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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - V8 Radiator Choice

For an MGB V8 conversion the radiator information I have is that the original radiator (76 on) is sufficient to properly cool the Rover 3.5 V8 with 2 electric cooling fans. The thing that has to be done is that the intake and outlet tanks have to be reversed.
The local rad specialist doesn't feel he will be able to locate new top and bottom tanks with the proper fittings. So he has suggested we could simply reverse the tanks and then place a patch over the holes. I know this will work but would like to avoid a "Patch job". Beside with a few hours work as he quoted it may be more practical to purchase new, or to locate a radiator better suited. I am now looking at trying to locate a new or newer/used radiator. I have heard of a fellow in England who mentioned he was going to use a rad out of a Modine Ford Falcon!
The question is: Does any one know the size and capacity of the Modine Ford Falcon radiator? Or where it or it's North American counterpart can be located. Or is there another radiator that is better suited for the conversion.

Facts
1978 MGB Radiator dimensions are 2 ¾" x 15 5/8 (tall) x 18 ¾" (wide) and contains:
76-78 10 imp pints - 5.6 lt - 12 US pints
78 on 12 imp pints - 6.8 lt - 14.4 US pints

The Rover 3.5 rad
Contains 15 ¼ imp pints - 8.5 lt - 8 ½ US pints


Bruce Mills

I used a '78 MGB radiator on one conversion. For $40 my local Radiator man chopped off the old fittings, blocked off the holes & fitted new fittings (ex Rover rad,)on the reverse side.My guy did a neat job which is undetectable after a coat of black paint. One advantage of going this way, is that you have a thermostat switch already in place, even if it does now fit on the front of the header tank. The biggest problem with this method is the filler plug.A conventional rad. cap will add another inch to the height of the radiator unless it's placed on the lower part of the header tank.I made this mistake & had to lower the whole radiator one inch which wasn't too difficult. Or you can still buy brand new MG V8 radiators.
Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

D & D Fabrications in the States make a heavy duty MGB V8 rad with an extra two inches (goes below) with 4 rows of cores. It costs US$350 but should be good for even traffic jams in the Gobi Desert!
Barrie Robinson

Sounds pricey considering our dollar vs the American dollar. I have requested a catalogue form D&D, but thanks for the information.
Bruce Mills

In the UK (at least) there are uprated radiators available with the same dimensions and outward appearance as the original, but they contain a 25% or so denser core. It certainly helps with low-speed cooling, and how quickly the gauge gets back to N after a stop, but doesn't make as noticeable a difference to stationary cooling although I suppose it must make some. The problem with this last is not so much getting the heat out of the water as getting it out of the engine bay, as evidenced by the length of time the fans run with the bonnet up as opposed to down.

PaulH.
Paul Hunt

"In the UK (at least) there are uprated radiators available".
Would you have an e-mail address or postal address for them, also Paul have you heard of this Modine Ford Falcon in England?
Bruce
Bruce Mills

I believe we've got some words mixed together here...Modine is a company who make radiators - perhaps for the OEM's, but certainly as aftermarket spares.

Any auto parts shop should have a Modine catalog. Their rad referred to here (recalling from some old posts on this BBS) is the unit for the early-60's Ford Falcon with the 260-V8 (4.3litres). It supposedly fits RB cars and should have adequate capacity for Buick/Rover conversions.
bobwilson

Bruce - Clive Wheatley (V8 specialist) supplied mine and he regularly ships to North America. He can be contacted at:

Clive Wheatley
The Garage
2 Chequer Street
Pennfields
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
WV3 7DL
ENGLAND
Tel: (your code for the UK) 1902 330489 or 1902 337294

I'm not aware of Modine.

Cheers,
PaulH.
Paul Hunt

The Modine radiator for the early Falcon is Modine # 1R 2301
It is 21 in. high X 19.38 wide (flange edge to flange edge). The radiator itself is 18 inches wide.

It is a 3 row with both outlets on the passenger side. The upper outlet is 1.5in. in dia. and the lower is 1.75in. There are provisions for trans. cooler on the bottom tank

You can call Modine toll free for their nearest dealer at 1-888-663-4631

They can be ordered at the local NAPA stores for about $169.00 US and delivered in a few days.

Hope this is helpfull.
Ozzie

Thanks all. The information gathered here at this BBS is invaluable.
Bruce Mills

This thread was discussed between 07/01/2000 and 16/01/2000

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