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Which radiator ?
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 22:18
by Big Jim
It looks like I need a recon rad . The steel support has rotted away on the bottom and the fins are brittle and it's becoming bald .
I have a 2 core rad , it runs constantly at 80 , the fans rarely come on and it has never overheated . Do you think it would be a good investment for a 3 core ? You may know by now I like to keep it original (and save some money) .
Jim
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 09:36
by marky
I have a two core in mine and it works fine - the temperature builds up quite quickly if you are stuck in traffic or idling but the fans bring the temperature down in seconds when they kick in. Have run it for a over a year in all temperatures and all is good.
Mark.
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 13:10
by Lotus-e-Clan
There is always a negative to increasing cooling capacity by increasing radiator size or thickness ....
1) Aero (increased drag)
2) weight - not only structural weight - but also the increase in water volume adds weight at the rate of 1 kg per litre. OK this can be offset if you go for an aluminium rad.
As others and yourself have said - and my experience is the same - the std cooling system works well. I'd be inclined to swop the otter switch for a Revotec electronic fan switch though.
OK I understand you want to keep thing standard - but if you did want to improve cooling AND gain some performance then disconnect the flaky std water pump and fit an EWP. I was able to dump one of the rad fans with the EWP conversion because the increased water flow in 'hot traffic' situations (an EWP can run at full speed) more than compensates for the reduced air flow through the rad by having one rad fan.
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 15:02
by wonderplatinum
Lotus-e-Clan,
Do you have any pics of youre EWP installation?
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 15:15
by amarshall
wonderplatinum wrote:Lotus-e-Clan,
Do you have any pics of youre EWP installation?
Tech. Articles (does anybody ever venture in there except me ? ) :
http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=908
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 16:19
by Big Jim
I was all set to go for a 2 core from LB , £130 +v (£180 3 core) . I then found PNM , which is much closer to me had 3 core for £160 +v .I wasn't aware that the plates with the bolts welded to are separate items , I have done some video of the job ,I will post it if it works out .
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 16:39
by Big Jim
Job done.
I should have fitted a 2 core rad . The top and bottom steel channel is wider , so the end plates with the bolts on are too small . I had a clearance issue .The bottom hose was very tight against a body mounting bolt . I needed to move the rad up , right or forwards .but there is something stopping it in every direction .
The bottom channel on my old rad had rotted away , so the fan cowl was dangling in the wind .It looks impossible to get a fixing into this when on the car , so here is my mod .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd19wWxm ... e=youtu.be
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 17:15
by Mr Locust
Youtube says "This video is private".
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 17:42
by Big Jim
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 18:55
by Mr Locust
Same again. Do you have tick a box to share?
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 18:56
by Hawaiis0
Still Private

old bean
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 19:09
by Big Jim
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 19:12
by Hawaiis0
That's got it chappie
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 16:52
by Hawaiis0
You are the kiss of death ! Guess whose rad started to spill it's guts in sympathy
Re: Which radiator ?
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 02:41
by smokey
Mine went on Monday too. Waiting for a 2 core to be delivered tomorrow. Job for the weekend along with the windscreen wiper motor and the bodged throttle cable still hanging on, just.
I found my 2 core rad on an SE always ran a bit cool but when in traffic the temp quickly rose and one of the fans needing to cool it down.
Undersized with a thermostat issue and a broken fan perhaps..