radiator advice

[keith-vznby]

The fins on my rad are quietly decomposing at the age of 17,I have decided to replace it with an alloy,could anyone recommend a type and where to buy please

[QBee]

You could of course get the standard one re-cored for about £200. Good as new.
I have a recently recorded one going spare for that price if, at the end of this thread, your opinion changes.

[s p a c e m a n]

http://www.aaronradiator.co.uk/index.php?p=catalog...

Mines a couple years old now and good as new, they did a discount if you mentioned pistonheads when I got mine.

[QBee]

If you fit an alloy rad, remember not to overtighten the fixings. It may crack if you do

[bobfather]

Alloy rads don't offer any advantage, once full of water they weigh practically the same as copper rads. They cost more and fail quicker. I guess they look nicer but that's about it

[Loubaruch]

I was in a similar position a while back when my Griffith rad failed for the 3rd time in 17 years.

I was considering fitting an aluminium one until the local radiator specialist advised against it.

He explained that the copper/brass rad in the car can tolerate a fair degree of movement before failing by splitting whereas an Aly one is far less rugged and will split if moved a little as said above.

Which ever you chose leave plenty of room for movement in the bottom mounting lugs, I even put some weak springs underneath the lugs to help. It seems to have worked.

[ianwayne]

Henley Heritage fitted a replacement aluminium one to mine when it was 7 yrs old according to the history. 25k miles and 9 years later, it's still fine. (£370 + VAT for the radiator in 2007!)

Personally I think an aluminium one may be more robust / resistant to stone damage. The fins seem less flimsy than other copper ones I've encountered.

[Engineer1949]

the big problem with alloy rads is that the conductivity of alloy is considerably lower than copper so for the same cooling effect the rad needs a larger surface area, which you can do in a chim make it thicker, second problem is they dont like flexing which is not good in our cars as the thing is flexing all the time particularly under track conditions, ally rads are popular in motorsport applications when building limited numbers the alloy rads are far easier to build plus they are usually fitted to a bespoke frame integrated with chassis so less chance of flex be advised just go for recore or new rangy rad.

john

[Milky400]

As said above, I'd stay away from alloy if possible for the reasons mentioned. I nearly opted for alloy on the Tuscan as I simply couldn't fine a standard one cheap enough. Ended up finding a brand new rad for £150 + vat from a local radiator specialist.

[N7GTX]

ianwayne said:

Henley Heritage fitted a replacement aluminium one to mine when it was 7 yrs old according to the history. 25k miles and 9 years later, it's still fine. (£370 + VAT for the radiator in 2007!)

Personally I think an aluminium one may be more robust / resistant to stone damage. The fins seem less flimsy than other copper ones I've encountered.

Aloo-min-um for me too. Old rad was knackered and Powers fitted the aly one. So long as it is dead flat when tightened down, it will be okay. Dom says and Dom's warranty good enough for me.

[Ptr400J]

I have just had mine recored.
looked at the ally ones but decided to go origjnal based on some adverse comments on the ally ones..since then loads of people said ally is good but too late for me!

[PhilH42]

Dan taylor swapped mine for Aluminium some months back...no problems so far.

[Andav469]

Lots of people stating 'no problems so far' if your original has lasted 17 years, then why not go for a recore, should give you another 17 years

[QBee]

Ignore us amateur keyboard jockeys by all means.
But take Engineer 1949 seriously.
I have yet to find any engineering matter about which he doesn't know everything.
He has, to my knowledge, built a Chimaera 4 litre SC from the ground up, and is presently engineering a very powerful Cerbera. And there's a complete Wedge rebuild in there somewhere too

[N7GTX]

QBee said:

Ignore us amateur keyboard jockeys by all means.
But take Engineer 1949 seriously.
I have yet to find any engineering matter about which he doesn't know everything.
He has, to my knowledge, built a Chimaera 4 litre SC from the ground up, and is presently engineering a very powerful Cerbera. And there's a complete Wedge rebuild in there somewhere too

Just like us keyboard warriors Anthony, experts also have differing opinions.

M'lud, the defence will now produce 2 experts who will argue that the prosecution witnesses are misjudged......

[TV8]

Op, not sure where you are located but I have a spare original if you want to get that refurbered and give me back your old one after if that helps? My last car had a couple of rads and it was due to poor fitting by the previous owner. Dan Taylor opened up the mounting holes and all good with the alloy rad he put in several years ago.

I changed this cars rad to alloy and if I have any problem with that in the future, it will be back standard for me.

[Sardonicus]

To early yet (reliability wise) but went ally for the weight saving and there is quite a difference IMO cant comment on cooling differences as never had any before and its just the same now, both Phazed and I run the same rad so we will see his car obviously gives it more of a workout

[QBee]

Presumably the lighter radiator allowed Phazed to stay on his steak and chips diet.....et tu, Simon?

[Bassfiendnoideawhathp]

I had three ally rads (replaced under arranty) and they all developed leaks at seams (the last failed outside of warranty) ... back to 'standard' rad now for the last few years and its been fine.

I like ally as they look great though...

Phil