• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

MGB Ron Davis aluminum radiator, notes from my install

drooartz

Moderator
Staff member
Gold
Country flag
Offline
So one of this past winter's projects was to replace the radiator in my B. Originally was just going to pull the radiator so I could replace the fan and add the shroud, but when I went to pull the radiator I realized it had issues. Thought about having it repaired or getting a stock replacement, but in the end I decided to go full on and get a Ron Davis aluminum one.

Short answer, this is a seriously nice product. Fit was excellent, had to *slightly* enlarge one of the holes in the surround on the car, that's it, 30 seconds with a Dremel. Otherwise just drop in ready, looks good, and works well. Car never overheated before, but would warm up a bit on the big hills. Seems to be even more steady now.

Worth it? It's certainly overkill for a street car, but I'm very happy with it. I don't do shiny for shiny's sake, but am happy to pay for quality.

So here's the old setup, with three-bladed fan-of-death ready to shoot a blade through the bonnet.

mgbrad1.jpg


Safely packed radiator, ready to be installed. These folks can weld, let me tell you. You do have to attach the overflow nipple and drain plug -- drain plug needs a bit of teflon tape or similar to seal up.

mgbrad2.jpg


New Moss replacement plastic fan and a new fan belt. Should have added a top timing pointer while I had everything clear, but didn't think about it until I was done.

mgbrad3.jpg


This is what happens when your thermostat housing hasn't been removed in a while, and you use too big of a hammer. Moss sells very nice replacements.

mgbrad4.jpg


Done, from the engine side. Shroud, fan, radiator in place. Replaced all the hoses and clamps as well. Initially used the original style wire hose clamps, but the were not good at all at clamping. I now have some standard parts-store clamps and they work great.

mgbrad6.jpg


All in place and ready to go. Completely satisfied with the product, looks great, very well built, works. Not cheap, but for me absolutely worth it.

mgbrad5.jpg
 

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Looks great! (BTW, one of the things I love about your posts is that I recall you buying the car as essentially ready to go - and have been doing projects ever since. :smile: I think that describes this hobby perfectly!) When we moved to Florida, SWMBO wanted a "move in ready" house - we found one. and then re did the flooring, the roof, the plumbing, the painting, and the bathroom. Move in ready - hah! ready to drive - hah!

:D
 
OP
drooartz

drooartz

Moderator
Staff member
Gold
Country flag
Offline
It's a funny thing, JP. My MGB is ready to go, as much as any MGB ever is. There's just always some projects to do.

Just wait until this winter, it's likely that the engine is coming out for a refresh... ready to go! :grin:
 
Offline
I have the early model version in my race car, and I can attest to their quality, it does a great job, and is very well made.
biscuitenginebay-2.JPG
 
OP
drooartz

drooartz

Moderator
Staff member
Gold
Country flag
Offline
What year is your car. Their site doesn't show they have anything past the early models?????

My car is a 1970 (November 1970 build). Give them a call, I found them very helpful over the phone.
 

DrEntropy

Great Pumpkin
Platinum
Country flag
Offline
They have the early version on their site, too. But I didn't find pricing.
 

SwamperCa

Senior Member
Offline
So I went down and got a price for a all new radiator for my MGC. $700 brass or aluminum doesn't matter. My guy said the construction of the radiators are different and result in the same amount of cooling effect. The aluminum one will save some weight was the only difference. So it looks like I'll be pulling my radiator out of my Cee for him to use as a pattern. He did say the new one will have about 30-40% better cooling results.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
G Ron Davis aluminum radiator and Spal fan pics..... Triumph 9
T General TR Ron's Vintage Auto Restoration - Salado TX Triumph 2
T TR2/3/3A If you read the thread on the super K.Davis TR3, Triumph 5
sim 948 aluminum head gasket Spridgets 2
petnatcar Aluminum Brake Fluid Reservior Austin Healey 5
S TR2/3/3A Aluminum door capping for tr3 Triumph 12
S TR2/3/3A Aluminum oil gallery plugs Triumph 9
J Best Aluminum Fenders? Austin Healey 3
S TR2/3/3A 87mm Venulia aluminum pistons , Triumph 2
9 For Sale Magnetic Aluminum Alloy Fuel Cap for TR250 and pre-1970 TR6 Triumph Classifieds 2
9 TR5/TR250 What is this? Appears to be aluminum fuel cap for TR250 and early TR6 Triumph 13
S TR2/3/3A Aluminum one time use stretch bolts Triumph 7
R For Sale Fidanza Aluminum Flywheel for 1275 A-Series Spridgets Classified 0
oldbagpipe Wanted Early TR4 Silver [Aluminum] Dash Cluster Triumph Classifieds 1
Healey Nut Aluminum doors Austin Healey 7
HighAltitudeTR3 TR2/3/3A Aluminum Plug in Head Triumph 16
nichola TR6 Aluminum block engine Triumph 8
B Piping for Aluminum Shut Pillar Finisher on Longbridge BN4 Cars - Yes or No? Austin Healey 4
S TR2/3/3A Aluminum tail pipe section Triumph 3
Jake For Sale Denis Welch aluminum works shroud scuttle vent scoop - $175 Austin Healey Classifieds 0
C TR4/4A TR4 coolant leak through aluminum plug in top side of head Triumph 6
R Proper Aluminum Sump Installation Austin Healey 13
TulsaFred aluminum BE radiators on ebay, drain plug thread? Spridgets 12
I TR6 Aluminum trim ring band removal Triumph 5
I TR6 How to distinguish between stainless and aluminum Triumph 6
JimLaney Clean Oxidation from cast aluminum Restoration & Tools 6
I Wanted TR6 OEM or NOS aluminum trim rings Triumph Classifieds 9
R General Tech Aluminum oil gallery plugs Triumph 3
Martinld123 Aluminum Radiator Leak? Austin Healey 3
T TR2/3/3A Iron or aluminum plug in top of head? Triumph 2
T TR6 TR6 Aluminum Valve Cover Gasket Triumph 3
Griz Aluminum door trim Austin Healey 5
B TR4/4A Aluminum head water leak? Triumph 7
maxwedge5281 aluminum fender vents installation Austin Healey 14
JFS Wedge Aluminum Rad Triumph 16
Nunyas what to use on polished aluminum Restoration & Tools 4
Chancevought953 Black welt piping on aluminum surrounds Austin Healey 1
gbtr6 TR6 TR6 cross flow head, or aluminum head Triumph 3
S Aluminum wing vents for BT7 3000 Austin Healey 1
Got_All_4 TR2/3/3A How to use these Aluminum tie tabs Triumph 7
maxwedge5281 aluminum body parts Austin Healey 15
SherpaPilot TR6 New Aluminum Radiator Triumph 4
K TR2/3/3A Aluminum plug intop of cylinder head... Triumph 5
KVH TR4/4A Aluminum Front Plate from Moss and BPNW Triumph 2
F How to paint/prime aluminum front valance BT7 Austin Healey 2
trotti Aluminum cockpit trim Austin Healey 0
Got_All_4 TR5/TR250 Roto aluminum wheels on ebay Triumph 8
T TR2/3/3A Repairing thin aluminum sheet metal like the grill. Triumph 6
maxwedge5281 fitting aluminum wings Austin Healey 5
T TR2/3/3A My after market aluminum side curtains won't stay in on front top! Triumph 6

Similar threads

Top