Jump to content

ALUMINIM RADIATORS What are you using?


Recommended Posts

Posted

I am building a 1965 Mustang with 302 to race in the La Carrera Panamericana in Mexico. Due to the race being run at high altitude cars tend to overheat thus I am advised not to come without an aluminum radiator and even more important than typical road racing conditions.

 

The price for aluminum radiators are all over the scale from $300 to 1200. I want to know if anyone has had good results with any lower priced aluminum radiators and if so what brand were they. Also, did you use aluminum shrouds and electric fans?

Posted

I have been running a 19x28 griffen rad in my 65 AIV/AIX mustang for 10 years. I use an Allstar shroud (lane automotive ), and a Flex a Lite, flex fan. This rad is able to cool 400-600 hp no problem.It is one of the $200, circle track rads. The biggest differences in cost is you have to fab up the mounts. I am not an advocate of electric fans.

  • Members
Posted

I'm with Paul on this one, most circle track rads will work fine - that's what I use.

Posted

$179 Summit Racing radiator. 2 core aluminum. Easy to replace, if need be. They have them in two core sizes that will fit a Mustang (FOX at least)

Posted
$179 Summit Racing radiator. 2 core aluminum. Easy to replace, if need be. They have them in two core sizes that will fit a Mustang (FOX at least)

 

They also have them in sizes that can be fit into a '65, see NASA-MA AI #70. Never over 200 degrees (usually less) on the hottest of days (VIR in July). Electric fan is a Black Magic (because it was available), includes it's own shroud. Only needed when stopped. A mechanical flex fan would be even more effective and certainly more reliable for your application.

Posted

"A mechanical flex fan would be even more effective and certainly more reliable for your application."

 

This is what I thought also but advice from the pros that have run this race disagree. The biggest heating problems arise when they are staging in waiting lines and have to keep creeping forward in a line of cars as each car is sent out exactly in 30 second intervals.

 

Based on a lot of information I have been getting I believe I am going to pass on the $1000 radiators and simply go with one from Summit and an electric motor with fan shroud.

Posted

I run a $180, 19 x 31 inch Griffen & a flex fan also. The flex fan moves a LOT of air. My car never goes over 190 on temp with 550 hp at the wheels. The nice thing is, if some throws a stone and wrecks the radiator, you can put in the spare from the money you saved from buying the $1000 one.

 

Admitt it guys- how many of you have forgotten to turn on your electric fan and over cooked your water temp. I have seen at least 3 people overheat with electic fans. That always leaves a risk of wrecking head gaskets or worse.

  • Members
Posted

You guys are running FANS?!?!?!

 

I have run my cars for years w/o any fan, but you truly have to watch idling and/or water temps when entering/exiting the track... my car normally runs 180*-190* unless I get stuck in line getting off track - then I usually pull off to the side of the grid and wait for the traffic to clear.

Posted
Admitt it guys- how many of you have forgotten to turn on your electric fan and over cooked your water temp. I have seen at least 3 people overheat with electic fans. That always leaves a risk of wrecking head gaskets or worse.
That's why mine is on a thermostat. No user input needed.

 

For an application like this, I'd look at an OE electric fan, maybe something from a late model Mustang or another V8 car. The OE stuff tends to be sized for high temps, idling, A/C, etc., and they have good shrouds, good blade design, and move tons of air.

 

I use a cheap-o hayden electric on mine; it works fine for a road-race car (just keeping it cool when sitting on grid or moving through the pits/impound/scales, etc.), but back when it was a street car it couldn't keep up with extensive idling on hot days.

Posted

Typically I never run a fan either including many races won at Thunderhill in extremely hot weather including many endurance races as well. But like I said, in this race there are staging areas where you are idling for LONG periods of time and some sort of fan is required. It seems a shame to spend so much time and energy to get the maximum horsepower you can get from an engine and then install a fan. That's like setting the e-brake while driving around. I have been told one of the best kept secrets to a good fan is a stock rad fan off late model Taures and use a thermostatically controlled switch. It's like anything else... if it's done properly you won't have problems and part of the key is simplicity.

Posted
I run a $180, 19 x 31 inch Griffen & a flex fan also. The flex fan moves a LOT of air.

 

Same radiator in my CMC car, coupled with a dual Flex-a-lite fan ( it was in the car when I bought it ):

 

flx-220.jpg

 

Admitt it guys- how many of you have forgotten to turn on your electric fan and over cooked your water temp. I have seen at least 3 people overheat with electic fans. That always leaves a risk of wrecking head gaskets or worse.

 

Not once. It's part of a pre-race ritual - window net, helmet, HANS, belts, gloves, ignition, master switch, fuel pump, fans, radio, cool-suit ( if hooked up )....1st gear.

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Quote:

Admitt it guys- how many of you have forgotten to turn on your electric fan and over cooked your water temp. I have seen at least 3 people overheat with electic fans. That always leaves a risk of wrecking head gaskets or worse.

 

 

Whats wrong with a thermal switch or even hard wiring the fans?

  • 1 month later...
  • Members
Posted

I run an OE fan out of a 96-98 Lincoln Mark8. It's an animal, and I run it hard wired. That way it can't be forgotten.

Posted

Kinda late but I just got this radiator for the '00 GT.

 

LFPRadiator.jpg

 

LFP 03/04 Cobra Comp. Race Radiator

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...