CSF radiator install review

[onspeed]

Stock radiator sprung a leak at the plastic nipple for the hose that goes to the reservoir tank, and the top driver side of the rad. Nipple broke of course, couldn't extract the treads with the radiator in the car so I figured if I'm pulling a 37 year old radiator out, might as well replace it. CSF recently started making a radiator for the 944. It is cheaper the stock replacements so I figured I might as well give it a shot.

Here is the website advertisement (https://csfrace.com/new-csf-porsche-944 ... hroud-kit/)

I elected to run stock fans, because they work so why not. The radiator is shorter than the stock unit, but thicker. Install was fairly straight forward. If you're using stock fans, there's little included spacers that required for the top screws, and for the bottom screws there's 3 included extension brackets. The speed nut on the radiator is not the same size as the OEM, so they supply new M6 bolts. So you need 3 M6 screws for the top fan mounts, and 6 for the bottom - 3 to screw bracket to rad, and 3 more for fans to bracket. For some reason, they only supply 6 bolts. Also with the spacer, the stock fans do not sit flush with the radiator, and they supply some foam to run around the perimeter.... though it does not make a seal what so ever. So really, while it's has the same mounting pattern as the stock fan setup, it's clearly designed to run with the extra SPAL fan setup. The other issue is because the radiator is slightly thicker, then it needs spacers for the stock fans, the clearance for the fan to the front of the engine becomes even tighter than stock. I suspect there's some projects that will now require fan removal. So essentially if you're getting the radiator, I think you need to get the fan setup.

The other issue I ran into is the lower radiator hose outlet now gets in the way of the oil cooler line. I'm not sure if it's the thickness of the radiator or the position of the hose outlet. But my cooler line is now touching, and compressing the lower radiator hose a bit. I tried loosening the oil cooler hose to see if the pipe maybe would pivot out of the way but my fitting is stuck... plus there's a support bracket on the cooler line so I don't see how it would be movable at all. Getting the hose on was a huge pain in the ass, if you're using a new silicone hose I don't think you would be able to get it on at all since they are so stiff. Likewise, getting the oil cooler mounted again required a lot of force. So, I wouldn't run this radiator unless you don't have stock cooler/lines.

I figured an aftermarket unit would have some fitment shenanigans so I did buy a new nipple fitting for the stock radiator in case... if I knew the oil cooler would be so problematic I would have just drilled out the old broken fitting and run the stock radiator. I would switch the stock lines with an AN fitting and aftermarket hoses but I need to get the car back on the road ASAP as I'm moving cross country.

I assume it will cool adequately. I will update if it doesn't.

TL;DR - If you're buying it, need the buy the fan setup as well. And you need an aftermarket oil cooler lines at least.

[barnwerks]

Sad. Made for the car but does not fit the car.
If the CSF fan and shroud set up is utilized, it is likely to reduce cooling as the shroud is a restrictive design that limits free air flow. These cars are so well designed and engineered, it is common that aftermarket parts result in some form and level of diminishment.

[bohalrantipol]

Question: Did you use the stock gasket for the Fan temperature switch? They had a recess and an O-Ring for the little plug, so I figured that was the "new" design and used the Ø-Ring, but now there is a little leak.

[onspeed]

Mine had a metal crush ring on the stock radiator, no gasket or oring. I installed with the crush ring on the CSF, had a leak, so wrapped with teflon tape and no issues since.

[bohalrantipol]

Thanks for that. I think I will do the same.