My OE rad is weeping from the plastic end cap, it's only slight and still driveable if I keep an eye on the coolant, but it needs replacing so is it worth fitting a all alloy construction type in place of the OE plastic end cap type?
There's quite a few on the old Ebay at around £120, this is approx double the price of the (very reasonably priced OE Koyo item) but is it worth if ?

OE
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Subaru-Impreza...item4ceea11776

uprated
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUBARU-WRX-STI...item20b08e5a02
I've noted many cars running much more than my 300bhp still using a the stock item with appearently no issues.
I'm not the type of person who like spend money unless it's necessary (it's called been a tight a##)

 

That rad will not be a direct fit you will need to mess about to get it to sit right. Stick with a OE rad, I have run at 450bhp with no issues.

Banny

 

I got an uprated rad from Apex performace for £110 delivered, I had to phone them up though. The rad was a direct fit too and really cools the engine alot faster, definatelty recommended

 

Ross I have the same one and it aint no direct fit, also if you have fmic and are running two fans the passenger side fan touches the TB pipe. If running a performance manifold the rad drain is almost touching the manifold.

Banny

 

On my 1995 WRX it was a direct fit, I just had to put these wee rubber strips on the front slam panel, where the bigger radiator touches it, my car doesn't have a front mount though. I can even you the standard bits that hold it onto the slam panel with no problems

 

I'm only round the corner from Apex so I could probably compare my OE rad I'm not to fussed about a bit of fettling to make it fit but if Banny is running 450 bhp on the stock item it sems the uprated item may be unecessary anyway, I could use the saving to buy a cooler stat and new coolant cap.

 

Depends how long you intend to keep the car. If only a few years, then just use an OE item. If long enough to need another replacement, then go alloy.

I've gone alloy as hopefully a fit and forget item. I also have the Apex with an FMIC and there were modifications required to fit it. Dont ask me what they were though as I didnt fit it myself.

 

Import Car Parts are doing good deals on radiators with warranty 01388 834204

 

i'm running over 400bhp on my standard rad as well with no issues

as banny says if you have headers you will end up with a issue regarding the drain plug area mine almost touches my gt spec headers with the standard one

 

From previous threads a lot of people fit these cheap ones and are happy with them. Next day del. and a 12mth warranty - how can you go wrong?:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUBARU-IMPREZA...item45f2e0ee68

Don't forget, the plastic end tanks should last a good c.10-15 years before going brittle...

 

the headers are wrapped equal length jobies and I have to say even with the OE rad it's mighty close, not to the rad drain plug but the front o/s header pipe runs very close to the base of the rad,
see pic

if the alloy ones are much thicker then it would probably touch or not go in at all, the only way round it would be to move the rad forward 20>30mm so I'm not sure it's worth the bother.