Aluminium high capacity radiator

[finallyrangie]

Hello people,

I recently started looking around for a full aluminium radiator, as anyone else who has looked will know, there's not a great deal of choice.

Local radiator fabricator quoted $1460, bit rich for my blood, and the desert coolers have a great reputation for quality but with postage I was still quoted between $900 and $1000, which still seems a lot for a car that originally cost $3000.

I kept looking and found an option from a company called Direnza, online reviews were mixed in the extreme, everything from "everything they make is rubbish " to "excellent product " so in the end I got in touch with them, in the UK, including postage, $427 to my door, so I decided to take a punt.

Arrived on the day they said it would, postage had dented a couple of brackets (bit of negotiation got a $45 refund for the trouble and they did offer to have it collected and replaced at their cost ).I've been a metalworker for over 30 years so I gave it the once over when I unpacked. The welding wasn't the best I've ever seen, but it was far from being bad either, perfectly acceptable, it's a full aluminium fabrication with a twin core that is 55mm thick as opposed to the standard 42, there should be a picture of the two together for comparison.

Fitting was easy, the side brackets are a bit random so I just bent them open a bit with a screw driver and pushed them back around the fixing points once it was in. Only one of the lower fixing points lined up with the hole, and they were tapped out to m6 rather than the standard m8, but otherwise a straight swap.

Since it's been fitted we've had nothing but rain so I have no idea if it has reduced the operating temperature, but I will keep you posted.

Anyone looking for a budget aluminium radiator for the P38 should give these a look if my experience is typical.

131201131202131203131204

[prelude]

It is hard to see on the pictures but is the spacing between the fins the same? I should think that a larger radiator with larger fins could help in reduce the buildup of dust (as was evident in your original radiator) so I was kinda hoping to find one of those :)

Great post by the way and thanks!

-P

[Bigbjorn]

Google Speedway Motors, Lincoln, Nebraska, and search their site for radiators. Extensive choice and quite reasonably priced.

[finallyrangie]

It is hard to see on the pictures but is the spacing between the fins the same? I should think that a larger radiator with larger fins could help in reduce the buildup of dust (as was evident in your original radiator) so I was kinda hoping to find one of those :)

Great post by the way and thanks!

-P


The fin density,( would it be fins per inch ) , looked to be about the same as the original, to be fair the build up was more mud than dust, wet day in the glasshouse mountains can do that, I just need to find the best way to get in there and clean it, the old one still had daylight clearly visible through the fins, I'm just not sure the mud insulation was helping heat transfer all that much. .

Weather has warmed up a bit now, mid 30's in the afternoon sun, and it seems to be having a much easier time than the standard rad.

[Bigbjorn]

Here is a link to speedway Motors - Cooling Systems

Muscle Car Radiators - Free Shipping @ Speedway Motors (https://www.speedwaymotors.com/shop/muscle-car-radiators~142-949-4-558-2172)

Cooling Parts - Free Shipping @ Speedway Motors (https://www.speedwaymotors.com/shop/street-rod-cooling-and-heating~130-225-4)

Oval Track Radiators - Free Shipping @ Speedway Motors (https://www.speedwaymotors.com/shop/oval-track-radiators~142-2-4-558-2172)

Have a browse through their catalogue. Your eyes will pop.

[banarcus]

I'd be interested in an all alloy radiator that is up to Aussie conditions. My engine will slowly get hot at idle which means either my viscous fan hub is dying or the radiator just isn't up to the task. Please keep us posted this summer!

[Bigbjorn]

I'd be interested in an all alloy radiator that is up to Aussie conditions. My engine will slowly get hot at idle which means either my viscous fan hub is dying or the radiator just isn't up to the task. Please keep us posted this summer!

Have a look at the Speedway Motors website as per the post above yours. They sell radiators capable of cooling 700 hp big block V8's

[TheTree]

I'd be interested in an all alloy radiator that is up to Aussie conditions. My engine will slowly get hot at idle which means either my viscous fan hub is dying or the radiator just isn't up to the task. Please keep us posted this summer!

The Aussie Desert Cooler radiator has no problem keeping my 4.6 at the right temperature.

