Boxing in radiator

[jack4954]

Can anyone give me some input on closing in the radiator? I saw a kit offered, but isn't this probably something that can be done w/ the right materials for quite a bit less than the kit. If I remember right the kit was around $85 or 90.
I relocated my trans. cooler and drained my anti-freeze last week. This cooled her down about 20 degrees, but I'd still like to do a little better. I read somewhere that boxing in the rad. will show a marked diff.

Thanks & Blessings,
Jack Osborne

 

[Nashty]

I did my radiator when I added the FMIC. I used ½" cellotex foam faced insulation and put the black side in towards the radiator. Just take a piece of cardboard and bend it roughly into place as you install it. Remove, trim and re-insert till you get it how you want it, then use that for your template for the foam. I used 2 part epoxy to hold it in place. Then at the bottom, I closed it all in and used a piece of aluminum strip with some upholstery washers to hold it up. Never fell apart at 131 and the car never overheated. I also bought the rubber weatherstipping kit to seal the fan to the radiator, a worthwhile effort.

I'm so damn cheap, when I got the insulation board, I asked them if they had any damaged sheets for discounted prices. I got the epoxy for about 3 bucks and the insulation for probably a dollar. By using the black side of the insulation, it was virtually invisible even when looking for it.