How many more core's can a stock radiator handle

[drambuie]

Hello BCF Members! One of my project's is to improve cooling in my 67 BJ8,After getting my healey back on the road Not long ago i noted my running temperture was 195 degree's on a cool day! I had put a new thermastat in before i took the car out for the first time and was really unhappy that my healey was running so hot even on a cool night and would spew from the overflow after i shut the car off! Now i know there are many things that may cause this to happen, clogged core,block's passage ways clogged, car running to lean, ect... So i did a google search and found this great site with a cooling related topic and a post from a gentleman{Dave Russell} who really opened my eyes as to why so many healey owners have this same problem! He had advised to take out the modern type thermastat and replace it with the ORIGINAL SLEEVED TYPE that came with the car when new. The reason is the modern type thermastat will block much of the coolent from passing through the radiator! And much of the coolent just stays circulating in the block and head and never passes through the radiator for cooling. I replaced my modern type thermastat with the original sleeved thermastat and my driving temperture dropped from 195 degrees to 170 degrees! WOW... A 25 Degree drop! That is huge! However the stock radiator needs updating, How many more cores can a stock unit handle? What would i have to expect to pay for a updated core mod? The reason i ask is i can get a new aluminum radiator made that looks much like the stock unit, It has 2 rows of 1 inch cores and is said to be a major improvement in cooling healeys. I contacted a customer who is running the aluminum unit and he said it works so well he removed his electric pusher fan! I contacted the shop who makes them and was told the cost is $500 and for a extra $20 he would add the top fan guard as the original. Has anyone had good results with just recoring the old radiator with more cores added at a cheaper price? Thanks for any input pretaining to this topic, Michael, ILLINOIS.

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hi Michael,
I replaced the stock core in my radiator with a modern, dimpled one. It was an improvement. That ran about $490.00

I've heard that an aluminum radiator is even better. If I were to do it again, I'd replace with an aluminum. Provided it could be painted black and the fan guard would be painted red, so as to look stock.

$500 for an aluminum radiator is a bargain.

 

[drambuie]

Thanks for your reply, How many degree's did your temperture drop at driving speed since you had the original recored? What is your temperture at idle after the car has been driven?, Are you running a stock 3 blade fan? Are you running the stock sleeved thermastat? Sorry for all the questions! I am trying to compile data for this topic because it effects so many healey owners. After i gather enough data with the different combinations from healey owner's such as yourself and my own setup, Aluminum radiator, texas cooler fan, sleeved therastat and maybe a electric pusher fan for slow traffic situations and programing it to run for about 15 min after i turn the car off to cool the motor bay down a bit. I will post all my data here for other healey owner's to see. Thanks for all your input. Michael, Illinois.

 

[tahoe healey]

Dave was a valued member of this forum for many years before his passing. If you get the engine too cool there are problems, apparently. My BJ8 runs at 160 to 165 (I use the sleeved thermostat too). You need the fuel to be hotter to get complete burning. This lowers the fuel economy for some (I get 20 mpg hwy and 18 city). I am trying to get it 10 to 15 degrees hotter but I'm not real sure why. The cabin temps are not that bad. I use the original radiator and the original 4 blade fan. I use water wetter and pure distilled water. I have rust free channels in the head and block. I also live at 6500 feet but most of my drives are at sea level. You might check the temp using an infra red, hand held sensor. The gauge may be off. I've heard good and bad regarding aluminum. You are probably going to get a hundred suggestions and lots of help here.

 

[drambuie]

Thanks for your response, I am a new member here and have read some of Dave Russell's post's on Bcf, I was very sad to hear of his passing and know he is respected by everybody in this forum. May i ask what idle temperture your healey maintains after the car has been driven? Also, What are the bad point's of a aluminum radiator? I am keeping record of all the members data as they respond to this topic and want to come up with the best combination for cooling our healeys properly. Thanks again for your input here! Michael,Illinois.

 

[tahoe healey]

The temps always go up but only a little. I never pay attention to that. I do not have access to the car for a little while as a new top is being installed (waiting for a new bow which is BO) and snow begins this weekend. Then all temps are funky when driving in 20 degree air temps. As I have never been interested in aluminum rads (the race guys love them for reduced weight) I only recall that several posters (this forum and others I am on) didn't think much of them while others think they make a difference. I vaguely remember some chemical thing but I am probably wrong. Most go for the two (I think) extra columns to give more cooling surface and are very happy. Some like axillary electric fans. My personal choice has always been "the way it left the factory" on all things LBC. There are tons of improvements that could be made but when do you stop? I have a Porche to drive if I want new and improved. This comment will always bring other opinions and does not mean I do not like the Nasty Boys and all Healeys in between. Roger (Aushly) probably has the best upgraded Healey with great innovations but still looks original.

 

[TimK]

Last year I had my radiator recored with the standard number of columns (3) but increased the fins per inch to 14. It was only $235. The core was manufactured locally to Austin Healey specs. It keeps the temp at 175 on a warm day. I also installed a British Car Specialist 6 blade stainless fan and their fan shroud as well as the BCS sleeved thermostat. I am very satisfied with the result. I was able to cruise in the August Dream Cruise without overheating in traffic as well as just driving around on my own.

 

[richberman]

Please tell us where you had this done....
thanks,
rich

 

[TimK]

Four Seasons Radiator Service
45 West Fourteen Mile Road
Madison Heights, MI 48071
Phone: 248-585 6484

You could probably ship your radiator there and they'll recore and return, but I'd call them of course. Specify the 14 fins per inch. Their core supplier, also local, had the Healey specs on file. It fit perfectly. Make sure to specify front and rear on the Header tank. They got confused on mine thinking the overhang went toward the back, so I had to return and have it reversed (no charge).