I also use a high flow thermostat

Steve

[FANTOM P38]

Ive had Aussie desert Cooler in my 4.6 for several years now - best money i ever spent never an issue no matter where or temp, I also had bleed screw fitted to top tank to make bleeding a breeze. Although having said that only ever bled when initially installed no loss of coolant ever.
Fitment was as simple as removing old radiator & attaching shroud to new one & installing -straight swap!

[banarcus]

Yeah those Aussie Desert Coolers have a good reputation. Does your fan shroud fit properly too or is there a little fine tuning needed? Are they all triple pass as well? Sorry for the hijack[bigsad]

Oops, sorry, just found your thread on this fantom.

[Farmer Roy]

The Aussie Desert Cooler radiator has no problem keeping my 4.6 at the right temperature.

I also use a high flow thermostat

Steve

hi

do you have a part number / reference for this thermo ?
thanks

[TheTree]

Hi Mate

You can only fit them to the GEMS and you need to replace the orignal thermostat with a housing (or sputnik as Ron called them) [biggrin]

You can then put a Tridon TT2000-180 thermostat in the spot on the inlet manifold

Steve

[Farmer Roy]

thanks

[TheTree]

I believe some people have been able to remove the guts of the standard thermostat and use the housing for this purpose

Steve

[Bravado440]

I guess you've had the radiator in for a while now, how has it performed? Has there been a significant change in operating temperatures?
I'm currently battling overheating issues/ air locks and these radiators seem like a good upgrade over the standard ones, for only slightly more than a OEM replacement.

[Bravado440]

I believe some people have been able to remove the guts of the standard thermostat and use the housing for this purpose

Steve
I'd love to know how they managed that, doesn't look like an easy task.

[TheTree]

I guess you've had the radiator in for a while now, how has it performed? Has there been a significant change in operating temperatures?
I'm currently battling overheating issues/ air locks and these radiators seem like a good upgrade over the standard ones, for only slightly more than a OEM replacement.

It works very well for me with the original viscous fan running

The Aussie desert cooler is twice as deep as the original radiator

Steve

[TheTree]

I'd love to know how they managed that, doesn't look like an easy task.

Me either, I never managed to do it

I had an aluminium unit made by Aussie desert cooler, when I get back to OZ i'll take a picture of a spare one I have and post it here

Steve

[daf11e]

.136216
there you go.

[Bravado440]

.136216
there you go.
Thanks for the photo, I've seen this item pop up a few times. I'm going to have a go at making one out of copper.

[Bravado440]

Hello people,

I recently started looking around for a full aluminium radiator, as anyone else who has looked will know, there's not a great deal of choice.

Local radiator fabricator quoted $1460, bit rich for my blood, and the desert coolers have a great reputation for quality but with postage I was still quoted between $900 and $1000, which still seems a lot for a car that originally cost $3000.

I kept looking and found an option from a company called Direnza, online reviews were mixed in the extreme, everything from "everything they make is rubbish " to "excellent product " so in the end I got in touch with them, in the UK, including postage, $427 to my door, so I decided to take a punt.

Arrived on the day they said it would, postage had dented a couple of brackets (bit of negotiation got a $45 refund for the trouble and they did offer to have it collected and replaced at their cost ).I've been a metalworker for over 30 years so I gave it the once over when I unpacked. The welding wasn't the best I've ever seen, but it was far from being bad either, perfectly acceptable, it's a full aluminium fabrication with a twin core that is 55mm thick as opposed to the standard 42, there should be a picture of the two together for comparison.

Fitting was easy, the side brackets are a bit random so I just bent them open a bit with a screw driver and pushed them back around the fixing points once it was in. Only one of the lower fixing points lined up with the hole, and they were tapped out to m6 rather than the standard m8, but otherwise a straight swap.

Since it's been fitted we've had nothing but rain so I have no idea if it has reduced the operating temperature, but I will keep you posted.

Anyone looking for a budget aluminium radiator for the P38 should give these a look if my experience is typical.

131201131202131203131204


Is this radiator performing as well as you hoped?

[finallyrangie]

I am very pleased to report that even with the temperatures we've been experiencing in south east Queensland this last week, there has been no issues at all with the cooling system, after a day sitting in the sun outside work the rangie is routinely over 45 degrees and the drive home sees the temp gauge sitting on the bottom of the normal range, I tried it once with the aircon switched off and it barely got to normal operating temperature, so I am very happy with the results so far, a cheap punt that worked out well. Whilst I'm sure the ozzie coolers are more efficient, and no question better quality, for the price I think this is a good option if you are not planning a crossing of the Simpson as part of your summer holidays, not saying the cheap option wouldn't cope fine, but peace of mind, you get what you pay for and the desert cooler is regarded by many as the best.

