Sorry radiators again & fans
Discussion
Been given the go ahead to buy my Christmas present (Costing me a new wardrobe in return).
I need to upgrade my cooling now I am running turbos. It is fine now, but in the summer months if stuck in traffic temps keep increasing. From a bit of testing I reckon that stopping after a run on tickover I had approximately 15 mins before 110 deg.
I tend to use the car for all sorts including motorway commutes so chances are sooner or later I will be stuck in slow crawling motorway traffic in the heat.
My current rad is recored and upgraded (supposedly 30%) more cooling however is probably four years old now.
I have been looking at alloy rads which state 30% more cooling.
So Q1 is it a fact that alloy rads are more efficient than upgraded standard rads?
Q2 my old fans clearly can't shift enough air probably not helped by the intercooler and oil cooler stuck right in front of rad. Any suggestions for an upgrade?
Basically new fans are a given, and I am happy to fork out for an ally rad, but only if I get improved cooling ability.
Cheers,
Matt
I need to upgrade my cooling now I am running turbos. It is fine now, but in the summer months if stuck in traffic temps keep increasing. From a bit of testing I reckon that stopping after a run on tickover I had approximately 15 mins before 110 deg.
I tend to use the car for all sorts including motorway commutes so chances are sooner or later I will be stuck in slow crawling motorway traffic in the heat.
My current rad is recored and upgraded (supposedly 30%) more cooling however is probably four years old now.
I have been looking at alloy rads which state 30% more cooling.
So Q1 is it a fact that alloy rads are more efficient than upgraded standard rads?
Q2 my old fans clearly can't shift enough air probably not helped by the intercooler and oil cooler stuck right in front of rad. Any suggestions for an upgrade?
Basically new fans are a given, and I am happy to fork out for an ally rad, but only if I get improved cooling ability.
Cheers,
Matt
For fans, see the link at the bottom of this post - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=133...
One of a number of options but; Radtec are excellent. Ask for Darren. (he is their 'TVR guy', and he owns one)
Drop in replacement, or something a little more special if required.
The fan shrouds are normally built into the radiator.
They also have a good selection of fans, and also make intercoolers.
Quite a number of people have these and everyone I have spoken to says the same thing; "almost too good at cooling".
And don't tell Chillidog, but I got mine in black so it looks like the original.
Drop in replacement, or something a little more special if required.
The fan shrouds are normally built into the radiator.
They also have a good selection of fans, and also make intercoolers.
Quite a number of people have these and everyone I have spoken to says the same thing; "almost too good at cooling".
And don't tell Chillidog, but I got mine in black so it looks like the original.
I have an early Chim that has the original bottom hose routing, very slim SPAL fans and no cowlings on the radiator and found the cooling in stop start traffic to be marginal at best ...
I replaced the rad last year (I actually had an aluminium rad and went back to a standard one due to cost reasons) and it actually cools much better now (???) but I also bought a set of radiator fan cowlings (£50 each from Clever Trevor / Racing Green), a pair of SPAL VA01-AP70/LL-36A (which I believe are used in the Tuscan) for about £130 each IIRC (from that guy in Poland) and the later solid bottom hose from ACT.
Of course I haven't got round to fitting them yet!
Those fans (according to the specs) each shift more air than *BOTH* the original SPAL fans put together - they do draw a fair bit of current (17amps each as opposed to the 8amps each of the original fans) so they should help the cooling in summer (and the cowlings should also help reduce the overcooling in winter). I've also got a 70amp relay to run them off (I could have used a 40amp but I like to try to overrate stuff if possible and I've seen too many 30 and 40 amp relays .
I need to relocate my coolant expansion tank to free up enough room for the (much) thicker radiator fans and the cowlings before I press on with the rest of the changes ...
Phil
I replaced the rad last year (I actually had an aluminium rad and went back to a standard one due to cost reasons) and it actually cools much better now (???) but I also bought a set of radiator fan cowlings (£50 each from Clever Trevor / Racing Green), a pair of SPAL VA01-AP70/LL-36A (which I believe are used in the Tuscan) for about £130 each IIRC (from that guy in Poland) and the later solid bottom hose from ACT.
Of course I haven't got round to fitting them yet!
Those fans (according to the specs) each shift more air than *BOTH* the original SPAL fans put together - they do draw a fair bit of current (17amps each as opposed to the 8amps each of the original fans) so they should help the cooling in summer (and the cowlings should also help reduce the overcooling in winter). I've also got a 70amp relay to run them off (I could have used a 40amp but I like to try to overrate stuff if possible and I've seen too many 30 and 40 amp relays .
I need to relocate my coolant expansion tank to free up enough room for the (much) thicker radiator fans and the cowlings before I press on with the rest of the changes ...
Phil
Thanks Phil,
Some food for thought there. I need to be careful with clearances as the turbo fitment means it is a little cramped under the bonnet. The expansion tank is right tight up against the fan housing on the left hand side. There is literally no where else for it to go (I spent a long time trying different places).
I think as a first pass I am going to buy one of those fans which should fit on the right hand side no problem. Hopefully this will make a significant difference.
I can see this leading to the fitment of an electronic power steering pump so that I can move the swirl pot to the power steering pump location and the expansion chamber where the swirl pot currently sits at a slight angle..
Matt
Some food for thought there. I need to be careful with clearances as the turbo fitment means it is a little cramped under the bonnet. The expansion tank is right tight up against the fan housing on the left hand side. There is literally no where else for it to go (I spent a long time trying different places).
I think as a first pass I am going to buy one of those fans which should fit on the right hand side no problem. Hopefully this will make a significant difference.
I can see this leading to the fitment of an electronic power steering pump so that I can move the swirl pot to the power steering pump location and the expansion chamber where the swirl pot currently sits at a slight angle..
Matt
In line with Phil's post, that my original radiator managed just fine up until it had to be replaced a few years ago.
Matt, looking at your profile we are not a million miles apart (Basingstoke way myself), so if you want to have a measure up sometime, just PM me to arrange it.
As indicated, I am using the 'standard' Radtec radiator for a Chimaera.
Matt, looking at your profile we are not a million miles apart (Basingstoke way myself), so if you want to have a measure up sometime, just PM me to arrange it.
As indicated, I am using the 'standard' Radtec radiator for a Chimaera.
Goaty Bill said:
One of a number of options but; Radtec are excellent. Ask for Darren. (he is their 'TVR guy', and he owns one)
Drop in replacement, or something a little more special if required.
The fan shrouds are normally built into the radiator.
They also have a good selection of fans, and also make intercoolers.
Quite a number of people have these and everyone I have spoken to says the same thing; "almost too good at cooling".
Drop in replacement, or something a little more special if required.
The fan shrouds are normally built into the radiator.
They also have a good selection of fans, and also make intercoolers.
Quite a number of people have these and everyone I have spoken to says the same thing; "almost too good at cooling".
Just had one of those fitted to my Griffith and it runs 10 degrees cooler than it did prior to fitting. I think I may be one of those Goaty refers to in his last line 
www.highflowracing.co.uk
these guys are doing ali fans at 350, but will use deep cores, add bits and bobs to your specification.
couple of chaps i know have them.
ali rad in my griff definitely ran cooler faster than std rad.
making sure the cowls are tight fitting is very important, or the fan will not pull through the rad properly....
these guys are doing ali fans at 350, but will use deep cores, add bits and bobs to your specification.
couple of chaps i know have them.
ali rad in my griff definitely ran cooler faster than std rad.
making sure the cowls are tight fitting is very important, or the fan will not pull through the rad properly....
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