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Upgrading radiator

24 Apr 2008, 9:24pm
Patrick

Have you looked at the spec of your fan?
The Pacet site is quite interesting- I've looked at several other fan sites and the fans only move half the volume of air that a Pacet moves under load (against a radiator). I also spoke to their technical bod, and he advised getting the strongest motor possible - judged by power consumption.
As a result I am now going to order a x flow radiator as this gives me a square core as opposed to a vertical radiator with a wide thin core. This will then allow me to run a 14" fan with the uprated motor. I have gone for a 3 core raditor, which will be very similar to the Marlin x flow.The standard 2.5 E36 BMW has a 2 core, but the core size is bigger than I can fit in my nose cone by about 10% so I 've gone for a 3 core so I hope I should not be marginal at all. Plus a 14" fan with a stronger motor, should not be a problem.
Well that's the theory - when (?) I get mine on the road I'll let you know the reality!!
Mike

PS - How do you get to be able to send PMs?
24 Apr 2008, 9:32pm
I'm just wasting time on the internet for the sake of it at the moment looking at things (I do like doing that :lol: )

I bought an uprated curved blade fan with a higher CFM that the one Marlin sell (which is now sat on a shelf somewhere) its a 13". I'll have look at the specs :)

I will eventually get a rad custom made for it (maybe sooner if I have problems as the weather warms up)

Not sure about PM's should just work :confused:
24 Apr 2008, 9:48pm
Patrick

Since I appear to be barred from sending a PM - do you still have the Compact gear linkage where c=280mm?
If so do you want to sell it?
Mike
24 Apr 2008, 10:04pm
Ahh I got your PM, I just had noticed it had arrived. I think we still have. I'll ask Richard as its his :) Will let you know tomorrow.
25 Apr 2008, 9:05pm
Re: Radiator Help.
Posted by MJD (Aberdeen Scotland) on 25th Apr 08, 07:52 MOC Member: Yes
Thanks Danny, I've spoken to Mark and he tells me it is a custom made radiator never fitted to any other make/model of car. I've decided to have the existing one refurbished as having an aluminium one custom made will cost a fortune!

Thanks to all for the advice.

Mark


I guess that answers that question ;)
2 May 2008, 7:33pm
Some more info via the MOC forum:

Re: Radiator Help.
Posted by Mike (Lincs) on 1st May 08, 10:57 MOC Member: Yes
Marlin's radiator does use pattern part Landrover tanks. The core is reduced in height, but any local radiator manufacurer can make these up easily.
I have just had one made up with elbows in and out, plus expansion pipe, plus fan sensor fitting, which will make pipe work and fan fitting much easier/less costly. I'll post pictures on my Flickr site over the weekend.

Note about aluminium rads.
If you puncture one of these with a stone, they are not repairable, whereas a copper one can usually be solder at minimal cost
Mike
12 May 2008, 9:05pm
peterux wrote:
You'll be needing a bigger engine to keep it warm :laugh:


:lol: better than it is now, I can't drive up too steep a hill without the temp going up to near 90!

I think those rad are design for american customs with 8ltr V8's, its the smallest one they do :rofl:
14 May 2008, 7:31pm
Subtle
So slight as to be difficult to detect or describe; elusive: a subtle smile.
:madgrin:


Radiator upgrade - stock face lift 325i rad compared to the new ali one.

It is substantially thicker than the stock rad.

The M10 rad in the car now it slightly smaller than the 325i rad.

Northern - made in the USA and bought off eBay in the UK from these guys http://stores.ebay.co.uk/USA-Speed-and-Restoration !

Comes with all the bits you need to customise the radiator anyway you need it.
14 May 2008, 9:02pm
That's cool.

(ugh...........sorry)
15 May 2008, 6:00pm
Patrick,
I've seen smaller lorry radiators!!!eyebrows:
That should certainly do the trick. I hope your fan has a lot of push/pull to make sure it can blow through a deep radiator?
Mike
15 May 2008, 6:03pm
It should be OK, but I will probably get a bigger fan as well! :)
1 Jun 2008, 4:26pm

First test fit of the new radiator

[Ace Ventura]Like a glove[/Ace Ventura] the fit is pretty much spot on, just needs a small notch in the mounting metal to clear the steering column.

At this height the cone goes on over it with pleanty of clearance. Only issue is that the oil cooler needs its pipes relocating as the rad uses up the space with were in.

More than enough room to fit a big fan behind to suck the air in. The oil cooler need some 90 degree bends so that it can sit back on top of the front chassis cross bar.

Marking out the position for the inlet pipe.

This is how far down the rad stick under the car. Not too bad still higher up that both the steering rack and sump. This may need some extra protection from any potential impact.
7 Jun 2008, 11:41pm

What seemed like a big fan is actually quite small!

They've done a nice job on the welding, here the inlet and small pipe back to the header tank.

Outlet pipe

Drain plug, will be useful for draining the system. We will no longer need to take a hose off to drain it.

Mounted in the car.

The oil cooler needed relocated and the oil pipes running round the front of the chassis cross member.

This time we've mounted the oil cooler so it looks like it is sitting in the middle of hole at the front. It's actually off to one side slightly in relation to the chassis.

Here you can see the 90 degree oil unions in place, these allow the pipe to take a sharp turn around the chassis cross member.

The fit is very very tight, so tight that the top corners of the rad got a little make over with a bodywork hammer. The rad now just clears the cone when it is installed on the car.

The new pipe assembly now mirror the donor car. The top pipe has a joiner and the small pipe that take any trapped air away is now attached to the radiator.

A much cleaner look. The small pipe is just long long enough to fit in the new location.
8 Jun 2008, 3:36pm
Been for a 45 mile drive today, and it's very warm out. Temperature hovers just over 80 on the gauge most of the time. At low speeds or stopped it does go up a bit. Highest was around 88 where it stayed nice and still at traffic lights. When we got back I left it on idle on the drive way and the needle on the gauge never moved.

On one of the hills where before the temperature go noticeably and quickly now the gauge stays where it is a bit over 80, probably around 83 - 84. Which is excellent.

So on the whole it's sorted it. It could probably do with a bigger fan to move more air through the rad at low speeds / stopped if the outside temperature is even higher than today.