DIY: Skunk 2 Ultra Radiator w/ Oil Cooler

[g0odspeed]

First and fore most let me start by saying they claim this to be a simple replacement for your stock radiator with slight modification to your fan shroud. That is partially true if you do not intend to use the oil cooler or go with a turbo setup. I did a turbo setup with this radiator so it is possible, but for this DIY we will focus on the naturally aspirated who intend on using the stock shroud.


The first step is to get your car jacked up and securely placed on jack stands. This should be a given, but since its commonly done wrong please read this thread before continuing. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10111


Tools Needed:
1/4 Drive Ratchet
Ratchet Extension
Universal Joint
7mm Socket
10mm Socket
12mm Socket
12mm Wrench
Flat Head Screw Driver
Phillips head crew Driver
Pop Clip Pliers
Regular Pliers
Pick Tool
Coolant
Coolant Funnel


For a visual you can watch this from Mishimoto.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bUV3nVVtds"]How To Install: Mishimoto Subaru BRZ Scion FR-S Toyota GT86 Performance Radiator - YouTube[/ame]


1) Disconnect negative terminal on battery for safety.
2) Unbolt 3 10mm Bolts and 9 pop clips and remove front splash shield
3) Unbolt 4 10mm, 8 12mm bolts, and 7 pop clips and remove metal skid pan.
4) Unbolt 1 10mm bolt and 2 pop clips from each side the bumper. This connect the fender well splash pans to the bumper.
5) Drain the coolant. Use a pies of 3/8ths hose to drain into pan. Coolant will splash over the frame if you do not use this. You can open the rad cap to make this go quicker.
6) On each side ,remove 3 pop clips that connect fender well to bumper and then 1 pop clip next to corner marker.
6) Remove corner marker. Pull on the back corner to pop them loose and as you pull them out rotate them a little bit. Take care when removing the corner markers. These clips are delicate and may break.
7) Remove pop clip from behind corner marker.
8) Remove 2 pop clips and 5 10mm bolts from top of bumper and take off bumper gasket.
9) Remove front bumper. I would put painters take on the fenders to keep from scratching. Pull firmly on each side at the bumper is clipped in around the headlights.
10) Remove the intake and intake box. (3 10mm bolts )
11) Remove the windshield washer fill neck and fluid tank . (1 pop clip and 2 10mm bolts )
12) Remove 2 pop clips and 4 12mm bolts from the top of the rad support
13) Remove 2 12mm bolts from the bottom of the rad support and take of the 2 clips that hold the hood release cable to the rad support.
14) Remove the front air dam from the crash support. ( 4 pop clips )
15) Remove the coolant tank ( 2 10mm bolts )
16) Remove 4 10mm bolts that hold the fill neck housing to the front of the car. ( remove bracket )
17) Remove the upper rad hose and assembly.
18) Disconnect the fan harness and unclip from fan shroud
19) Unclip the rad on each side and lift out. ( Don't immediately pull this out. There is a piece of foam connected to this. Take a flat head and work your way through it to remove from the shroud.
20) Remove lower rad hose.
21) Remove 4 10mm bolts that hold the AC condenser to the rad.
22) Remove 4 10mm bolt that hold the radiator stays
23) Unclip harness for the horns from the radiator and remove the rad itself.





Right here is where we will take a turn from the how too video posted by Mishimoto. We have a built in oil cooler and we need to accommodate the layout for the new lines.


I set in the new radiator and found the center on the headlight support. Using a metal hole saw I was able to cut out the space necessary to bring the line through. You will also need to adjust the upper AC line. Be careful when bending this line. You do not want to put a crease in the line whatsoever.





My fittings to make these lines were pretty basic. The Skunk2 Oil adapter uses 8an fitting and the radiator uses 1/2npt.


