In my experience the OEM rad works well until you fry a head gasket and then the plastic end tanks crack from high coolant pressure. The CSF 7075 works very well and is what I use now.

OP, your stock rad will be just fine. You'll likely need a larger oil cooler before a larger radiator. A few companies make good stock location replacement kits. If you see high coolant temps, before you go changing any hard parts, drain out some coolant and replace it with distilled water first.

 

CSF! That's the one. Unfortunately, yes: parts fail when others do. I keep forgetting my setup is a bit different than others so I don't worry about pressure and end tanks. I'm spoiled. 😁

OP: OEM then CSF if OEM fails and you can't find another is my recommendation also. None of the other aluminum radiators seem to be any good.

 

He's driving an Evo3 though right, so CSF or Koyo may be the only options. I know they make 4/5/6 rads' but not sure what the difference is on a 1/2/3.

 

yeah the 1,2,3 is impossible to find parts for, most stuff being done to my car is custom unfortunately. i google all the time parts for this car and very few things pop up

 

Oh, I didn't realize you weren't driving a CT9A. I know the evo 1-3 share a lot of engine and driveline parts with DSMs which is good but I imagine the radiator is evo specific. I know there are lots of parts from later gens that are backwards compatible so you're not pigeon holed into impossible to find stock parts for everything.

 

yeah i noticed alot of people (myself included) used evo 3 parts back in the day for all my GSX's, but ive never been too sure on what parts for DSM's work for the early evo's also? if i knew what worked and what didnt shopping would be so much easier and less custom work.

'

 

Been wanting to build a VI myself, but we're gonna need pics of this beast asap Take a measurement of the stock lower rad mounts and we'll measure ours to compare because really that's all that matters. The rest is hose.

 

i would have killed for a VI but all this dealership had was 2 EVO 3's, one Ralliart addition and one regular evo 3 (the one i bought) both for the same price, except the ralliart was too modified with cheap aftermarket mods and the same mechanic that is building my car told me "its a good thing you didnt buy this, its got way to many problems with it and cheap ebay/chinese mods." so i dodged a big bullet there lol as soon as he finishes it, ill def post pictures!

He's doing a FP Green turbo, manifold, (and i think downpipe), cams, 1050cc injectors, walbro 450 fuel pump, ecmlink, hks timing belt, water pump, pulleys and tensioners, new gaskets all around (minus head gasket, out of the budget unfortunately), draining all the fluids, pretty much cleaning and polishing the throttle body and putting a new gasket on it (it has a small boost leak now) and tuning it for E85. the goal is 400whp so once this is all said and done, i should be close to that WITH cams so, i guess we'll find out in about 2 weeks? lol

so should i just look for a evo 8/9 rad then IF it fits since it seems to be good enough as is?

 

sheepey csf is the one i run. i opted to get it before things failed on the oem rad haha

 

IMO if heat is a concern upgrade the oil cooler.

 

At least a stock oil cooler if it's large enough. But if I recall sheepy doesn't make the CSF rads, it's a CSF part number that comes out of their warehouse now - 7075. It has the 4/5/6 orientation with the neck on the right side instead of the middle. The issue you'll run into is are the bottom mounts in the right place and is it too wide/tall/long.

 

look for evo 3 parts in new zealand/ aus theres heaps of them cause we have heaps of these cars here. sadly in america/canada because you guys never received these cars from new it will be hard to find parts.

As mentioned the eclipse shares alot of common engine parts etc.

 

ill keep an eye out for that, do you recommend any good websites from those areas or know of any off the top of your head?

 

I have to provide input with a sample of 1... but I threw in a CSF rad and it died within 6 months. The warranty is only with "proof of professional installation" - yeah for a RADIATOR.
I threw the OEM one back in (Evo X), and have not had any problems at HPDE events.

 

Everyone has random failures. Had a car in the shop with a Koyo the other day that was leak from the braising for a few of the tubes. It happens. We put another Koyo in it because it was the only thing in stock. I'm not worried about it. We generally use CSF, but they were out of stock.

But yes, generally the stock radiators in the Evo8/9/X are sufficient for track with stock turbo power levels. I'm not sure for an Evo3 though.