Bugeye radiator ?

[Retroshots]

Hello all!

My 1959 Bugeye is overheating and i want know if there is a high performance radiator out there rather than a stock replacement. I have the 1275 motor but the stock radiator now. Any ideas?

Thank you very much and it is nice to meet all of you!
Mike~

 

[Randy_Gay]

A later model stock crossflow radiator might do the trick. I'd suggest posting this on the Spridget forum. Good Luck

 

[saysprite]

There's a few possible solutions.
1. take the old radiator and have it recored with a bigger core.
2. 1275 radiator
3. https://www.speedwellengineering.com/miscpage.html
4. on my race spridget, I use a VW rabbit radiator but it sits infront of the radiator supports
5. Geo metro
I have found a nice better cooling, less capacity, modern aluminum radiator that fits Sprites and Midgets with only minor modifications.
It's out of a Geo Metro (Suzuki Swift, Chevy Sprint )
You will need the rad from a junk car with an automatic transmission.
The standard trans model uses a taller radiator.
You even keep the original stock radiator hoses!
The auto trans Geo Metro rad will bolt into any Spridget with a couple of quick and easy "L" brackets at the top bolted to the existing holes where the inner fender supports are. For the lower hose, you need a stock Sprite downflow radiator hose, for the upper hose, use a stock cross flow rad hose.
If you have a pre 68 Spridget, you will need the thermostat housing from a cross flow radiator, it exits towards the left, this is a bolt on swap.
Clip the auto trans oil tubes off the Geo radiator, set it as low as it will go in the radiator area, fabricate a couple brackets for the top to bolt it in.
cut off the one support on the electric fan where it interferes with the steering rack, I was going to modify this support but so far (2 years) it's been fine so I just left it off. You will have to remove your existing fan blades but not the water pump pulley.
Pick up an ajustable electric fan switch from any auto parts store, it should come with a thermostatic probe that is just a push fit into the radiator fins.
Hook it up to your ignition (switched via key) and never worry about overheating again.
I was having trouble with overheating on my Sprite with the small mouth Speedwell nose, I even had the stock radiator recored to better then original, no luck. So when I stumbled on this radiator in the junkyard, I took a chance. I made it fit and a couple other guys have converted to this set up. Everybody loves it
Frank C.
Modine number 2265

Geo Metro 89-90 auto trans exc turbo , 91 manual trans w/i turbo or auto w/out turbo, 92 on all AT. It's a 3 row radiator. OE unit has plastic tanks and 2 row core....the aftermarket pieces (at least Modine) have 3 row





I have a word doc with a picture of the metro radiator in a Spridget but I haven't tried it myself.

Hope this helps
Darryl