asked about making a 4 core and got turned down

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRI-CORE-FULL-ALUMINUM-3-ROW-RADIATOR-92-00-HONDA-CIVIC-EG-EK-DEL-SOL-INTEGRA-DC-/400696296230?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d4b5c4326&vxp=mtr

I noticed a friend had same radiator in his RED said he ran his SBC on gas with it no problem.

[Oldschool]

I talked to Keith at Spike and going to have him make me one.