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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Radiators for Australian summers

I know this has been talked about before but I am after the latest info:

1. Is the standard V8 radiator good enough for the Aussie summer ?(38 degrees in stopped traffic) - I have RV8 manifolds but no hood vents.

2. Can anybody recommend a radiator from another vehicle that works well?

3. Are custom aluminium radiators worth it?

TIA

Stainzy
Stainzy

I copied the setup of a friend from the mid-west U.S., where he had 3" more core added to a standard V8 rad. In other words it now goes down to the bottom of the crossmember, whereas the standard rad only goes down to about the height of the top of the crossmember. Seems to work really well -- you just cut the lower rad hose and insert a 4" length of SS pipe. Fairly straightforward at a good local rad shop.

I don't have RV8 manifolds or hood vents. I do have an engine-driven fan in addition to the electric ones.

(If you want an alu V8 radiator, no need to get a custom one ... Cambridge Motorsports sells them. Probably wouldn't hurt.)
Bob

You can also get one from Griffin Radiator, they are not cheap ($400-500), but are supposed to be a bolt in alum replacement. Fits the 1960-65 Ford Falcon, Griffin# 7565bc-cax. That is with a Trans cooler, so look for the non trans cooler version, should be a little cheaper...

I plan to go the re-core route. I heard of a local guy doing re-cire with Alum for $250, will also look into making rad taller like Bob mentions..
Larry Embrey

Clive Wheatley does a 25%-uprated rad that looks identical till you count the tubes. Previously in near 100F temps stuck in traffic after a motorway run the temp gauge got well into the red with both fans running. Didn't boil, the only symptom of heat was a falling idle, which I kept up on the throttle for the sake of the oil pressure - thus adding even more heat.

Clive said that aluminium rads are better, and plastic ones better still but are obviously non-standard.

Since the new rad we haven't had similar conditions, but the new rad is better at a standstill, and markedly better once underway even slowly. A new design of switch from SU Burlen replacing the Otter fan switch cuts in sooner, which also helps, particularly in keeping the oil pressure up.

PaulH.
Paul Hunt

Paul, what does Paul's uprated radiator run $$ wise?

What is required to use this new sensor swithc. I have niticed my car gets 1/2 between normal and hot before the fans cut in. I would rather they cut in a bit sooner, especially with the V8 going in over the next few weeks..
Larry Embrey

Stainzy, i'm using the rad. from an RB car flipped thru 180 degrees with new inlet/outlets brazed on . My local rad. shop fitted a 5 tube core & reckoned it wouild keep a small truck cool.I'ts been good for 10 years so far. My second car has a standard MGB V8 rad.This seems OK as well.I've driven this car in a Queensland summer too. Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

Larry - Clives rad was UKP161 in July 1998. The Burlen sensor is a direct replacement for the Otter, it just doesn't have the 'Otter' logo.

PaulH.
Paul Hunt

Bob,cooling is a big subject and the must misunderstood area of the engine compartment.
The best cooling material for a radiator is silver,but the cost of a silver radiator would pretty hot and not to many could touch one. (Price)
Brass/copper are the standard of the industry, but is also expensive now days.
GM went to aluminum with plastic tanks, these radiators reduce the cost and weight.
But if you order a towing package you get a brass or copper radiator with large tubes and fins that have a very small fin space.

Aluminum radiators do offer a great amount of weight savings over the copper/brass radiators, but conductivity is not improved with the aluminum radiator.
If replacing the copper/brass radiator with an aluminum radiator then the size must be larger than the copper/brass radiator that is going to replace.

Example; a two row 11/4 inch-tube, aluminum with a total of 21/2 –inches of tube to fin contact would have about 3 degrees advantage over a four row ½ inch tube copper/brass radiator with 2 inches of tube to fin contact.

Airflow management, fin and tube size is what really matters on a radiator.
Aluminum radiator mayor advantage is the weight and of course looks.
Thermal conductivity is greater with a copper radiator.
Aluminum radiator also have different conductivity characteristics; 1100 aluminum has .53 conductivity 6061 aluminum has .41 copper has .93 Silver 1.00
These results are from a test conducted by radiator dyno in Camarillo Ca.
Bill

Thanks guys,

Barrie - I might go with the stock radiator and modify it if I have to as it sounds like it should cope ok out there.

Paul - I'll give Clive a call and get the details on his modification and may just go ahead and get one of his.

Cheers
Stainzy

This thread was discussed between 02/04/2001 and 05/04/2001

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