KOYORAD Radiator for Nissan Skyline R32 R33 R34 & GT-R

Chassis & Engine Coverage

• R32 (1989–1994): Skyline GTS-T (RB20DET) and GT-R (RB26DETT) applications
• R33 (1993–1998): Skyline GTS-T (RB25DET) and GT-R (RB26DETT) applications
• R34 (1998–2002): Skyline GT-T (RB25DET NEO), 25GT-Four (RB25DET), and GT-R (RB26DETT) applications
• R35 GT-R (2009–present): All VR38DETT 3.8L twin-turbo V6 applications including the latest 2024+ R35-4BA

R32 / R33 / R34 — The Classic JDM Skylines

The RB-powered Skylines (R32 GT-R, R33 GT-R, R34 GT-R, plus the GTS-T and GT-T turbo variants) are some of the most iconic Japanese performance cars ever built — and almost universally now in the cooling-system-upgrade window in Australia. The youngest R34 GT-R is now 22 years old; the oldest R32 GT-R is 36 years old. Every single one of these cars has been through enough thermal cycles to have either failed an OEM radiator already, or be due to fail one shortly.

Three things make the RB Skylines particularly tough on cooling systems:

1. The RB engine layout. The inline-six RB engines are long, run high cylinder pressures under boost, and sit close to the front of a relatively narrow engine bay. Heat extraction was always marginal from the factory, particularly on the GT-R variants where the twin-turbo RB26DETT produces serious thermal load.

2. Age-related OEM radiator failure. Every Skyline in Australia is now 20+ years old. The plastic-tank OEM radiators failed long ago on most cars, and the typical replacement path (OEM-style plastic-tank replacement) just resets the clock for another 8-10 years. Almost every Skyline you see on Aussie roads today is either running a tired OEM radiator that's on borrowed time, an early-generation plastic-tank replacement, or has already had a proper aluminium upgrade.

3. Modified power levels. Almost no RB-powered Skyline in Australia is still stock. Even modest tuning of an RB25DET or RB26DETT pushes the cooling system well past its original design target, and serious tuning (built motors, big single-turbo conversions, E85 setups) makes a factory radiator a complete non-starter.

KOYORAD's reputation on the RB platform goes back to the cars' production era — these are the radiators JDM tuners chose when the Skylines were new, and the platform-specific engineering has been refined continuously since. For RB Skyline owners, the KOYORAD upgrade is genuinely the benchmark.

R35 GT-R — The Modern Beast

The R35 GT-R is a completely different challenge to its RB-powered predecessors. The VR38DETT 3.8L twin-turbo V6 produces serious heat (the factory tune already runs warm, and tuned R35s run dramatically hotter), and the GT-R's complex factory cooling system — separate transmission cooler, oil cooler, intercoolers, plus the radiator itself — means there's a lot going on in front of the engine. The factory radiator is decent but not exceptional, and on track or with any meaningful tune, it becomes the cooling system bottleneck.

KOYORAD's R35 GT-R radiator (part number HH022360) addresses this with a serious motorsport-grade build.

HH022360 — R35 GT-R Specifications:

• Core: KOYORAD HH-Series 48mm Hyper Core with ultra-high fin density
• Construction: All-aluminium, hand TIG-welded tanks, Nocolok-R brazed core
• Finish: Mirror-polished aluminium
• Mounting: OE-specific direct-fit — uses factory mounting points and fan shrouds, no modifications required
• Accessory port: 1/8" NPT female fitting for aftermarket water temperature sensors (supplied with threaded plug)
• Filler neck: Billet aluminium
• Coolant capacity: Approximately double the OEM unit's volume
• Performance gain: Up to 35% increased cooling performance over the stock radiator
• Fitment: 2009–2022 R35-CBA + R35-DBA + R35-CBE chassis, plus 2024+ R35-4BA (latest spec)

Worth noting on credibility: COBB Tuning runs the off-the-shelf HH022360 in their own R35 GT-R race car. If the standard production radiator is good enough for a professional race team's championship campaign without modification, it's good enough for any street, track, or tuned-build R35.

The 35% cooling capacity gain and doubled coolant volume aren't marketing claims — they're the practical outcome of replacing the relatively thin OEM core with KOYORAD's 48mm HH-Series Hyper Core. On a tuned R35 (650hp+), this isn't a luxury upgrade; it's a prerequisite for sustained hard use.

The HH-Series Difference

Worth a quick word on why the HH-Series matters specifically for the GT-R applications. The HH stands for "Hyper Heavyweight" — KOYORAD's premium high-fin-density core construction with a 48mm depth and ultra-tight fin spacing. The HH-Series is reserved for applications where:

1. The engine bay supports the thicker core. Both the RB-powered Skylines and the R35 GT-R have engine bay packaging that accommodates the 48mm core depth without modification.

2. The cooling demands justify it. The RB26DETT in particular, and the VR38DETT especially, generate enough heat that the additional core capacity meaningfully matters.

