I just installed a radiator for the heat exchanger for my GMPP supercharger... When I ordered it, it was listed for "Cobalts and Mustangs". I was told that one for a Mustang worked perfectly in a Cavalier. That may be the case with a factory unit, but the one I bought is 31.5"x9.5"x3.5", and doesn't quite fit. No, I didn't measure prior to ordering... my method is "cut to rough size, test fit, trim, test fit, trim, weld a little bit back on, hit with hammer, etc.. Stuff usually works with that method, so I don't bother measuring if I believe a part will work. Have fun tearing me apart for that.
Anyway, when I placed it under the crash bar, it stuck down a couple inches below the lower radiator support. I drive on lots of gravel and dirt roads, so I didn't want that. There wasn't room between the crash bar and the condenser. So, I did what seemed the most logical to me at the time. I removed the crash bar and installed the radiator in it's place. Great idea, right? Make the car go faster and let it crumple up more easily
Let that be a lesson: limit your alcohol consumption prior to doing custom work! So now I'm thinking I'd better reinstall the crash bar, but I don't see any way to fit it with the stock bumper. I had to fabricate supports for the bumper cover to bolt to and hold the hood latch in place. The hood latch support modification is another story
, but will, luckily, allow for easy installation of a pusher fan to allow room for the hoses to come off the intake manifold. So back on topic, how much bigger is my radiator than the one everyone else has installed? Where did yours fit? I'm thinking about just making yet another custom part, a two piece crash bar to run above and below the radiator. Thoughts on this?
While I'm on the subject of those cooling hoses, how did everyone else run them? I'm planning on removing the plate from the end and seeing if I can remove the straight fittings and press in some 90 degree bends, but maybe there's something available that will let me keep the factory fan? What PSI are the laminova coils good to? The intercooler came with a 16PSI cap, but the one Cobalt SS I saw had a 5PSI cap. The lowest pressure I've found is 8 PSI.
Thanks
Jason
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'04 Cavalier
2.2 Ecotec Supercharged w/ 2.9" pulley
Charge air cooler
Poly bushings - lower control arm and engine/trans
the coils should be good for as much boost as the blower could produce. Keep in mind the stock rods and pistons are living on the edge at 250 thats from gm.
to fit ur heat exchanger a lot of ppl cut there crash bar to make room for it.
Cut the bumper like alot of the turbo guys do. Ex.
http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=46&i=369993&t=369993&p=2
Here is what i am using for a fill. It is the stock filler off a Cobalt SS/SC. It has a built in pressure relief.
There are two bolts on top of the radiator that you can loosen and tilt the radiator forward to gain some room. If you can i would get the hoses that connect the pump to the endplate and the endplate to the fill tube(from a Cobalt SS/SC). The have 90 degree bends molded into them.
Yes my battery has been moved.
Tinkles
2003 Cavalier 1SV
Bagged and Blown
Good info, thanks.
I already tilted the radiator as far as it will go, and there still isn't room for the hoses without them rubbing on the fan. I even ground the locating tabs off the brackets to get every bit I could. You guys have slim fans or what? I went through the parts room at work today and found a couple very tight 90 degree hoses that should work, but would be pressed against the fan. I think I'm going to just remove the factory fan and buy dual pusher fans for between the heat exchanger radiator and cooling system radiator. I figure that will help with the cooling of the heat exchanger while I'm barely moving and make the hoses much easier to run.
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'04 Cavalier
2.2 Ecotec Supercharged w/ 2.9" pulley
Charge air cooler
Poly bushings - lower control arm and engine/trans
How are you tuned GM reflash or HPT? I see your sig says you have a 2.9" and that pulled doesnt agree with the GM crapflash.
Tinkles
2003 Cavalier 1SV
Bagged and Blown
Lol, gm reflash, no cooling mods, stock exhaust, and a 2.9 pulley.
Put the stock pulley back on until you have other supporting mods, unless you don't mind replacing an engine.
he has HPT so he will be tuned well. get the heat exchanger up and running and water/methanol injection and you should be alright, although IMO i'd get a built motor in the works when you can.
12.33 @ 111.67 mph [Oct 2009]
Dyno'd on 08/02/09 - Mustang Dyno:
327.6 WHP 333.6 WTQ [10.1 AFR]
