Excel Radiator in 86

[v-tec]

Hi all, ive just recently purchased an Ae86 which has an excel radiator replacing the standard item. I have heard from the previous owner that several others on this site or maybe just other 86 owners have done the same thing.
Here is what it looks like:





I was just wondering what people have done for the top radiator supports?
I plan to make something up that would hold it tight, i just need to make sure it is good as i need the car to pass a rwc soon so i can get it on the road.

It shouldnt be a problem for me to make a support up for the right side of the radiator, however the left side is directly in front of where the radiator cap is for this radiator so i was wondering what people have done for this... i was thinking of moving the support to the right more and just use a bolt and a nut through one of the holes in the radiator support.

Any info is helpfull


Cheers

Grant

[Bustin_86]

SamQ has done this conversion man, so would be a good idea to get in contact with him and or check his worklog.

If you want an answer right now what you could do is get two pieces of ally, bolt them to the rad support panel in front of those two pieces of plastic that stick straight up vertically from the radiator. If you know what i mean lol. Then just drill a hole in both pieces of ally to make room for those stick up bits and your laughing.

That is how they are supported from factory, its just a bit more of a ghetto setup. Ideally, get some mounts from a wreckers as they have the rubber mounts in them and just space them up and weld or bolt them to the rad support.

Hope that made sense, if i wasnt so flat out i would draw what i mean... I'll try to get around to it soon.

Hope it helps man.

[Bustin_86]

Red boxes are the bits of ally, and the blue bits are where you will bolt/weld the brackets to the rad support. Bolting would be preferable aye. Then just drill the holes in the end to let the plastic mounts come through.

Hope that helps.

Justin

[v-tec]

cool cheers man, ill look into that
i got sam on msn too so ill give him a yell too and see what he can tell me.

Anyone else that has pics etc if theyve done it would help also

Cheers

[Bustin_86]

Yeah man Sam will be able to help you heaps more, my explanation is way wakk lol.

Best of luck with it mate.

Justin

[RobertoX]

If you can find the circular rubber things that go over those plastic posts they will help prevent the top tank from cracking. Then make a bracket to bolt where Justin has suggested going over the rubber...

[v-tec]

i see so if i try make my own radiator support things like the standard excel ones, but just made to fit the 86 frame

[Gilly]

yeah use the rubbers as well Grant, should be easyish to incorporate them

do what Justin said, it looks good and will work

[Bustin_86]

Maybe insert and fasten a old rear shock top rubber in the custom brackets?

I have some i can post you if you dont have any kicking around.... but you should!

That way you can avoid dodgy wreckers trying to sell you a whole rad when you just want the mounts lol.

Should cost you nothing.... just get some scrap ally from a fab place.

Cheers,

Justin

[v-tec]

Yea ill see what fabrication places i can hit up on the weekend, might see if i can dig up some info/pics of the excel stuff to see what im trying to make too.

Cheers for all the helpful info so far