3. The application is motorsport-bred. The HH-Series is targeted at platforms where owners genuinely use the performance — track days, time attack, dyno tuning, hard road driving. For street-only commuter applications a thinner core would suffice, but for Skyline and GT-R owners that's rarely the use case.

The HH-Series is the right answer for these cars. For most other KOYORAD platforms, the V-Core 36mm or Hyper V-Core is sufficient. For the Skyline and GT-R, the HH-Series earns its premium positioning.

Installation Notes

All KOYORAD Skyline and R35 GT-R radiators install in the factory radiator position using OEM mounting points, OEM fan shroud bolts, and OEM hose locations. No cutting, no bracket modification, no relocation of supporting components.

A few practical notes worth knowing before install:

1. Inspect cooling fan clearance after install (R35 specifically). The HH022360's 48mm core sits slightly forward of the OEM radiator's effective face. After fitment, double-check fan blade clearance against the radiator core before reconnecting the battery — most installs are clean but verifying clearance is a five-minute job that prevents any fan rubbing under thermal expansion.

2. Coolant capacity is significantly higher. The R35 HH022360 effectively doubles the cooling system's coolant volume. Plan for additional coolant when filling, and run the system properly (with heater valve open, periodic burping at higher RPM) to fully purge air pockets. The Skyline applications also increase coolant capacity meaningfully over OEM.

3. Radiator cap not included. KOYORAD radiators ship without caps because pressure ratings vary by build target. Most owners reuse the OEM cap (which fits the KOYORAD's filler neck), but for tuned or track cars we recommend the higher-pressure KOYORAD SK-C13 1.3 Bar cap as an upgrade.

4. Optional water temperature sensor port. All Skyline and R35 KOYORAD radiators include the 1/8" NPT accessory port plugged from the factory. If you run an aftermarket coolant temperature gauge, data logger, or tuning device, the port accepts a standard 1/8" NPT thread sensor for direct radiator-mounted temperature reading.

How the Skyline/GT-R KOYORAD Compares

For the RB Skylines (R32/R33/R34), the two main competing radiators in the AU market are Mishimoto and PWR. Both make solid Skyline radiators. KOYORAD's edge on the RB platform is decades of platform-specific fitment refinement — these were KOYORAD's hero cars when they were new, and the engineering shows. PWR's Australian manufacturing is a strong point for buyers who specifically value local production. Mishimoto's lifetime warranty is industry-leading.

For the R35 GT-R, the comparison is mostly KOYORAD vs CSF vs Mishimoto. CSF makes a strong R35 radiator (their motorsport pedigree is genuine), Mishimoto's R35 radiator is well-engineered with the lifetime warranty, and KOYORAD brings the HH-Series 48mm core and motorsport credibility (the COBB Tuning race car reference). All three are legitimate choices — for an R35 build, the choice is more about specific feature priorities than brand quality.

For a detailed cross-brand comparison, see our KOYORAD vs Mishimoto vs CSF buyer's guide.

Build Path — Where the Radiator Fits

For Skyline and GT-R owners, the radiator earns its place at one of three points:

Stage 0 — OEM radiator failure (RB Skylines). If you own an R32, R33 or R34 Skyline in Australia, your factory radiator is either already dead, on borrowed time, or has been replaced with an OEM-spec plastic-tank unit that's also approaching failure. The KOYORAD upgrade is the permanent fix that breaks the failure cycle.

Stage 1 — Tuned bolt-on RB Skylines. Once an RB Skyline has supporting mods and a tune (boost controller, larger exhaust, fuel system upgrades, ECU tune), the factory cooling system is the bottleneck on hot days and during sustained hard driving. A KOYORAD upgrade restores proper cooling headroom.

Stage 2 — Built motor / big-single conversion / E85 builds. At this level — built RB26DETT, big single turbo on an RB25DET, serious E85 tune — the KOYORAD is non-negotiable, and you should also be looking at oil cooling, AAC venting, and supporting cooling system mods.

R35 GT-R — Any meaningful tune. The R35 reaches the factory cooling system's limits surprisingly quickly under tune. Even a Stage 1 ECU flash on a stock-turbo R35 starts pushing coolant temps higher than the factory tune anticipated. For any tuned R35 — and certainly any tuned R35 that sees track use or hot Australian summers — the HH022360 earns its place.

Supporting Mods for Nissan Skyline & R35 GT-R

The radiator handles cooling — for the rest of the Skyline or R35 build, pair with the Chicane Australia range:

• Brakes: DIXCEL brake pads for street and track use
• Suspension: Hardrace control arms, bushings and supporting suspension components
• Exhaust: KORSH downpipes and catbacks
• Fuel system: Injector Dynamics injectors for E85, methanol and big-power builds

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Need help speccing the right KOYORAD for your Skyline or GT-R build? Contact us or email sales@chicaneaustralia.com.au — we know the RB and VR38 platforms and we'll spec the right radiator for your build.