Here is a list:
1 1/2npt male to 8an male
1 1/2npt male to 8an male 90 degree
2 90 degree 8an hose fittings
2 45 degree 8an hose fittings
3 ft 8an hose
2 8an male to 8am male fittings


Use the 1/2 npt elbow with 8an 45 on the lower and the 1/2 npt straight with the 8an 90 on the upper. It will look something like this.





You may need to modify your hole on the top a little to make sure you have no rubbing. You want a good bit of clearance on these lines.


Install the sandwich adapter









Run all your hoses





Reinstall the fan shroud. You will have to modify the top of shroud where the radiator support comes down over it. Sorry I didn't take a pic of what I cut off but you can use your own judgment once you have it in place.





Now you can start to reinstall the AC condenser and rad hoses. You will need to bend out the bracket that holds the filler neck. The radiator is so wide that you will need to adjusted the filler cap bracket to push the neck closer to the motor and up. The angles need to be closer to 135 degrees to use the stock setup. Look at the pic below to get a better idea of what I mean. If you are going turbo you will need to go a different route if your inner cooler piping travels over and next to the passenger headlight.





Add coolant test for leaks. Start the car and then check oil for proper level. I had to add a little. Once you are leak free you can reassemble in the reverse order. I hope this DIY helped for those who choose to do the Skunk 2 Ultra. Please post questions, if any, and I will do my best to answer. Thanks for the read.

[Ultramaroon]

Great read. Thanks for the step-by-step.

Please let us know how this rad holds up. I've been really torn between this and a standard air/oil unit.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Great read. Thanks for the step-by-step.

Please let us know how this rad holds up. I've been really torn between this and a standard air/oil unit.

I was on the fence about this too haha! I ended up opting for there Liquid to air for max cooling capacity.

Looks like a nice setup OP

[g0odspeed]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

I was on the fence about this too haha! I ended up opting for there Liquid to air for max cooling capacity.

Looks like a nice setup OP

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

I was on the fence about this too haha! I ended up opting for there Liquid to air for max cooling capacity.

Looks like a nice setup OP

So far so good. It does a great job not just for the oil but for the coolant as well. The real test will be when I get to track the car. Interested to see how it holds up to that.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by g0odspeed

So far so good. It does a great job not just for the oil but for the coolant as well. The real test will be when I get to track the car. Interested to see how it holds up to that.

Good to hear!! Your oil probably warms up faster too witch is super nice

[g0odspeed]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

Good to hear!! Your oil probably warms up faster too witch is super nice

The oil does warm up quicker. The coolant runs cooler with the bigger rad and then I added a mishimoto rad cap and thermostat so it takes a bit for the fans to kick on.

[Bobster]

Great write up, any reviews on this rad?

[g0odspeed]

Originally Posted by Bobster

Great write up, any reviews on this rad?

I love the setup completely. Not a single leak and it’s been a good while since the install. I do apologize for the super long delay in response. I went off to basic training and tech school for the AirForce and haven’t logged in in a while. I’m sure you have gone a different route by now but this setup is fantastic.

[JoeeStacks]

Originally Posted by g0odspeed

I love the setup completely. Not a single leak and it’s been a good while since the install. I do apologize for the super long delay in response. I went off to basic training and tech school for the AirForce and haven’t logged in in a while. I’m sure you have gone a different route by now but this setup is fantastic.

Does this hold up to track abuse?

[g0odspeed]

Originally Posted by JoeeStacks

Does this hold up to track abuse?

Absolutely! Had it at the track a few times and not the first problem.

[Teseo]

Originally Posted by g0odspeed

Absolutely! Had it at the track a few times and not the first problem.

Pics dont work anymore

[JoeeStacks]

Originally Posted by g0odspeed

Absolutely! Had it at the track a few times and not the first problem.

Did you log any oil temps?

[g0odspeed]

Originally Posted by JoeeStacks

Did you log any oil temps?

I wish I could say I did, but sadly I did not. I’ll be sure to do so the next time I’m out there.

[g0odspeed]

Originally Posted by Teseo

Pics dont work anymore

I’ll check into it