>Date: Tue, 27 May 97 10:24:00 PDT
>From: Roland Dudley <cobra@cdc.hp.com>
>Subject: New Aluminum Radiators (was: Remember???)
>
>
>Since I'm just about ready to order one of these custom built
>super-zoomy aluminium competition radiators for my Cobra, I'd sure be
>interested in some informed comment on this before blowing some big
>time bucks.
>
>Roland
Roland,
My experience with the aluminum radiator built by Ron Davis (in Phoenix) has
been wonderful. I went from a two row stock radiator that boiled over at
every opportunity, to a cool running car, to which I have just added air
conditioning with no problems. The new radiator was built to the same
footprint as the original, but was a 2 row (1"x 1/16" tubes). It is about
3/4" thicker than the original. With everything else kept the same, I now
run 170 degrees with a 165 degree thermostat. The highest that I have seen
is 205 on a 109 degree day in traffic and no air. With the addition of the
air conditioner (std install - with condenser out front) it still runs 190
on the highway in 104 degree ambient. I did put an electric fan out front of
everything as a manual backup. I have not had reason to turn it on yet. The
one big addition was the fabrication of a lower half fan shroud that makes a
closed cavity behind the radiator. Ron said that it is essential for any
radiator to work effectively. If there is no low pressure area behind the
radiator the air will not flow properly and it will not cool as well as it
can. I am very happy with mine. I am also running a six blade rigid fan.
Cullen Bennett in Tempe Arizona (B9472658)
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