Section : Cooling

Calling all alloy radiators

Posted By : Jon Morton, 01-Jan-2007, 04:21pm

I would like to see your replacement radiators.

I've used a Montego 1600 van radiator in mine complete with thermostatic switch, and a manually override.

It fits into the old rad bracket perfectly. Unfortunately the outlets are on the wrong corners so some creative plumbing has been devised.

I'm not completely happy with it, due to a combination of a failing voltage stabilizer making me jumpy and it needing the fan a little too readily.

It would be interesting to see what everyone else has done. So get your photos posted all in one place, it would be a good resource and an excuses to dribble over images of other peoples engine bays

Jon

Calling all alloy radiators

Followups :

Calling all alloy radiators

Posted By : John Davies, 01-Jan-2007, 05:37pm

Jon,
Here's the Silverback's radiator, though I doubt it would be of use in a Spitfire.

I'm interested in any probs you might have with airlocks - that pipe over the top of the rad must be the highest point of tyhe system.
Is that a Montego expansion tank on the far side?

John

Calling all alloy radiators
- Calling all alloy radiators
  
  Posted By : Jon Morton, 02-Jan-2007, 01:19am
  
  No John not much help, I need my boot space for spare parts! But a lovely rear end, if you will excuse the pun.
  
  I have to pressurize the system to fill it. It's a bit of a pain but not as bad as you might think. I have done it with my mouth over the header tank and a strong pair of lungs, along with the plumbers radiator drain plug inline at the highest point just before the heater valve. But a hose pipe is the preferred option!
  
  Some of the Caterham style kit cars have a similar set up with the header tank at a low point.
  
  I can shake the pipe leading to the water pump and hear its almost completely full of water... and feel the weight of it.
  
  I've seen that expansion tank used on a lot of cars over the years, Landover, MG's and a Triumph Stag. As to its real origin, I'm not sure as it was sourced from an auto jumble.
  
  I've used the car for 600 miles without any problems, but after the last 3 hour blast down the M1 the fuel gauge and temp gauge started acting up and indicated I was over heating, but the engine behaved itself and the thermostatic switch on the electric fan didn't kick in so I suspect the Voltage stabiliser is to blame.
  
  I do worry that the radiator is a little skinny for the hot weather, but only time will tell.
  
  Come on more pictures people.
  - Calling all alloy radiators
    
    Posted By : Jon Morton, 03-Jan-2007, 02:31pm
    
    Hum i wonder if this one would fit?
    
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Supermarine-Spitfire-Radiato...
    
    Jon
    - Calling all alloy radiators
      
      Posted By : Van Hamlin, 05-Jan-2007, 03:55pm
      
      This is a Golf/Scirocco GTi radiator part no. 203440661.
      I used it because:
      My mate had a spare fan and fan housing.
      It fits in the space.
      It's cheap (&163;46.12)
      Both hoses exit rearwards.
      It has a thermostat in it.
      
      The expansion tank is off a Dolomite, and connected into an extra pipe above the thermostat. The top hose is from Halfords, the bottom one is a GT6 one cut down. The brackets are home made and the rad is about 45 degrees. I've put an aluminium plate above the chassis rails in front of the radiator so air can't pass underneath.
      
      To fill it from empty I take off the thermostat housing, or if I'm patient I can use the blanked off second top hose. For topping up I just use the expansion tank.
      
      The fan comes on when the temp gauge is almost at the max mark, but only in hot weather and very slow traffic. I can switch it on manually because I have rewired the light switch on the dash to do this. During a long motorway drive on Saturday the gauge stayed just below half way.
      
      Van
      
      Calling all alloy radiators
      - Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Posted By : Van Hamlin, 05-Jan-2007, 03:57pm
        
        And from the other side
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Posted By : Jon Morton, 07-Jan-2007, 03:34pm
        
        Very nice fit.
        
        My rad was &163;21 new and bought on a whim, hence getting tthe outlets on the wrong side.
        
