Best radiator & why ?

[FUNFER2]

What type, brand and radiator on the market do you like best and why ?
I have a older (2001) Griffin 600 hp rated radiator, and some say their not that good.

[Jerry Clayton]

Griffins are very good rads---they have 2 or 3 rows of 1 inch or 1 1/4 tubes--most problems are from wrong choice for application or---and this is big---UNDERDRIVE pulleys that UNDERDRIVE the waterpump and alternator(which runs the fan) causing overheating.

I have C & R nascar type double pass crossflow with oil heat exchanger(which also heads oil, cools oil, maintains desired temp of oil) in left side tank--and a Lincoln MK VIII fan.

Also excellent fans are Ford Taurus and Viper---if fans don't hover off the bench when you hook a battery to them they aren't strong enough

[1985 CCX]

I like Fluidyne...... Because it works.....

[FUNFER2]

When I bought the Spal fan that includes the shroud and adjustable fan, it made a big difference. The radiator I believe is fine, but I'm sure it needs cleaning inside, (I may take it to a shop) before I run the new engine. We have hard water, especially the high amount of calcium. I want everyting,.......to figure out and done before the install of the motor.

[patrickt]

I thought my ERA supplied radiator was Griffin made, and it is: http://www.erareplicas.com/fia/radiator.htm

[sllib]

When you refill your coolant use ONLY distilled water to mix.
Bill Stradtner

[FUNFER2]

I usually use R.O water that's for our salt water reef tank but, a few times on the road I had no choice to use crappy water.

Other than needed height for a big radiator, why did the originals slant back, or even today's cobras ?

[Rick Parker]

Carrol Smith who was one of Shelbys team engineers determined that by tilting any radiator at about a 15 degree angle increased the efficiency by presenting the cooling fins differently to the incoming air. This is discusssed at length in Carroll Smiths excellent book "Prepare to Win". Think about it; that is how all the radiators are packaged in open wheel cars ruch as Indy, F-1 etc.

[patrickt]

Yep, and I remember a thread where an aeronautical engineer gave a short lesson on how that was learned back in the 30's or 40's with fighter planes, or the like. It was a little more complicated for planes, as I recall, because there was a propeller in front of them as well -- but it was a good thread. Really, a slanted radiator in a Cobra just looks cooler.

[patrickt]

Here, this page is kind of like that thread: http://www.ch601.org/resources/cooling_systems2.htm It talks about slanting radiators in WWII fighter planes and how it's still done in modern racers.

[undy]

I'm running a dual 1 1/2" core Griffin with a Taurus 2 speed fan.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by sllib

When you refill your coolant use ONLY distilled water to mix.
Bill Stradtner

Any reason not to use the pre-mixed 50/50 coolant?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Any reason not to use the pre-mixed 50/50 coolant?

That's exactly what I do. The only downside is that you're pissing away a little bit of dough, but frankly, I find it easier than mixing distilled water in with the coolant.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by patrickt

downside is that you're pissing away a little bit of dough

A bit more for coolant is just a bit more water over the dam...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

A bit more for coolant is just a bit more water over the dam...

If a few bucks makes my life a little easier it's a few bucks well spent.

[scottj]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Any reason not to use the pre-mixed 50/50 coolant?

Yes, the same reason I don't mix my own; water transfers heat best.

[undy]

I like a 30% coolant mix with distilled water. With 50/50 you lose a bit more heat rejection capability that our cooling challenged Cobra's so do need. The 30% gives adequate freeze protection, rust inhibitors as well as pump lubricants.