radiator was made as "good as new" by natrad the other day.

yeah, i've always used a stethoscope to listen for water dripping into each cylinder, but that screwdriver trick has merit.

no milky oil, no bubbles in the radiator, but water getting into combustion chamber doesn't neccessarilly mean water getting into the oil galleries.

well, i would have needed to do the head gasket once i put the turbo on most likely, so it's probably not too big of a deal. aslong as the head isn't cracked.

Have you got milk under the oil cap or bubbles in the radiator when you rev the motor? How about compression?

A good way to tell if you have a blown head gasket, let the engine warm up real good. Turn off engine pull all four plugs and drop a (CLEAN) screwdriver in each of plug holes, wait a couple mins and look if you have condensation on the end of them.

Edit: you dont want the fans running as your actually moving along as they can slow air coming through the rad. They are pulling air through the rad and not pushing it the other way arent they? Checked rads not blocked? If you pull the bottom hose with the cap off coolant should flow out the bottom in a nice big tube the same size as where its coming out.

well here's a list of what i've done:
remove "guts" from thermostat. still no difference, just takes longer to warm up in morning.
remove intercooler that was just sitting there, still did nothing, as expected (think of all the cars running stock radiator, with a FMIC, maybe even an aircon and trans fluid cooler infront of them that don't overheat).
reverse flush block (before the rad went back into the ute, didn't really get anything out of it, except a waste of good coolant)

the thermo's are pretty good i've found, mainly around town. If they cut in the water temp drops almost instantly about 5degC. out on the open road they are fairly ineffective.

the rad isnt that big, measures about 12"high x 21"wide x 1.5" thick approx.

i think i've done a head gasket.
did i mention in this thread that i put a new water pump on not too long ago? so that rules bas circulation out.

if your radiator is the 1 you posted the pic of in photos that is NOT your problem its bloody HUGE
i have used smaller radiators on big block chevs
it could be the pic but it looks pretty big to me

check the water flow
check direction of air out of the thermos
check whole cooling system Pump thermostat etc
i must say them thermos are rubish and i find stock fans out of modern cars are alot better that run in a surrounding then them fans im guessing there craig davis fans

i have found on the big v8s the late model commo radiators with stock fans run the best and better then any other radiattor i have ever used

im running a small radiator HONDA CIVIC but double the thickness and an aluminium tyype but if its over heats ill try fit a commo 1 if it fits between cooler pipes

remove the intercooler that "isnt doin anything"??????????

yeah they go the right way.

i can't remember what car this rad came out of, but is it the same hight as a stock one and also a bit wider.

i'm thinking i'll try to find an S13 one, fabricate some new brackets and see how that goes. 'till then i'll just keep driving it.

One of the best upgrade radiators i found with the A series is the Gemini radiator. fits well and cheap to buy. this is my suggestion over spending big $$$ on a custom one. (save that for the twin cam turbo)

Also i know this sounds silly but just double check you have those electronic thermo's connected the right way!

keep us posted on how you go?

hey all. i was just wondering about all those people out there with FMICs whether or not they had any trouble with their engines over heating.

i recently mounted my intercooler (its not actually doing anything atm, just sitting there) and strait away the ute ran hot.

i put 2 10" thermo fans on the back of the radiator (which is wider than the standard one) and removed the useless manual one, but still no better.

do i have to get an even bigger radiator? what rad. have other turbo conversions used?

any opinions would be great...

cheers
Cam