Thread: Radiator construction

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Ah ok. I wouldn't even consider running tube and fin. There has been a general move away from that design, even in offroading vehicles. The plate and fin will give you the cooling capacity which you require - not sure that the tube and fin will.
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In my case the radiator is on an Isuzu, and the tube and fin has provided overcooling for 24 years, even offroading in 40+ temperatures, so the cooling capacity is hardly a consideration. Remember that the radiator was sized for a petrol engine, not a diesel that is significantly more thermally efficient.

John

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Ah ok. I wouldn't even consider running tube and fin. There has been a general move away from that design, even in offroading vehicles. The plate and fin will give you the cooling capacity which you require - not sure that the tube and fin will.

When I was looking at doing the same, I found this a much more economical way of doing things.

Land rover County/Defender V8 New Radiator - eBay Engine Parts, Engines, Components, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 27-Jul-10 17:00:49 AEST)

FWIW - those ones are plate and fin, and when you consider freight etc, the price difference is around $100 cheaper than I can get a tube and fin recore done for.

The price difference would be relatively minor if there was a big increase in longevity with the tube&fin, but what I've got from the discussion so far is that in practical terms there is little difference between them.
In which case I may as well save the $100 and get the ebay one.

Steve