alloy rad choice
Turbo Mini Forums

i know there a few about but does anyone have one and how does it compare to a score minispares rad

http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=42703

I've got a Minispares alloy rad. Not that one though.

Mines more similar to Radtecs version and is £230 new.

It's better than a 2 core in the fact that it doesn't look like absolute shit 3 months from buying it, but I wouldn't say that it keeps the temps down much better.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Mine's a radtec but can't tell you how going it works yet because I've not used it yet.

Craig

my mini van http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=448248

the guys at minispares said the more expensive one isnt any better other than looking nice with rounded edges...

I had a radtec one and it was no better than a chap ebay alloy one or the minispares 2 core.

plus it sprang a lead due to corrosion.

I have a Radtec. It works out to be the same weight as 2 core Minispares because of the extra capacity and it doesnt give any extra cooling effect so there is no gain for the 150 odd quid that I spent

I seriously doubt it!

I have the minispares alloy 2core you linked, i use it with 18.psi and kept it lovely and cool.

Audi s4 b5 - 470bhp & 486ft lbs

On 30th Apr, 2012 Brett said:
yeah stick the bit in and give it a wobble

I hope no one gets upset about the comment I'm about to make, but...

From the pic it looks like one of the cheapo Chinese rads. Or is that just me?

Not that they aren't up to the job. Wintersurfer is using one on his car and I'd say that if anything, it out-performs mine.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

I had a radtec and believe that although in principle you would think that the extra water would help, you also need the ability to cool that extra water down. This is fine on a front mount where you increase the surface area rather than the thickness of the rad. And that's was the problem. By the time the fan pushes air through a two core steel rad it's quite effective. The considerable extra width of the radtec meant for me at least, temperatures did not see any benefit. I tried 4 and 11 blade (stiff version) and struggled to move enough air through it.

R1 rads fit I dummy fitted one they are dead easy to make fit front mount and even fit side would they are alloy and one core! Super light also.

Im in this position too, im still running the standard rad and mine never gets overly hot (thats when its not broke) but it looks a bit shitty and id like a shiny one.

I looked at that minispares one at bingley show and nearly brought one. Its handy because it has the drain at the front but the welds arent the neatest.

I think radtec ones are around £250

Matt W

Does anyone know what the cheap-o ones of ebay are like?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/aluminum-alloy-r...#ht_1438wt_1110

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.p...tid=469104&fr=0

They look proper Mickey mouse, but they might be half decent. I think there is mixed reviews about these. Some people have ran them for ages and some people have had a leak after 1000 miles.

Matt W

as one eye says, wintersurfurs cheap chinese one works a treat,

what about one of these, is 15% extra cooling enough?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-COOPER-AUST...#ht_2398wt_1037

Edited by wez on 11th Feb, 2012.

one day boost will be mine!

My cheap shit chinese one works well, done 0 miles, but run for hours in the garage which is the worst treatment, no airflow, testing mixtures/ignition. It's not a work of art, but for £55 delivered from the other side of the world I just don't care.

If it was a show car I'd pay a bit more so it looked pretty, but unless you have ££ to spare they are excellent value and do the job.

Anyone got any pics of the chinese ones?

Matt W

I've been thinking about this lately too, im going to have a front mount alloy rad just not sure what yet. Ive been looking into alternatives to retro fit, gregh on here is in the middle of making a mk2 golf rad fit. My first chioce is a miglia rad from radtec, but there not cheap.

MW3, I have a chinese cheap rad. Look on my build thread

fitted


£80, seems to do the job, think its a 50mm core..

Edited by wintersurferuk on 12th Feb, 2012.

The Minispares ones are chinese. But I have one and it cools fine in the TT2.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

so the minispares 140 quid one is the same as the 6o quid ones on ebay??

thats my understanding yes.

well its worth a go right? only 60 quid plus i have 2 minispares 2 core sitting here if it goes wrong! sod it ill order one now.