MX-3.com

So after not much luck scouring the junkyard for a cheap radiator, I decided that next time I go I will have a list of what cars to keep an eye out for so I don't waste as much time. Here's a list of cars that look like they may have a similar size radiator, with the inlet and outlet in the same location as the mx3. I'm hoping this might also make it easier for other people to find a higher performance radiator than stock.

Am I right that the inlet and outlet are 1.25"?

Subaru Brat - 1/8" smaller inlet & outlet
Toyota Celica (1980-1982) - very slightly larger inlet & outlet
Geo Prizm - inlet is top center
Toyota Corolla 1984-1997 - inlet may be top center or top right
Nissan Stanza - larger inlet/outlet
Ford Ranchero - only a *few* inches too tall
Nissan 200SX - 1/8" smaller inlet & outlet
Mazda Mx-5 (Miata)
Chrysler TC Maserati
Plymouth Acclaim - probably a bit too tall
Mazda MX-6 - inlet/outlet are 1.5"
Infiniti G20 - a very close fit, I think?
Subaru WRX - a few inches taller, inlet/outlet in the right spot

Also this (very old) thread:

http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15416" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

makes some other suggestions. My comments are below.

Shady469 wrote:i know we tried to put the 92-00 civic radiator in but it was too tall. and if you angle the bottom then there is no room for the coolant hose. your going to have to make a bracket that sits the radiator further down than the cross member.
the swap was nearly done when we started messing with it so i just forgo the rad. for my stock one.<p>maldo swapped in a 240 radiator with only a few complications. personally i think this is a better option as it is a full radiator not a half like the civic.<p>[ June 11, 2003: Message edited by: Shady469 ]</p>

I agree. The civic radiator is too tall. I considered getting one of the cheap all-aluminum civic radiators off ebay and decided that there would be too much cutting involved for such a narrow radiator.

maldo wrote:The section that runs parallel to the factory rad, where the cross member bolts up in the front, needs to be cut out (entirely). I then fabricated a new section using 1"x2" box section tubing to create a new support. I have some simple tabs made to hold the rad at the top but do need to fab up some better ones. The biggest problem is the size difference (26"x17.5") vs. the stock rad. One that might be better would be a rad for the Focus as it is just 13.5" high (much closer to the stock size).

Focus radiator seems to have the inlet and outlet reversed from what we want. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong model year.

maldo wrote:There is a difference between the 240sx radiator and one designed for an S13-15. The inlet/outlet on the 240sx are in the wrong location. The S13. S14 and S15 rads are designed for the SR20DET which repositions the inlet and outlet to the factory locations on the MX-3. Upgrading to a OEM 240sx rad makes no sense for the work involved. You can get the KOYO brand radiator thru Phase2motortrend.com for much less than the factory replacement from Mazda. The size allows for the i/c pipes to pass thru to the front since the rad isn't as long as the factory unit. This will help keep the pipes short for better throttle response. There is plenty of room up front for a 3" thick intercooler but why do you need one that thick?

The radiators I've seen that claim to be for the SR20DET have the outlet on the wrong side. I'm curious which Koyo radiator maldo was referring to here; all the images of radiators I see on pharse2motortrend.com show the outlet on the right.

Are there any others that I missed?