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Good aftermarket radiator?

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VelodromeRacer

VelodromeRacer

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Anyone havea link to someone who provides a good racing radiator? Need something to aid in the cooling of my 1959 bugeye...prefer a stock alum or so..as it needs to work for vintage. The car just runs to hot to suit me.
 
Winner's Circle ( https://www.spridget.com/ ) sells Ron Davis aluminum radiators. You might give Dave or Rob there a call. Here's the one going in my '62 Sprite:

p1010001a.jpg


Ray
 
You can also get it at Speedwell in So Cal. Haven't compared prices though.

If you want to cool it sufficiently, you may also need to add an electric fan and oil cooler. I did, and just now am I running at a cool enough temp.

Also try water wetter. Helps a bit.
 
I bought a Speedwell aluminum radiator three or four years ago to help cool one of the race cars. Not knocking Speedwell but it did not help as much as I'd hoped in this particular case and it cost upwards of $550!

Many of the Spridget racers use VW radiators and I've gone to a VW radiator in the second race car. If you can remove the support uprights, a large radiator fits and can be had for as little as $65.00 new plus $10 for the thermostatic switch if you want automatic operation. Of course, vintage rules may prevent you from removing the radiator support uprights...

If you want to go this route, measure the car for the size of radiator you want to install and then go visit one of your local European auto parts stores. Worked wonders up here! <grin>

Best wishes and happy holidays!!

Tim
 
I run the VW radiator, the Valeo brand, plastic side tanks, aluminum core, it weights like 5 pounds, cools like nobody's business, but it's some work to install, I get rid of all the factory radiator shrouding to install it.
 

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I had my original radiator recored with a more efficient core so it retained the original look and fit to the car. Worked great! In fact it cooled so much better that I had to add back the thermostat. The local radiator shop did this for all of $200. Plus, every Vintage organization will except it.

I also plumbed a second smaller radiator that I put the water from the back of the head into before going into the main radiator. Kind of precools the water off the number 4 cylinder.
 
Branson, here are a couple of mine with the Jetta radiator installed.
Jeff
 

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Branson,

I got a Speedwell. Beautifully made, fits perfectly, cools like mad. I'm running a hot 1275 with a turbocharger and it keeps me in good shape driving through city traffic in summer on 100+ days. (Not GREAT shape, but good shape. Electric fan on, heater valve open, and don't hit 4 red lights in a row.) Tom threw in a nice aluminum shiftknob with the flying Speedwell "S" on it.
Not the cheapest, but its very well made and looks great. I had a bodged in Metro alum.rad for a few years but it looked like crap and required removal of one upright. Now the upright is welded back and all is right with the world.

Glen Byrns
 
Holey Schmoley Hap,
Nice looking engine bay! (
I think I can see some ACME advertising too!
(Replecement check is on the way)

Merry Christmas all!
 
Since im going to run a mazda rotary, I really want to get the most efficient radiator I can. I looked at the speedwell unit but $500 + is a bit steep. spridget mania.com sells an aluminum radiator too but its closer to $700.00 if I remember correctly. I may wait until I get the mazda engine location set and see how much room I have to work with.
 
Sorry to revive an ancient thread but I am back to looking at the cooling system for my sprite.

Jeff,

what all did you have to cut to fit the VW radiator? just the angled extensions on the uprights? any pictures of this area without the radiator in place? How thick is the VW radiator that you used? Im seriously considering using a griffin scirocco style aluminum radiator but I am wanting to see what all this is going to take before I order one.

Thanks!!!!
 
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