420
Sourcing
and fitting an upgraded aluminium radiator
Graham Cornford (Tundra 0805) in Texas has upgraded
his radiator and is waiting for the return of the warm weather
to test it. (Jan 11)
My Workshop Notes CD arrived yesterday in the mail, for which
I thank you. My wife brought it from the mailbox to the garage
where I was just finishing off the installation of my Christmas
Present. Santa had brought me 10 litres of 4life Radiator Fluid
and a container to put it in - a new replacement aluminium radiator
from the UK for my MGBGTV8 (Tundra 0805)! It has now been fitted
and I have gone back to the original twin cooling fans.
I
got the new aluminium radiation from Radtec Racing Radiators
in Cannock Staffordshire. I dealt with the owner, Darren Jaymes
and it was ordered on December 1st and it arrived on Dec 24th.
Darren sent me photos by email before ordering and I was impressed.
As extras, I had the top tank welded both inside and out, so
I could clean it up, smooth off the welds and then polish it.
My original was polished brass. As I use 4life Radiator Fluid
I also had a drain plug fitted which makes catching the fluid
easier. Their normal price on eBay with VAT then at 17.5% was
GBP 482 which has no drain plug or inside welding. As I was
on offshore purchaser I was not subject to VAT, so it cost me
GBP 450 which included FedEx delivery to Texas. I was happy
when it arrived, now I have played with it, filed it, 400, 800
and 2000 wet and dried it, and have put it to the polishing
wheel of my bench grinder I am more than delighted. It is awesome
- and I don't even know if it cools yet!
Fitting it was not totally straight-forward, but according to
my wife, I am anal about the MG. It is a tad wider than |
the
original in that the top and bottom tanks are not slightly
tapered. I had to disconnect the anti roll bar to fit it,
as it now sits behind the two radiator fixing panels instead
of in front. There is still just room to spin off the oil
filter. Being slightly wider than the original it takes about
one and a half cups more fluid. I am now wishing winter away
and longing for a 100 deg F day to test it, but with about
a 55 deg F winter day, I ran it up stationary for half an
hour and the cooling fans didn't even come on. That is with
an 82 deg C thermostat fitted. I was assured that it wouldn't
overheat now, even in the Sahara Desert.
I haven't even had time to take it for a test drive, or photograph
it installed yet, but when I do drive it, I will let you know
how it performs as I think you implied that you were going
to go down that route yourself.
Footnote:
I couldn't wait to get photos and went outside then realized
it was 43 deg F - BBRRrrrrr. Anyway, here are the photos.
I think it looks good, I love it, let's hope it cools well
when it's hot!
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