Stots Build Thread

[Stot]

Right, finally on top of my engine cooling. I got myself a 55mm 3 row aluminium radiator.



Its polo based however I thought I would mount it vertically for space reasons. 55mm rad and 75mm inter-cooler is pretty tight already in the nose and leaving space for hoses to pass the chassis was impossible.



I actually find this a much better solution all round, even if I didn't have an inter-cooler.

Coupled this up to a 10" Revotec high power fan. I haven't even ducted the nose yet and can hammer it along the motorway without going above 93* in the hot weather today. Previously I would need to slow down to 55mph to allow the engine to get down to 100*

In traffic the fan kicks in at 97* and only takes 60 seconds to get the engine back down to 92*. Well happy.

Now If I can relocate my air filter to somewhere less warm...

Cheers
Stot

[CTWV50]

Nice, where did you get that from?

[Stot]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

Nice, where did you get that from?

Ebay. He does 2, 3 and 4 row versions. Was at Stoneleigh this year too apparently.

Cheers
Stot

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by Stot

Ebay. He does 2, 3 and 4 row versions. Was at Stoneleigh this year too apparently.

Cheers
Stot

I'll have to save up! Is this the intercooler you used? They look very neat together!

[Stot]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

I'll have to save up! Is this the intercooler you used? They look very neat together!

Looks the same but this is the exact one I bought.

The width of the core is the same as the height of the polo core so it fits well..

Its actually an exact match for the Mercedes core but an aluminum Merc radiator would have to be custom made and been about £500 so this was a good alternative.

Cheers
Stot

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by Stot

Right, finally on top of my engine cooling. I got myself a 55mm 3 row aluminium radiator.



Its polo based however I thought I would mount it vertically for space reasons. 55mm rad and 75mm inter-cooler is pretty tight already in the nose and leaving space for hoses to pass the chassis was impossible.



I actually find this a much better solution all round, even if I didn't have an inter-cooler.

Coupled this up to a 10" Revotec high power fan. I haven't even ducted the nose yet and can hammer it along the motorway without going above 93* in the hot weather today. Previously I would need to slow down to 55mph to allow the engine to get down to 100*

In traffic the fan kicks in at 97* and only takes 60 seconds to get the engine back down to 92*. Well happy.

Now If I can relocate my air filter to somewhere less warm...

Cheers
Stot

Just ordered my all ali rad, shhh don't tell the missus!

[Stot]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

Just ordered my all ali rad, shhh don't tell the missus!

Dont worry its well worth it. Just tell her to think of the amount of time this is going to save you trying to track down an overheating problem. Ive been through 3 radiators before this, a coolant reroute and god knows how many hoses.

Another 20 miles at 70-ish(cough) to work this morning and it didnt even get to 90*

Cheers
Stot

[CTWV50]

Hi Sot, Just in the process of mounting my rad like yours, I was concerned about trapped air at the top of the radiator and noticed you seem to have added a bleed valve/s of some kind to the top of rad. How did you do it without leaks or aluminium welding.

[Stot]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

Hi Sot, Just in the process of mounting my rad like yours, I was concerned about trapped air at the top of the radiator and noticed you seem to have added a bleed valve/s of some kind to the top of rad. How did you do it without leaks or aluminium welding.

I just carefully tapped for M6 and used a rubber washer to seal against a socket cap screw. Just nipped up the socket screws not too tight. I have some 4mm Ali and I'll rivet a piece on with some closed rivets and RTV if they strip and tap that instead.

Saying that I'm not convinced now I really need them, As the water flows down and then up in that orientation, as long as you have a header above the radiator it should naturally fill up.

Cheers
Stot

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by Stot

I just carefully tapped for M6 and used a rubber washer to seal against a socket cap screw. Just nipped up the socket screws not too tight. I have some 4mm Ali and I'll rivet a piece on with some closed rivets and RTV if they strip and tap that instead.

Saying that I'm not convinced now I really need them, As the water flows down and then up in that orientation, as long as you have a header above the radiator it should naturally fill up.

Cheers
Stot

Ahh I see, smart. I was looking at using some rubber rivet (well) nuts, I thought that's how you had done it. I'll try it without and see how I get on. Cheers