Aluminium radiators (radtec)
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi, I've asked this question on the Vintage mini racing forum as I expect they have delt more with the radtec radiators, but i thoght i'd copy and past it here as I recon I may get some good honest answers from you lot

I am considering getting an alloy radiator for the car i am building (Radtec or similar), there are a couple reasons for this,

1) To hopefully increase cooling, although I am in the UK and normally we would not have the same cooling requirements as the US the engine will be a turbocharged 7 port, even though i do not intend to run massive amounts of boost its fair to assume this engine will generate a lot of heat.

2) Where i live the roads are bad, they pretty much amount to rally stages, in the past i have had issues with std,2&4 core rads basicly rattling/shakeing to bits, so i'm hoping the thicker construction of te alloy rad will be a bit more sturdy. the normal faliures i have is the side's coming away from the the header tank.

3) Obviously least important, but they do look nice


So my questions are,

1) Has anyone seen any noticable difference in effectiveness between an alloy and 2 core radiator.

2) Do the Alloy rads seem to be "stronger"?
(I have not had a chance to physically handle one yet)

3) As they are thicker will they fit into a MK 1 without modificatons to the shroud on the inner wing?


Thanks

Joe.

Edited by Joe C on 25th Nov, 2006.

i dont see the point so far while driving my car sits at 83 degrees in traffic its gone up to 85 max

this is with a 2 core super cool and plastic fan

Might be worth considering a front mounted rad if your concerned by temps. I use a VW Polo 1l rad in my kit car with a 225BHP turbo 4AGE (toyota engine) with no problems at all .... fan hardly ever comes on so it has to be fairly efficient!!!

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

Agree with Wolfie though, run a Super2 and it's never let me down. Will be using one again for my misses car but will be going alloy front mounted for mine ...... but only for the bling :)

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

ok good comments, I could run a 2 core and then add another small rad if needed, what about the construction though anyone reckon there's a significant strenght difference between the rad's?

Never had a rad shake it swelf to pieces. Are you mounting via the normal rubbers and not doing things up too tight?

I have seen rad top brackets break when people over tighten the two bolts at through the rubbers at the top.

Also seen the bottom rad mount single bolt over tightened so much that it had to be undone with an air tool and it wasn't rattled to bits!!!!

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

no not tight, just nipped up with a spanner.

TBH I think its a number of things that contribute to this, like its a knock on effect from not being able to keep a set of engine stabilizer bar bushes in one peice or wheel weights on the car. due to dodgy roads.

Although now i come to think of it i never had these issues with the mk1, only on the other mini's i've had, maybe its the extra give due to not running a remote box.

although when i was running the mk1 the roads were a lot better....

bah, I don't know... basicly the roads are shit here and unless you drive at 40mph everywhere you need to pretty much rally prep a mini... i've even knocked off fuel pipes damn it!

Yipes!!!!!

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...