Radiator Dilemma
Turbo Mini Forums

So, it’s all gone a bit wrong with the cooling side of things.

Apparently, 5 years ago when I bought a new side mount Radiator for the Turbo Engine, in my infinite wisdom, I bought the cheapest Minispares radiator I could (Don’t ask why, because I have no idea).
I never ran with it, because I then had a change in plans and went down the front mounted Radiator route.

Fast forward 5 years, as part of the change to the remote Turbo setup, I have changed back to a side mounted radiator in an effort to make room at the front for air filter, MAF, etc., using the previously bought 3 core radiator (which I did not realise was 3 core during fitting).

Inevitably, it’s just not up to the job – nowhere near, even running only 5PSI boost and before this weekend’s blast furnace heat.

So, I now need to buy something that is going to actually cool the engine properly.

MiniSpares recommended their Radtec Aluminium radiator, which they told me had an approximate 52mm deep core. C-ARA4441
Radtec are recommending their extreme offering as they do not believe their “standard” Side mount radiator ( Minispares advised unit) is actually up to the job for the power I’m hoping for.
Although a fair wedge of Money, I’d probably go for the extreme, but for the fact it’s going to make things even tighter in the Engine bay (66mm deep core with 84mm header tank), and they are looking at a 5 – 10 day turn around.

I’ve used the search button and found some information, but nothing really definitive.

The Most information I have found so far, people say they are either using the cinq front mount or Minispares Super 2 core. But no real information on the power the engines have been kicking out or the usage - Track, road, whatever...

I’m hoping I can break into or very close to 200HP over the summer, so I really want to make sure I have the cooling capacity, but on the other hand I don’t want to fill up the Engine bay with unnecessary radiator, spend unnecessary cash and potentially push the radiator even closer to the IC to Throttle body Pipe and raise MAT temperatures.

I’m not going to be using it for track days, really just for road use and maybe a blast around Castle coombe…



Any advice welcomed.

Thanks

’77 Clubman build thread
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=618189

Siamese 5 port EFI testing
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=611675

I've used the MS super 2 core with success at 200hp+ and drag racing.

The only reason I swapped for an ally one is because the 2 core ends up looking like it's 30 years old after just a few months.

I think I still have one in the garage. Let me have a look tomorrow.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Thanks, that would be perfect.

Not too worried about how it looks at this point. More interested in fuction.

’77 Clubman build thread
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=618189

Siamese 5 port EFI testing
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=611675

I had a rad tech one and wasn't that impressed, it sprang a leak so got binned, ended up with a 2 core minispares one off of one eye, that he's probably looking for in his garage right now....

I've got the 2 core one after reading recommendations on here. I was going to get the radtec but was a bit put off by price

what does mattt woods use ?

Medusa + injection = too much torque for the dyno ..https://youtu.be/qg5o0_tJxYM

I've been running a old minispares 2 core which I've had since 2007 probably!! I've had it on a few engines in its time.
At the moment I have it on my turbo engine without a mechanical fan and leccy pump. Haven't gad it set up yet so nit sure on power. But when I drove it last, (April time) the electric fan would turn off while moving 40mph+ I've since re plumbed it all in differently but yet to try it yet.

But I'd recommend the minispares 2 core from experience. Not tried any aly rads though tbh

My build thread..

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

I thought MW was using an ally (Pace?) sidemount. The one with the curved top.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Ah yes. Sorry Graham. Joe is correct.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

’77 Clubman build thread
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=618189

Siamese 5 port EFI testing
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=611675