Wedge Aluminum Rad

[JFS]

C, G & J, Inc., has a good sale on TR8 aluminum radiators. They want an additional $40 to add lugs for an electric fan and $100 for a shroud. I want the lugs but am undecided about the shroud. Is a shroud worth the extra money?

 

[DNK]

Is the rad for an A/C car?

 

[JFS]

Don, yes, it is for an A/C TR8. I'm wondering if a shroud would require more space. My car isn't easily accessible for inspection right now.

 

[DNK]

Don't think they ever had a shroud or if it would fit
How deep is it

 

[JFS]

I've never seen an 8 with a shroud, but if it is beneficial and if it fits, originality is not an issue for me. I'm hoping someone who has converted to an aluminum rad might chime in. I'll try to get a look at my 8 today to see if I can ascertain the amount of room available. I will also want a petcock added. Maybe C,G &J will be able to furnish more info.

 

[Darrell_Walker]

Are you using the stock A/C fans, or something else? Do they have a picture of what the shroud looks like?

 

[JFS]

I purchased the 14" Maradyne fan M142K. I wasn't able to raise the car to get a good look from the bottom, but the two stock fans each have a 2 3/4" wide ring which clear the coil at the top. If the 14" fan ring doesn't quite clear, the coil could probably be moved a bit to provide clearance. There doesn't appear to be a place to locate a petcock on the stock rad. C,G&J don't provide a pic on their site. They called the shroud a "shroud/ring" on their email response to my email. I will need to phone them to get further details.

 

[Darrell_Walker]

Here is a link on an article showing installation of an aluminum radiator on an A/C car using an aftermarket fan. You will have to use some of the original fan mounting. If the fan in this article is the same as you are using, I wouldn't personally bother with a shroud. The fan already covers a good portion of the radiator, and I'd worry that the shroud would interfere with airflow when moving, depending on how it is designed.

https://thebritishcar.com/showthread.php?908-Maradyne-Fan-Install

 

[JFS]

I'm using the same fan as Woody's conversion, but I don't know what radiator he uses. His procedure uses the fan as a front mounted pusher secured with thin rods through the fins. I prefer a puller fan mounted on welded lugs as offered by C,G & S and plan to follow the factory workshop manual's removal procedure which does not include cutting the top fan frame supports. That's the plan, anyway. At this point I'm also thinking of going without the ring/shroud as you suggest, but will try to get more info from C, G & S.

 

[Darrell_Walker]

Woody sells the Griffin radiator (or did a year or so ago). I didn't realize he was showing at a pusher, I also would prefer to mount as a puller with welded lugs (that is how I have the Wizard Cooling radiator on my TR4A setup). And of course if you have the A/C condenser still there, you have to do a puller.

But I'm not sure on your comment about not cutting the frame supports. The top plate mounts to the car, and has the ballast resistor and coil mounting, but has legs that support the stock fans. They will be in the way of your new fan if you don't remove them. Then you can bolt the top frame to the car, insert the radiator, and then bolt up the bottom piece. Here is the top plate and frame with the bottom frame removed.

 

[JFS]

Great photo. I see what you mean. The stock fan frame support will have to be cut off the top plate. Thanks for the great info.

Will the bottom allow room for a petcock? It looks like the edge rolls up a bit around the bottom of the radiator.

 

[Darrell_Walker]

Will the bottom allow room for a petcock? It looks like the edge rolls up a bit around the bottom of the radiator.

I'll see if I can get a picture of that area. You might have to have it installed a bit higher. Or you could use a plug instead of a petcock, which would still be less messy than pulling the bottom hose.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Forgive me if this isn't applicable to what y'all are doing, but have you looked into the Porsche Boxster fans? As I recall from when I did my TR8, they are just about a direct fit in the original fan framing and do a great job of cooling.

 

[JFS]

Thanks for the response, Mickey. I considered the Boxter fan but purchased the 14" Maradyne fan instead.

 

[Darrell_Walker]

Here is the bottom corner of my aluminum rad, looks like there is plenty of room there for a petcock. And if you are removing the stock fan setup, there would be even less in the way.

 

[JFS]

I phoned C,G&J. The rad comes with a petcock on the bottom left. The photo on their web site shows it (I had to enlarge the photo to see it). They asked me to send them a drawing with measurements for the fan lug locations. I hope to get the requested info to them and order this weekend. Here's their TR8 rad info:
https://www.cgj.com/store/product/tr-6009-triumph-tr8-radiator/ Thanks, Darrell. Your photos and help are greatly appreciated.

 

[DNK]

Boxster fans
View attachment 46128

On the stock rad
View attachment 46129

Re the petcock, important to look and see what it will hit
View attachment 46130