Radiators

[carlknight1982]

Im starting to collect parts for my engine upgrade,
I have th ST170 lump and am "Future proofing" the rest of the system as i go for the new install

whats the largest most efficent radiator that people have managed to fit under a Saturn nose cone, bear in mind i will also need space for an oil cooler and in the future possibly an intercooler for the supercharger.


Carl

[tkpm]

I used a Polo rad under my Saturn nose.

Terry

[carlknight1982]

I have a polo rad now, im going to be heading north of 250Bhp im unsure it will cope.

Carl

[shh120m]

side pods are probably the best way foward for big power/tight space.

Theres nothing worse than working in a confined space whilst contorting every muscle in the body whilst slicing ones finger on a jubilee clip whilst slipping off the spanner and banging your head on something.:D

Im sure weve all been there!

[Talonmotorsport]

I would look in to having some thing custom made in ali, you might find a company that will do an intercooler that mounts easily to the rad in the same package.

[Dualist]

Merc 190 rads are a better option from what I hear....
http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=78693&postcount=8

[voucht]

As Phil says, I would check custom made aluminium radiators. The company I'm working for in France has been importing Pace Products (http://www.paceproducts.co.uk/) radiators (and intercoolers) for years, and they are very good quality (TIG welder there are artists). Now we turned to PWR (http://www.pwreurope.com/) as the technical advice is better. The products are extremely well designed, a lot of good engineering solutions. Don't think the best for your powerful engine will be a radiator as large as it can possibly fits under your nose cone. Even high level racers have a tendency to oversize the radiator for no good reason. An oversized radiator carries more water than the engine needs, and it is useless weight in board the car. People at PWR will tell you the ideal size/thickness you need for your engine. They are spot on, we never had any bad surprise on their advices. And if you want to combine it with an Intercooler, there will be no problem for them to design a complete unit.
Of course, custom made aluminium radiators are not cheap, that is the big down side.
Personally, I installed a Mercedes 190 (I will run a Pinto 2.0i), as the compact size combined with a good thickness is supposed to make it cope with 2.0L engines (well, Mercedes 190E engine is a 2.0L). Some pictures here if you want to see by yourself:
http://vouchtroadster.blogspot.se/2012/11/raditeur-deau-water-radiator.html
Please keep us posted of what you decide, I'm very interested.
Thank you.
Sylvain

[rdodger]

I got one of these.

http://radtec.co.uk/products/527/Universal-Radiator-Extreme-version-.htm

Idea was the same as yours.As my MX5 lump is supercharged with a charge cooler radiator in front of it I wanted a little head room.

[baz-r]

merc 109e rad 1800-2300 petrol man no a/c. its small cheap and very thick

core size is aprox 300x350x50

[snapper]

Oil coolers can be mounted in front or behind the water rad
The Dax type flared sides are a good mod and oil coolers can be mounted in them
Modified nose cones for intercooler ducting is another option

[robo]

As Phil says, I would check custom made aluminium radiators. The company I'm working for in France has been importing Pace Products (http://www.paceproducts.co.uk/) radiators (and intercoolers) for years, and they are very good quality (TIG welder there are artists). Now we turned to PWR (http://www.pwreurope.com/) as the technical advice is better. The products are extremely well designed, a lot of good engineering solutions. Don't think the best for your powerful engine will be a radiator as large as it can possibly fits under your nose cone. Even high level racers have a tendency to oversize the radiator for no good reason. An oversized radiator carries more water than the engine needs, and it is useless weight in board the car. People at PWR will tell you the ideal size/thickness you need for your engine. They are spot on, we never had any bad surprise on their advices. And if you want to combine it with an Intercooler, there will be no problem for them to design a complete unit.
Of course, custom made aluminium radiators are not cheap, that is the big down side.
Personally, I installed a Mercedes 190 (I will run a Pinto 2.0i), as the compact size combined with a good thickness is supposed to make it cope with 2.0L engines (well, Mercedes 190E engine is a 2.0L). Some pictures here if you want to see by yourself:
http://vouchtroadster.blogspot.se/2012/11/raditeur-deau-water-radiator.html
Please keep us posted of what you decide, I'm very interested.
Thank you.
Sylvain

There is a lot of truth in the bigger is not always better. A big rad with poor airflow will not cool as well as small one with adequate airflow. On the cobra i built I installaed a shortened 4 core truck rad that was about 600mm x 600mm . The cooling on my car was marginal , a friend who also built a car virtually the same fitted a rad supplied with the kit which was 2 core. He had no problems at all with the cooling system, I could not get the airflow through the rad so i had to run two fans and then had to fit a larger alternator to keep up with the electrical draw. So in my case I was carrying twice as much water with a bigger alternator with a rad that weighed twice as much for the same effect. Its best to consult a rad specialist or follow a proven route via these pages.

Bob