3rd Radiator '03 C4S

[hasteyrb]

I'm wanting to install a 3rd radiator on my 6-speed C4S. I know there are 3rd radiator kits available from various places. However, the kit offered from Suncoast Porsche states their kit will not fit on a C4S, Turbo, GT2, or GT3. See link below.

http://www.suncoastparts.com/product...96WaterCooling

I know the C4S shares the same larger L/R radiators as the Turbo. So perhaps I need to use the 3rd radiator from a Turbo? Can anyone confirm this? Has anyone installed a 3rd radiator on a C4S with a manual trans? Which kit did you use?

Thanks for your help.

[judgejon]

I believe I've seen a thread about this exact question, possibly with photos, possibly in the DIY section. check the search engine... I've thought about this myself, but live in an area with a moderate climate, don't track the car, and don't really have an overheating concern. But I do take trips to hot country in the summer, and will be driving down to LA next week hoping it does not really warm up. All that being said, I've always wondered why Porsche did not just put the 3rd radiator in the C4S as well as the Turbo. Oh well, no intercoolers, no center radiator... just a C4S I guess. ;)

[jyoteen]

in all these years, i've never had the temp go above the norm, even when tracking the car. Make sure your radiators aren't plugged up by debris.

I live in LA, so during the summer, it's not exactly cool and we can sit in traffic for a while.

[hasteyrb]

I believe I've seen a thread about this exact question, possibly with photos, possibly in the DIY section. check the search engine... I've thought about this myself, but live in an area with a moderate climate, don't track the car, and don't really have an overheating concern. But I do take trips to hot country in the summer, and will be driving down to LA next week hoping it does not really warm up. All that being said, I've always wondered why Porsche did not just put the 3rd radiator in the C4S as well as the Turbo. Oh well, no intercoolers, no center radiator... just a C4S I guess. ;)

Yeah, I saw the DIY Loren did. Very informative. But his application is for a C2 which doesn't have the larger radiators like our C4S's. I would think the same center radiator would work. But I'm not sure the hoses would. I'm trying to figure out if the fittings on the L/R radiators for the C4S and Turbo models are the same as the C2 radiators. I could always go with a center radiator and hoses from a Turbo (there is an aux. radiator they make for that car, according to a parts diagram). But then I'm not sure the bracketry from the kit Loren used would accommodate the center radiator from the turbo. Or just use the same complete setup the Turbo has. But now your talking $$$$. I'm all for doing the mod. I just don't want to order the wrong parts....or at least parts that won't fit.

Enjoy your drive to LA next week. Hopefully it will be a bit warmer. :cheers:

[hasteyrb]

in all these years, i've never had the temp go above the norm, even when tracking the car. Make sure your radiators aren't plugged up by debris.

I live in LA, so during the summer, it's not exactly cool and we can sit in traffic for a while.

I cleaned my radiators recently. And I've never experienced cooling issues, at least according to the gauge. However, the gauge isn't that accurate and I do know these cars run quite warm. In the summer time, I typically make several trips from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. And as you know, driving through the desert, the outside temps can get upward of 110 degrees. The 3rd radiator probably not really a need, per se. But it's more of a preventative maintenance issue.

Also, I tend to be overkill on mods to my car. And there is a coolness factor to the looks of the 3rd radiator. :thumbup:

[jyoteen]

I cleaned my radiators recently. And I've never experienced cooling issues, at least according to the gauge. However, the gauge isn't that accurate and I do know these cars run quite warm. In the summer time, I typically make several trips from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. And as you know, driving through the desert, the outside temps can get upward of 110 degrees. The 3rd radiator probably not really a need, per se. But it's more of a preventative maintenance issue.

Also, I tend to be overkill on mods to my car. And there is a coolness factor to the looks of the 3rd radiator. :thumbup:

have you tried installing the lower temp thermostat? It is really surprising to me that the car, which doesn't have the performance envelope as a turbo, has the larger radiators hence having more cooling capacity than a c2 (arguably) with the smaller rads.

Maybe the thermostat just needs to open up sooner, which I agree the stock spec'd thermostat is rumored to open up after it hits its spec'd mark.

[hasteyrb]

I cleaned my radiators recently. And I've never experienced cooling issues, at least according to the gauge. However, the gauge isn't that accurate and I do know these cars run quite warm. In the summer time, I typically make several trips from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. And as you know, driving through the desert, the outside temps can get upward of 110 degrees. The 3rd radiator probably not really a need, per se. But it's more of a preventative maintenance issue.

Also, I tend to be overkill on mods to my car. And there is a coolness factor to the looks of the 3rd radiator. :thumbup:

have you tried installing the lower temp thermostat? It is really surprising to me that the car, which doesn't have the performance envelope as a turbo, has the larger radiators hence having more cooling capacity than a c2 (arguably) with the smaller rads.

Maybe the thermostat just needs to open up sooner, which I agree the stock spec'd thermostat is rumored to open up after it hits its spec'd mark.

Yes, I installed the LN Engineering low temp thermostat a couple of weeks ago, along with a new water pump. Fairly easy job. The low temp stat is a really nice piece. It came complete with the housing and all. I'm going to be doing the fan mod in the next week or two. There's a pretty good DIY on here. I think the fan mod will be most advantageous when sitting in traffic, as we do here in LA.