Benefits of a front mounted rad
Turbo Mini Forums

Just a simple question for ya.. what ar the advantages of running a front mounted rad?

My N/A lump iv just finished putting back together has sprung a leak on the existing side mounted rad, so its time for a new one. On talking to bud666 it might be a good time to change over to a front mounted one. But im just trying to justify the hassle atm. The only benifit i can see is the ablility to lose the fan.

any comments?

iv lost the fan with my side mounted rad although its only a 998 atm!
iv just got a electric fan mounted very close to the rad. it comes on when in traffic and when going slower than about 35mph (acording to my speedo) for a few miniutes. it keeps the water temp at about 88c but does creep to about 93c in traffic or slow speeds then fan kicks in and temp goes down quickly to 88c and then fan clicks off.
i found it would get hoter with the mechanical fan on its own!

My build thread..

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=542985

To be honest Ant, its a no-brainer.

You cant compare the two in my opinion, the front mount is so much more efficient and capable of cooling the car. Mine never gets above half way, even with sprited driving.

But fitting a front mounted rad on a Non clubman isn't easy, i've been looking in to it and i either need to find a much small alternator or cut alot of car way. not going to be easy.

If it's easy there is no challenge so no fun...

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

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

losing the side mount fan makes a big difference in how freely the engine will rev up. You'll realy find it feels a lot more lively without it!

Rich

ahh forgot to mention its a clubby front

then go for it anton

they will always be better than a side rad and you will gain bannanas buy removing the fan.

if you can find one then the ally core metro rad were brill but are hard to find.

always looking for them bigger bunches of bannanas

plus its gonna cost you a lot less to do a front mount than it is to buy a new 2 core dude.

you've got the electric fan ready to go, i've got loads of bits of 32mm pipe aswell, so all we need to do is grab a decent radiator from the scrappy.

As above. Losing the mechanical fan is worth allegedly a couple of bananas, but is definately noticeable in the performance of the engine.

Well if I had the luxury of a clubby front I wouldn't need to think about it too long!

Yep, clubman= nice, simple, cheap front mount conversion.

-MINI CLUBMAN 1380 TURBO-

Ive noticed a hell of alot of difference in the cooling, it takes seconds once you start moving for the water temp to drop back to normal temp after sitting in traffic.

The water capacity has almost doubled aswell, which must help. In the summer last year when I put the heater on inside the car to keep the engine cooler in traffic it burned your legs (well the girlfriends,lol) it was so hot, now it doesn't seem anywhere near as hot.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

matty which front mounted rad are you running in your round nose?

Fiat Chiquecento (spelling?), the only problem with the rad is, trying to spell or say the name of the car its from.

Needs a little body cutting to fit, but seems to be really efficient for its size.

Edited by matty on 26th Mar, 2007.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

pmsl matty

have you got a flip front on yours? i have a metro sat on the drive that i plan on using the rad etc from and hopefully as i have a flip front shouldnt have any major probs fitting it

Cinquecento........

Any chance sombody could measure their cinquecento rad for me please? Need to work out if it will fit with my intercooler.

Cheers, AL.

Look at Matty's picture albums .... the answer is there and I think it's probably not ... but go judge for yourself.

I will be using an MPi rad in the front of Candice's with the RST intercooler ..... fits .... ish.

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

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

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

Is that like this one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIAT-NEW-ALUMINIUM-R...bayphotohosting

Looks like a bargain if it can be easily plumbed and mounted.