Ron Davis, Fluidyne or other

[Simms]

Which radiator do you guys prefer as far as quality, fit, cooling, etc.? I know you need the 99-up fan for both, and you need to modify it for the Fluidyne. Is this true for the Ron Davis too? I also know the Ron Davis can come with a built in oil cooler. So which is preferred?

 

[Qualitywires.com]

I have the Ron Davis Radiator and it seems to be a quailty radiator. I have not used the oil cooler in it yet..not sure if I will or not I heard it can cause the car temps to get real hot.

I know nothing as far as the Fluidyne besides some people telling it leaks from flexing? Not sure..but I decided with Ron Davis...since alot of people had good luck with them. I am sure both are fine.

 

[VPRVENM97]

I have the Fluidyne radiator/oil cooler. The oil cooler sits on top of the radiator. They are separate components so the heat from the oil cooler shouldn't affect the radiator significantly. I've been very happy with my set up. However, it does require a slight modification and aftermarket fans.

From what I know about the Ron Davis radiator/oil cooler (correct me if I'm wrong), the oil cooler is integrated with the radiator. That's were you get the heat issue that AB is talking about.

You may also want to consider the triple pass radiator sold by West Coast Vipers. From what I understand, it's a direct fit and comes with the fan.
WCV triple pass radiator

 

[Qualitywires.com]

I personally also think from experience that these radiators are good, but they are not always the best fix to lowering heating issues....if you are getting one of these radiator because you sit in traffic...it will not help you out...these raiditors will help you out to keep things cool when you are MOVING air into the radiator.

 

[STUGOTS]

VPRVENM97 I have the fluidyne without the oil cooler, do you have any idea where I can buy the oil cooler by itself?

Thanks

 

[PhoenixGTS]

Tomorrow I am installing the Australian PWR unit from West Coast Viper along with they WCV over-drive water pump. The unit looks nice with three rows and the end tanks divided so the coolant flows across and radiator three times before exiting (radiator does not include built-in oil cooler). I heard about one of these units springing a leak after only a year, but I am going to give it a try. I will be posting results next week. I think the pump is going to be the big difference maker in the system, especially since I have an underdrive pulley on the crank. Replacing all my air conditioning o-rings at the same time and just in the nick of time since it is going to be 88F tomorrow.

 

[kARLUG]

I have the Ron Davis and love it. It fits like a glove, great service from Davis and lowers temp about 10 degrees.
You might also want to check with Dan Cragin, DC Performance. He also sells a performance radiator.

 

[99 R/T 10]

I have a custom built one for sale in the classified, $500 shipped! I also use this in my car, kept this one as a spare, now need the room

 

[Simms]

Thanks everyone for your input.

Mike, why did you go the custom route?

 

[Shelby3]

A caution worth note regarding after market radiators is that most are thicker and interfere with fitment of after market air boxes. I ran into this issue with the Fluidyne.

 

[99 R/T 10]

PM Sent.

 

[Simms]

A caution worth note regarding after market radiators is that most are thicker and interfere with fitment of after market air boxes. I ran into this issue with the Fluidyne.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[STUGOTS]

ok anyone know where I can get a fluidyne oil cooler?

 

[Ulysses]

For Fluidyne, I'm sure Roe racing or DLM or Parts Rack can get a hold of the oil cooler for you. (If Fluidyne makes a compatible one)

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

DO NOT RUN THE RON DAVIS OIL COOLER/RADIATOR COMBO ON THE STREET. It super heats the engine coolent, leading to much higher engine temps, especially in traffic.

ON THE TRACK ITS GREAT.. but on the street its counter productive !!

FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE !!

Jon

 

[VPRVENM97]

VPRVENM97 I have the fluidyne without the oil cooler, do you have any idea where I can buy the oil cooler by itself?

Thanks

Stu,

You actually have to buy them as a unit. The radiator is shorter in order to accomodate the oil cooler on top. A few things you should be aware of. The unit is thicker then the stock radiator, you'll have to fabricate a custom bracket for it, custom fit after market fans and the stock airbox won't clear the upper corner of the oil cooler and the AN fittings. I have a factory Ten CF airbox so there's no clearance problem.

There are some issues to deal with going this route but it did address the overheating problem. Here are some pics...

 

[STUGOTS]

Thanks for the adice and thanks for the pics.

Guess I will just stick with an upgraded stock replacement oil cooler.

like this one.

https://secure.fiftybelow.com/archerracing/index.cfm?page=item-detail&ID=V-4982&storeid=1&vtype=viper

 

[STUGOTS]

does anyone know anything about that oil cooler at archer ???

 

[99 R/T 10]

This is the one I have,

http://gallery.viperclub.org/data/500/1882radiator2.jpeg
http://gallery.viperclub.org/data/500/1882radiator1.jpeg

 

[PhoenixGTS]

I'm either lucky or unlucky, depending how you look at it. Took today off to make sure I had time over the weekend to replace all the o-rings in my AC systems and install my new 3-row, triple pass PWR radiator from Australia via West Costs Vipers along with the WCV overdrive water pump. Took the AC condensor out to clean the oily mess from a refrigerant leak and figured if I have the condensor out I should find someone to pressure test it to make sure it does not leak and the o-rings will fix it. When I was loading the condensor in the truck I thought heck, maybe I should take the radiator along with me. Got to the radiator shop and they said they did not have the proper fittings to pressurize the condensor, but they would pressure test the PWR radiator for free. They put 25 psi in the rad, put it in a dunk tank and bam - blowing bubbles out of two different places. So I'm unlucky that some hacks down under did not take the time to pressure test their rad before they sent it to the USA, but lucky that I figured it out BEFORE installing it in the car and filling it up with coolant. Called John at WCV and he is immediately going to pressure test a PWR radiator he has to make sure it is OK and send it over. Not his fault and you could tell in his voice he is not happy with the vendor. Freakin' aftermarket *****. At least I will have more time to try and find someone to pressure test the condensor unit (just in the nick of time since it was 90F+ today).

 

[STUGOTS]

im not seeing the overdrive water pump on their site is it a direct replacement for the stock one or does it only work with their radiator???

 

[PhoenixGTS]

im not seeing the overdrive water pump on their site is it a direct replacement for the stock one or does it only work with their radiator???

One problem with WCV is their site is out of date. For example they have had failures with the fan control module (fried a PCM) that keeps the fan running after you shut the car off and no longer sell that unit but it is on the site. The water pump is a modified stock unit so it bolts right on. It has a pulley about two-thirds the diameter of the stock pump (I currently run a 785 serpentine belt with my underdrive crank pulley and John thinks I will end up using a 755) so that is where the over-drive comes from, and a supposedly redesigned impeller made out of steel that does not cavitate at the higher rpm. Nice looking unit. $595 + a core. Let's hope the vendor is better than PWR.

 

[STUGOTS]

if it changes that it may cause an issue with S/C right?

 

[PhoenixGTS]

if it changes that it may cause an issue with S/C right?

I would think no. The size of the crank pulley and supercharger pulley determine the speed the supercharger is spinning and the belt is simply rubbing on the water pump pulley so the water pump gets a free ride. Only thing I can think is it might some how change how much the belt wraps around the supercharger pulley and if it reduces it there might be a belt slippage problem on the supercharger pulley.

 

[STUGOTS]

ok I gotcha.

Thanks alot man