Thread: Ali radiator opinions

Just wondering how Bradtot's alloy radiator is still - (hopefully) - going ...

Am thinking about getting Sarah ready for potential sale ATM, - as long as my D/D Magna holds together!
Had a thought that it would be nice to replace the radiator with this or something like it. Aluminum Radiator FOR Landrover Discovery Series 1 Range Rover 86 94 87 93 | eBay

The engine has never been overheated, and it would be a shame for the N/O melt it... The PO had a cheapy core installed, and last year I had it re-rodded but the lack of metal in crucial places means it will NEVER be 'safe', - as the LR radiator guy pointed out to me.

The last radiator I put in my pos came from LRA, $460 ish from memory, came in a Britpart (don't laugh) box, copper and brass. Like 'original'.

One tank seam split a bit, got it fixed for $60 by a Geelong radiator legend on Christmas eve.

Been perfect ever since, 3 years on, keeping an old 350 cool. I spray my cores when new with Lanotec and get a loooong time out of them.

DL

Originally Posted by superquag

Just wondering how Bradtot's alloy radiator is still - (hopefully) - going ...

Am thinking about getting Sarah ready for potential sale ATM, - as long as my D/D Magna holds together!
Had a thought that it would be nice to replace the radiator with this or something like it. Aluminum Radiator FOR Landrover Discovery Series 1 Range Rover 86 94 87 93 | eBay

The engine has never been overheated, and it would be a shame for the N/O melt it... The PO had a cheapy core installed, and last year I had it re-rodded but the lack of metal in crucial places means it will NEjVER be 'safe', - as the LR radiator guy pointed out to me.

Yep still going..survived summer..and winter ...runs cold...well cold as per my electronic temp gauge that the sensor is attached to the thermostat housing tells me 66 degrees...
In summer when aircon on and idling at lights temp would slowly creep up to 100 as per same electronic gauge, but with new radiator only gets to 90 ish. I have alarm set at 105. Old radiator would go up to 110.
So am a happy camper and no leaks.
I did have some mounting issues as the 2 locating pins were slightly off centre witch made the radiator supports on the side hit my dual battery setup. A quick grind sorted that out. The other problem was the bottom hose output was not curved but 2 straight pipes angled and welded and they hit the radiator shroud at the bottom, so a heat gun fixed that. It looks good too. I did take some pics but couldn't load them at the time..I will try again later.

Originally Posted by Bradtot

I did take some pics but couldn't load them at the time..I will try again later.

Please do

Originally Posted by Bradtot

Yep still going..survived summer..and winter ...runs cold...well cold as per my electronic temp gauge that the sensor is attached to the thermostat housing tells me 66 degrees...
In summer when aircon on and idling at lights temp would slowly creep up to 100 as per same electronic gauge, but with new radiator only gets to 90 ish. I have alarm set at 105. Old radiator would go up to 110.
So am a happy camper and no leaks.
I did have some mounting issues as the 2 locating pins were slightly off centre witch made the radiator supports on the side hit my dual battery setup. A quick grind sorted that out. The other problem was the bottom hose output was not curved but 2 straight pipes angled and welded and they hit the radiator shroud at the bottom, so a heat gun fixed that. It looks good too. I did take some pics but couldn't load them at the time..I will try again later.

Your issue is the clutch fan... They just don't move enough air at idle in heat traffic.... and over-cool it in winter. With the falcon fans fitted to mine... It quickly heats upto 75->80'ish degrees (so you have a working heater). The fans almost never switch on in winter unless I spend an extended period of time sitting stationary. In summer, sitting with the A/C on in extreme heat I've never seen it get higher than 90degrees (at which point you hear the radiator fans spool onto high speed and the temperature plummets back down to mid 80's and the fans switch back to low speed).

Why don't you guys just ask for a price on getting the most efficient radiator core you local radiator guy can find fitted to the existing tanks.

The radiator the local guys here made on for one of the old cars here is a work of art. The core is amazing ... very fine and would have a huge cooling capacity for it's size ( shame we hit the bloody fan into the first time we started the car ... ).

Oh, the A/C fans... the temperature switch on the thermostat housing is what controls these ( as well as the A/C ). The switch was dead in my car... no doubt another reason it would get warm in traffic.

seeya,
Shane L.

I contacted Fenix today and they are currently out of stock. won't know until tuesday next week.

it is an all-alloy 2 core.

fwiw the part number is LAN1035-FA48A-356

price was $440.

cheers

Would be interested to know how these go with regular use off road.

From what I can gather from 4wd mags and online sources, the alum rads wear faster with all the shock and vibration off road. Not sure if this is the case?

Also still waiting for fitted pics to be uploaded