        Im intrested to hear about the advantages of tilting the rad as I know it a popular mod. I only need my fan in heavy traffic, and then only briefly. It seems to cool very well on the move, so is there any need to get better air flow (although I think my water pump has failed so nothings cooling that well)?
        
        Jon
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Posted By : Van Hamlin, 07-Jan-2007, 04:15pm
        
        The only reason for tilting the radiator is to fit it in. It doesn't directly increase cooling, but it does allow you to fit a bigger radiator, which will. There is about 1/2" between the top corners and the bonnet. Even where it is I have had to cut a hole in the fan housing to clear the nose of the crank pulley. Mounting it more upright would mean moving the bottom of it further forward, to clear the various pulleys, and this means it's under a lower part of the bonnet. There's more room in a Spitfire so it might go more upright, but this is the most upright it will go on a GT6.
        Van
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Posted By : Andy Vowell, 07-Jan-2007, 08:16pm
        
        I have a renault 5 alloy rad fitted and it is also tilted forward despite being of a size that it would allow it to fit in upright.
        
        I have it tilted forward because:-
        1. It gives room behind the rad to fit a fan on the back
        2. It gives room behind the rad so cooling air has somewhere to go once it has passed through the rad rather than stalling against the front of the engine (so improves airflow).
        3. It allows more of the rad to be in the direct flow of air through the grill. ie if the grill opening is 6" high (guess) making the rad shorter by tilting it, then more of it can be in the direct airflow.
        
        Cheers
        Andy
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Posted By : Stephen Weblin, 07-Jan-2007, 08:24pm
        
        Do you think a Renault 5 alloy rad would be adequate in a Vitesse? I only ask because my girl friends 5 has died and I could salvage the rad before the scrap man takes the dead car away.
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Posted By : Van Hamlin, 07-Jan-2007, 10:33pm
        
        No harm in trying!
        Van
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Posted By : Andy Vowell, 08-Jan-2007, 09:28pm
        
        Pic of renault 5 rad in my Spit.
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Posted By : Jon Morton, 08-Jan-2007, 10:08pm
        
        Very nice, Andy. I think I should remove my photo as along side yours and Johns its a shamefully poor looking mod.
        
        I like the oil cooler placement, I have mine in front of the rad laid flat between the chassis, but your placement makes more sense. I'm looking at the rest of your engine bay with envy, what kind of electric water pump do you use?
        
        Nig sounds like you have a very efficient radiator, show us a pic of it! How did you cure the over cooling, was it back to a drilled thermostat?
        
        Did any of you have any problems mounting your rads on an angle while still using the loose rubber mounts? I was assure by a rad reconditioner that they would fracture if solidly mounted, was he right?
        
        I do worry looking at your images that my Rad might be to skinny for the hot weather.
        
        Jon
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Posted By : Andy Vowell, 09-Jan-2007, 09:18pm
        
        Keep your phot there Jon, any mod to improve on the original is a good one in my opinion. When I was searching for an ally rad a thread like this would have been a god send and saved me hours in the local scrappy/
        
        The vertical oil cooler works well and it definitly takes up less space that way, though you do have to make sure oil flow is from bottom to top to ensure all the air gets purged. The water pump is the Davies Craig EWP.
        
        My rad is solidly mounted with bolts to the chassis on the bottom and straight supports from the top back to the suspension turrets. No problems so far and that included a 90mph T-bone crash that necessitated a chassis change. The rads are pretty tough.
        
        Andy
        
        Calling all alloy radiators
        
        Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 08-Jan-2007, 01:00pm
        
        I use the Peugeot205 GTE raditaor for my race car and it works far too well (with electric pump)... last time I ran the car the temp was easliy managed by the fan when stationary, but when racing it dropped to 65 degrees! (no thermostat) I think this was instumental in running a bearing that day after only 6 laps...
        
        (See Birkett report)