Radiator replacement
Discussion
Anyone got a link to radtech. Can't find them on google. Spent an uncomfortable journey home last night with the heater full on when one of the rad fans decided to give up the ghost for some reason.
Don't like a car that depends on both fans. Want one fan to do the job and one as emergency only. Hoping radtech or whoever they are will supply the answer
Don't like a car that depends on both fans. Want one fan to do the job and one as emergency only. Hoping radtech or whoever they are will supply the answer
That's because it's Radtec Ltd
http://www.radtec.co.uk/
£380 for the aluminium one. Lighter, more bling, but more prone to cracking?
I looked into them but decided to go with a recore on mine for £150.
http://www.radtec.co.uk/
£380 for the aluminium one. Lighter, more bling, but more prone to cracking?
I looked into them but decided to go with a recore on mine for £150.
Well, the twin speed fans are on the Cobra. The big chevy lump has a land rover three core radiator on it. However the big difference between the Cerb and the cobra is that the twin fans on the cobra only come on sitting in traffic and even then only occasionally. The pipe work to the radiator in the cobra is much larger and the radiator in the cobra seems to run much cooler than the cerb. You can hold your hand on the Cobra radiator 'just'
The cerb will switch a stage one fan on while running with a good breeze going in the front.
For the cobra to overheat, it would require both fans to die, and even then you would only have a problem if stationary for a while. It would run pretty much okay without fans while running, or need only one if stationary on a luke warm day.
The TVR would overheat if the stage one fan died even on a run. Both of the fans are essential for sitting in traffic. Doesn't strike me as ideal as the Cerb is effectively living on the edge of disaster with no backup all the time.
I have no idea why anyone bothered with a a water thermostat on the cerb as it must be wide open from about a minute after the cars started.
My solution would seem to be either increasing airflow over the radiator or getting a better radiator. TCS trick of switching the fans on earlier is not really a solution to the overheating problems of the cerb. It makes the dial on the dashboard look better but you are still living one step away from disaster all the time. Increasing the airflow over the rad on the Cerb is probably not going to happen, so rad it is.
I just wonder if the radtec (thanks) system will actually do what I want or is just a bling replacement.
The cerb will switch a stage one fan on while running with a good breeze going in the front.
For the cobra to overheat, it would require both fans to die, and even then you would only have a problem if stationary for a while. It would run pretty much okay without fans while running, or need only one if stationary on a luke warm day.
The TVR would overheat if the stage one fan died even on a run. Both of the fans are essential for sitting in traffic. Doesn't strike me as ideal as the Cerb is effectively living on the edge of disaster with no backup all the time.
I have no idea why anyone bothered with a a water thermostat on the cerb as it must be wide open from about a minute after the cars started.
My solution would seem to be either increasing airflow over the radiator or getting a better radiator. TCS trick of switching the fans on earlier is not really a solution to the overheating problems of the cerb. It makes the dial on the dashboard look better but you are still living one step away from disaster all the time. Increasing the airflow over the rad on the Cerb is probably not going to happen, so rad it is.
I just wonder if the radtec (thanks) system will actually do what I want or is just a bling replacement.
A great topic, and one very close to my heart. I am obsessed with cooling!
What temp does the cerb stat open at? What about the cobra?
Mine allegedly has an aftermarket rad but I intend to find out which make.
Doesn't seem to make a huge difference though.
Also don't forget that the cerb needs 2 fans since with only 1 fan on it effectively sucks air through the rad and blows it back theough the rad on the side where the other fan isn't working. This is why Joolz' chip turns both fans on at once.
Another thing worth noting is that the non aircon cars only had 1 centrally mounted fan and seemed to survive.
I phoned a well known independent and they said that the big fan (offside one) very rarely goes. Apparently they are very reliable. They also said radflush was a waste of time on newer cars because most cars are kept topped up with antifreeze and therefore don't corrode internally. This will not stop me having a go though
Does anyone know if the newer type of panel lower engine panel, which hides the fans completely on later cars, is an improvement over the old style?
let me know what you find out as I am very interested in thsi topic.
Thanks
What temp does the cerb stat open at? What about the cobra?
Mine allegedly has an aftermarket rad but I intend to find out which make.
Doesn't seem to make a huge difference though.
Also don't forget that the cerb needs 2 fans since with only 1 fan on it effectively sucks air through the rad and blows it back theough the rad on the side where the other fan isn't working. This is why Joolz' chip turns both fans on at once.
Another thing worth noting is that the non aircon cars only had 1 centrally mounted fan and seemed to survive.
I phoned a well known independent and they said that the big fan (offside one) very rarely goes. Apparently they are very reliable. They also said radflush was a waste of time on newer cars because most cars are kept topped up with antifreeze and therefore don't corrode internally. This will not stop me having a go though
Does anyone know if the newer type of panel lower engine panel, which hides the fans completely on later cars, is an improvement over the old style?
let me know what you find out as I am very interested in thsi topic.
Thanks
Not sure the time at which the thermostat opens makes much difference unless they are sticking or restricting.
Pretty much the cobra opens like a giant sluce gate at 70. Not checked the Cerb but the radiator is stinking hot all the time so rightly or wrongly I've assumed the thermostat opens very quickly and stays open, but its concievable that its causing a partial restriction and slowing down the water movement through the radiator. (anyone know what the water pressure in the rad system should be??