I'm very happy with mine, but I'm not planning a trip around Oz, take from that what you will

[paclx]

Greetings from sunny Hong Kong. I have issues when I'm stuck in traffic for long periods (quite normal here) on tick-over with the A/C running. Yesterday I was stuck for over 30 mins and the temp started to go over mid-way on the gauge, and it was not much over 26 deg C outside. I get twitchy about it as I had to replace the engine due to cracked a cylinder some years ago. I re-chipped the ECU at the same time. I've read the thread and have a couple of questions: (1) Does the Aussie Dessert Cooler have a part number? (2) What type of coolant do you find works the most efficiently?

[TheTree]

Greetings from sunny Hong Kong. I have issues when I'm stuck in traffic for long periods (quite normal here) on tick-over with the A/C running. Yesterday I was stuck for over 30 mins and the temp started to go over mid-way on the gauge, and it was not much over 26 deg C outside. I get twitchy about it as I had to replace the engine due to cracked a cylinder some years ago. I re-chipped the ECU at the same time. I've read the thread and have a couple of questions: (1) Does the Aussie Dessert Cooler have a part number? (2) What type of coolant do you find works the most efficiently?

Hi Mate

The Aussie Dessert Cooler does not have a part number but you need to specify GEMS or Bosch.

I my GEMS i use the green coolant

Regards
Steve

[paclx]

Hi Mate

The Aussie Dessert Cooler does not have a part number but you need to specify GEMS or Bosch.

I my GEMS i use the green coolant

Regards
Steve


Thanks Steve. Mine is also GEMS. The cooling system has been a pain recently, just replaced the header tank AGAIN. I always use 'Genuine' but they keep cracking and springing leaks. Noticed the new one has signs of seepage around the cap, but I assume this was from when it recently went over the centre position of the temp gauge. Never ending, but I wouldn't part with her for anything.

Regards
Hugh

[fixes]

The same complaints about poor( but not unsolvable) fit problems with Chinese Direnza radiators have appeared in the UK F/b forums. My main contribution here is to refer you all to' G and M Radiator' US site re tracing and countering stray-current electrolysis of replacement radiators and from currents travelling from the rubber-isolated rear axle up the tailshaft.
'Ron Davis Racing Products' also gives out a lot of tech info on intake and shroud design, fan wiring, and mounting precautions for aftermarket radiators.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Thanks Steve. Mine is also GEMS. The cooling system has been a pain recently, just replaced the header tank AGAIN. I always use 'Genuine' but they keep cracking and springing leaks. Noticed the new one has signs of seepage around the cap, but I assume this was from when it recently went over the centre position of the temp gauge. Never ending, but I wouldn't part with her for anything.

Regards
Hugh

A few D2 Thor owners have replaced thermostats, 96 to 82deg, which made a big difference in running temps, and anxiety levels!

[deano2469]

This radiator is now for sale again, I purchased it for my Thor p38 not realizing there was a difference..doh. Anyway if interested make an offer.
Is this radiator performing as well as you hoped?

[Bravado440]

Wow, what great timing. My replacement radiator dropped its guts on Sunday (about 300km's from home), could be interested if you'd send it to NZ.

Cheers
T

[AK83]

......

Anyone looking for a budget aluminium radiator for the P38 should give these a look if my experience is typical.....

Engine under the bonnet (in the first pic) looks a lot like a 300 Tdi, and the intercooler looks remarkably similar to a Td5 intercooler.

[deano2469]

I'd be happy to get it wrapped up and ready if you organise a courier pick up. Could drop off to a depot if not too far as I'm injured at moment. Make an offer and we will see. I'm at 0407126681 if you want to speak. Moderator delete if not allowed.

[Bravado440]

I'd be happy to get it wrapped up and ready if you organise a courier pick up. Could drop off to a depot if not too far as I'm injured at moment. Make an offer and we will see. I'm at 0407126681 if you want to speak. Moderator delete if not allowed.

Sorry mate, didn't see your reply until now. Turns out I won't be needing a replacement radiator in a hurry as my engines toast.

Cheers anyway.