BF turbo 4x4 radiator...

[alank]

hi guys
Im from the UK and its hard to get parts for these cars over here so maybe you guys can help me....
this is my first post on here,, recently found the site,, been doing lots of reading but just registered so will be posting quite a bit hopefully..

anyway.... i need a new radiator but i have just been quoted £150 from my local Mazda dealer so im looking to get an aftermarket one... i have seen the alloy ones on ebay (like this one... item number 290506064889) but i need to know if it will be a direct fit for a BF... someone must have tried one...

or can anyone tell me where i can get a standard aftermarket one cheaper than £150??? are there any other cars that used the same radiator or a similer one that will fit????

Thanks Alan

[trailrider098]

the one on ebay is for a BG chassis. it will be a little too tall for your BF chassis GTX. as far as i know there are no direct fit aftermarket rads for the BF chassis, you can try fitting a radiator from any other model BF chassis car like a tracer or capri(they might be cheaper). they come in different sizes depending on auto/manual or turbo/nonturbo but if you look on your radiator support there are a bunch of spare holes to mount brackets in different spots

[alank]

thanks mate.. yeah i would have thought the radiators from the non turbo models would fit ok. i'll see if i can get one

[BFMRGTX]

The BF GTX radiator has provisions for two sensors / switches / whatever located on the driver's side. I don't know if the GT or the lowly NA SOHC have those.

[323GTX-RSA]

Over here in South Africa we use the Isuzu KB truck radiator in the BF 323 for an upgrade, I think it is the Vauxhall Fronter in the UK. It fits in perfectly if you remove the stock IC and fit a front mount. I have positioned mine so that it fits in the front hole where the radiator and IC sit and just got a straight piece of hose for the Raditator inlet pipe. I used my stock fan and just bolted it to the radiator. I will post pics once I put the car back together as I am doing an engine rebuild at the moment. There are a couple of different radiators for the Isuzu Truck over here and you need to use the 2.8 DT or 3.0 V6 one.

[alank]

excellent... thanks guys.. we have isuzu troopers over here and also vauxhall fronteras.. pics will be good

[323GTX-RSA]

I will pop the radiator back in tomorrow and take some pics so you can see what it looks like and how I have mounted the fan onto it. The block is still in the car but the head is off so you should be able to see the lower piping as well.

[alank]

cheers mate, that would be a great help.. i might be getting a rad from a non turbo at the weekend so should be ok.. would still be good to see the pics though

[323GTX-RSA]

Here are the pics of the radiator.


Without the radiator in


With the radiator in


How the pipes fit

[alank]

thanks for that.. does it fit in the bottom mountin holes ok??

[trailrider098]

DAmn!! that does fit good. Is there an American counterpart to that isuzu?

[323GTX-RSA]

I just glued a piece of rubber to the bottom, an old floor mat, so it does not slip and then secured it at the top. It is quite solid with that and does not move at all.
Isuzu is owned by GM so there could be an alternative out there. I think the radiator measures 600mm x 400mm if memory serves. In Brazil the Isuzu is sold as a Chevy truck so you should have some derivative there.

[alank]

right guys i have picked up my radiator from a 1.3 bf.. it is slightly smaller and doesnt have the fan switch hole in it... i am only using it to check why my car is over heating to eliminate a blocked radiator..
I will need to get a new radiator in the near future but dont want to be paying £150 from mazda... can you guys get standard rads any cheeper over there and ship it over to me??

[IH786]

Hey mate

I am sure you can get you old rad reconditioned for half the dealer price at some place local to you. Thats what i will be doing to mine, there are a few places in Brum i can take it to

[alank]

thats an idea.. i'll look into it, would be good to get a nice alloy one but i want one that will be a perfect fit...thanks mate