Not finding too many people that have done this. I did it a long time ago in a hatch but I can't remember what radiator I used, fans, mods to the car required, etc.

 

Anybody done it? Dimensions on the Legacy one look about an inch too tall at least but maybe a Forester or Impreza one? Aluminum vs copper/brass versions?

I am very biased on the copper/aluminum issue: Copper is much better (IIRC, around 50-100% better) at transferring and dissipating heat than aluminum. Aluminum is used chiefly for 3 reasons: Cost, weight and cost. (I know I typed "cost" twice, but it is so important I thought that it needed repeating.) It has also been claimed that aluminum tends to form a thermally insulating oxide film which further reduces transfer efficiency.

 

Aluminum radiators are for chumps and chumpettes.

I put the legacy one in my brat by installing two tabs on the core support for the pins and grommets on the radiator bottom and just zip tying the top on. It fit rather nicely. I just didn't want to bolt the top on without a bracket or spacer that I havent built yet. If its for an ea81 engine I'd bet you could use the factory legacy overflow bottle too.

I put the radiator from the ej donor car into my brat. 94 leg welded two bolts to the top of the radiator so it aligned with the original top mount holes and added tabs to the bottom only one fan (the smaller one) on the front side of radiator.

^

do you have pics?

It will be dark by the time I get home but I could try!

Just something I recently noticed that might help your search - the '96 Legacy GT (EJ25D Automatic) I recently bought has an all-metal radiator unlike all the other stuff from that generation with the plastic tank's......

 

GD

 

This radiator came out of a 94 legacy and is pictured in my 84 GL-10 wagon. wassnt to difficuly. Had to drop it down and behind the stock lower mounting point. just welded the brackets to the support and made the upper bracket to bolt up and threw an in-line cap. Helps keep that turbo alot cooler.

GD:

 

Got a part number  / link for that all metal radiator?

All my searches come up with plastic tanks.

 

Thanks!

I took the ea radiator and had ej outlets put on.