Hi Sasquatch!
Sorry about the juicy rad. I've had two fail so far. That is a lot of fluid loss though... I'd be worried about driving 100 mi and would consider renting a car instead if need be.
I do not use the all-Al rad; I use an OEM replacement instead. This means my third rad looks just like yours, or like my second or first. However, the rad I bought is not (NOT!) a Calsonic (the brand SOA uses). It is a Koyo.
I rang up Koyo and spoke to someone very helpful. He told me they make both an OEM style and a "race" all-Al. I have been pleased with my OEM style Koyo and would not hesitate to use their products, based not just on the fit of the part I bought but also because of my tendency to "buy" the maker and/or vendor, not just the part.
I am aware that the Koyo all-Al rads cost more than CX or CRX or however they're spelled, and more than Mishimoto, but I think it's a quality brand for what it's worth. (A friend with the Csomething rad in his Acura had the drain plug leak on arrival and had to source another one etc. The welds look good on it though.)
(For those with automatic transmissions: the OEM radiator has a separate cooler for transmission fluid, and the Koyo OEM replacement also has this -- so if you have a manual, just ignore the fittings like I have -- but the "race" all-Al apparently does not, so you have to ask and verify this, and if so, figure out a transmission fluid cooler in addition to the Al rad).
I bought my Koyo from a local radiator shop.
SD
For your coast:
Koyo
390 Starke Road Unit2 Carlstadt,
NJ 07072, U.S.A.
Tel: +1-201-896-6676
Fax: +1-201-896-6650
Toll Free: +1-877-896-6676
E-mail:
sales@koyorad.com
For my coast:
Koyo
15 Doppler Irvine, CA 92618,
U.S.A.
Tel: +1-949-727-7054
Fax: +1-949-727-7445(Sales)
+1-949-727-3629(Administration)
E-mail:
sales@koyorad.com
They should be able to confirm the correct part number for your -- or any -- application and provide a list of local vendors should you need the rad ASAP.