Early classic alloy radiator interest?

Felix,

Not attacking you. Just querying your post.

IME alloy radiators are not smaller than copper(/brass) rads...???

You are right that brass and solder have a lower thermal conductivity. However the solder would probably be largely irrelevant if there is proper contact between the fins and the tubes.

I am not sure what the landie/rangie rads are made from. However companies such as mesabi make radiators (for mine trucks) with copper tubes and copper fins.

Personally (besides not owning a rangie) I would not fit an alloy rad to a 4x4. I had to deal with enough stress fractures in a copper/brass rad in a mate's RRC on the canning stock route...

Felix, you dont seem to be able to seperate "Function" from design .
These modern race engines run at much higher operating temps than your old rangie does . they also have a totally different set of functional parameters . They also have different life cycle requirements . The manufacturers OEMs have worked out better ways to maintain the function , such as better fans ,better air directional control . more efficient coolant management ,de-airatiom , so they can save weight and cost by using alloys radiators , hence profit .I fergot the biggest difference , its Lube oil temp control
There are alot of downsides in using an alloy radiator in an old plodder RRC that was never designed to run them .
Ever tried rodding out an alloy radiator ? (get a new one !)When its full of mud and grass seeds what do you do then .? (get a new one !)
Tried welding one up when something penetrates it ? (get a new one )
If however your just going to use it for driving around the Burbs , then the light weight and BLING effect should impress someone .A sad case of Horses for Courses !

Well, with my rangie, it isn't designed for long distance touring anyway so I'm not too worried about that- 4.11 diff gears and an LT95 with no carpet or insulation is tiring after an hour let alone a week of it. Trust me it isn't a truck thats used around the burbs.

As said in the first post, I'm just having one made to see how it goes. My current rad is cactus (it's bent)- I could buy a new tropicore one for $600, or I could get this alloy one with a shroud and two fans for the same price and see if it makes a difference. I need thermofans and a shroud as I have zero airflow from the highmount and the spotties. I need the shroud because the truck does most of it's work crawling around in the dirt. Yes I understand it might run hot on the freeway but we'll come to that when it's fitted. So, thats why I'm putting one in- it is up to whoever else if they want one, it was just an offer.

Thermofans on a large copper rad is difficult because of the pressures- I need thermofans which are too thick to fit infront of the waterpump pulley. I have found this out already, finding that the engine fan was capable of pulling more air than the two thermos I had (when the engine is at speed, not when crawling around).

I also want to try out a meziere electric water pump. They make one to fit in the timing cover of rover V8s. Unlike the Davis Craig one which just sits inline.....

Alloy radiator ,Then a electric Water pump ! whats next ?
Let me guess , A Gilmer belt drive followed by a cam gear drive (gives that blower noise) Sound like a spec straight out of Streetcommodores !!
(Youll need a a good bosch `130amp altenator VT calais , to run all this , including the 10 spotties )
What a pity you live in Sydaknee , Ive got a as new 5 Row fine fin HD radiator to suit you early RRC just sitting here doing nothing $350 its yours .

Whats wrong with wanting to try a electric water pump? To me it sounds fine, providing it's setup right with the appropriate controller and what not.

Just because what I want to do with my car isn't what you like doesn't mean you have to go on attacking it.

I've used an electric water pump in the past for clearance reasons - not on the Rangie, but for the same reasons - definatley wasn't a show car :p. It worked fine for the 18 months I had it before I sold the vehicle, so I have no issues with them.

Just as an aside - I recently solved my overheating woes on my 86. A combination of things caused it, but as a bit of extra cooling, I have wired up the AC condenser fans so they can run without the AC on - that extra air flow has helped out heaps when in traffic - before I did this, it used to run about 92 degrees (even on a mid 20 degree day) - with the condenser fans on as well, it now runs at 86 in the same conditions - vey happy now.

Most of my overheating woes were caused by a stuffed viscous coupling, and a pile of leaves between the AC condenser & the radiator.

Well, mine was overheating due to the viscous being cactus- however I didn't want to run an engine fan anymore. Low speeds and low rpm don't really do much cooling with an engine fan.

I can only fit one small condensor fan as I have the highmount in there- hence why I'm going thermofans :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 400HPONGAS

Ive got a as new 5 Row fine fin HD radiator to suit you early RRC just sitting here doing nothing $350 its yours .

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what brand and where did you source it?

cheers,
Serg

I think its a Natra core , there is no identifying tagging or badges on it . Had a tank removed for rodding out , only to discover it was in "as" new condition , It was just clogged with mud externally in the lower fins .

If it fits my 1985 classic, I'd love one.
Dose that price include the fans ?