I'd probably do an all over check before going much further especially in the light of the fact that some Cerb owners here are saying they survive okay on just a single fan.
A year or so back I was convinced that i'd read that someone with a radtec radiator had said that even the first fan only came on in traffic.
What the Cerb needs is a big fan on the crankshaft pulley. But it would make a hell of a mess of the tarmac.
Pretty much the cobra opens like a giant sluce gate at 70. Not checked the Cerb but the radiator is stinking hot all the time so rightly or wrongly I've assumed the thermostat opens very quickly and stays open, but its concievable that its causing a partial restriction and slowing down the water movement through the radiator. (anyone know what the water pressure in the rad system should be??
I'd probably do an all over check before going much further especially in the light of the fact that some Cerb owners here are saying they survive okay on just a single fan.
A year or so back I was convinced that i'd read that someone with a radtec radiator had said that even the first fan only came on in traffic.
What the Cerb needs is a big fan on the crankshaft pulley. But it would make a hell of a mess of the tarmac.
ro_butler said:
This is why Joolz' chip turns both fans on at once.
Is that correct? I hadn't realised if so.Since the standard fans are different (one hi, one lo speed) though, the cooling is still not entirely even though is it. Or would it be possible to swap one out and use 2 x lo or 2 x hi fans- or replace both with something with middleground characteristics?!
DaveR said:
ro_butler said:
This is why Joolz' chip turns both fans on at once.
Is that correct? I hadn't realised if so.Since the standard fans are different (one hi, one lo speed) though, the cooling is still not entirely even though is it. Or would it be possible to swap one out and use 2 x lo or 2 x hi fans- or replace both with something with middleground characteristics?!
I had thought about doing exactly what you suggest but someone suggested it might flatten the battery as the alternator does very little charging at tickover and running 2 of the big fans might be too much.
The TCS chip I fitted to mine recently and some water wetter made a massive difference to my car. you should also bleed the top brass nut to make sure you don't have any air in the system. Also don't forget if the expansion tank level drops too far it will also suck air into the system!
JensenA said:
FFFS -!! If you are having problems with cooling then there is something wrong with the car, get it fixed and it works fine.
Tvr_Edd said:
Agree with you there, the car should not be overheating at all.
Who said it was?I was under the impression that the folks around here liked to share ideas for potential improvements that could be made to the cars, prevention being better than cure, and other topics generally related to ensuring happy running and longevity.
Or are we ditching that spirit for this particular thread?
Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean.....
My cooling system seems to work but where is the harm in improving it?
As Julian has already noted it is not perfect and it is not unheard of for these cars to overheat. I happen to agree with Julian that the cooling on these cars is pretty marginal and would prefer something a bit better.
Having said that neither of my cerbs have overheated.
My cooling system seems to work but where is the harm in improving it?
As Julian has already noted it is not perfect and it is not unheard of for these cars to overheat. I happen to agree with Julian that the cooling on these cars is pretty marginal and would prefer something a bit better.
Having said that neither of my cerbs have overheated.
Got mine back tonight with the new recored radiator.
Had no fuel left as Neil's been playing with the settings (I had nitrons fitted as well) so I crawled along at 60mph at best. Filled up with petrol (65 litres so that was close) and then got stuck in Swindons best traffic.
Car used to fluctuate between 95-105 in heavy traffic. It never went over 100.
Just need to add the water wetter again now.
Had no fuel left as Neil's been playing with the settings (I had nitrons fitted as well) so I crawled along at 60mph at best. Filled up with petrol (65 litres so that was close) and then got stuck in Swindons best traffic.
Car used to fluctuate between 95-105 in heavy traffic. It never went over 100.
Just need to add the water wetter again now.
If and when my rad goes, I shall be going to 'Kempston Radiators' without hesitation. They did the recore on my Griffith.
Not only did they do a good job, but were friendly, efficient and did keep in touch when they said they were going to.
PROOF is in the pudding, and credit is given where credit is due.
Not only did they do a good job, but were friendly, efficient and did keep in touch when they said they were going to.
PROOF is in the pudding, and credit is given where credit is due.
Obvious going to get my welly's on for this thread.
My car only overheated because the first stage fan has given up the ghost for some reason. Could be a simple fuse even. Not checked it out as my social life a bit hectic at the mo.
Other than that a fully working example of the marque.
By overheating I mean that the gauge went past 100 when the second fan kicked in. The temperature would then slowly rise to 110 in traffic and required use of the cars heater and the second fan to pull it down to 100.
But the cooling system on my car is marginal because any one of two fans going poof, cause me to have to take action with the way I drive the car to get her home safely.
I want to investigate the guys car who said it runs fine on one fan, or even better the guy who said his radiator does all the work even with minimal airflow and no fans. Now that would be reassuring.
My car only overheated because the first stage fan has given up the ghost for some reason. Could be a simple fuse even. Not checked it out as my social life a bit hectic at the mo.Other than that a fully working example of the marque.
By overheating I mean that the gauge went past 100 when the second fan kicked in. The temperature would then slowly rise to 110 in traffic and required use of the cars heater and the second fan to pull it down to 100.
But the cooling system on my car is marginal because any one of two fans going poof, cause me to have to take action with the way I drive the car to get her home safely.
I want to investigate the guys car who said it runs fine on one fan, or even better the guy who said his radiator does all the work even with minimal airflow and no fans. Now that would be reassuring.
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