This is one of those issues that get revisited every summer. Even in Vintage
you can replace your radiator--if your governing body adheres to 1962 or
later SCCA GCRs. I don't know about earlier specs. In that year you could do
anything you wanted to the radiator as long as it fits the original
mountings.
Depending on your local radiator shop, the easiest, cheapest and best way to
do it is take your car to the radiator shop and have them build you a
radiator that will fill the available space and mount in the brackets. ALL
the available space. That's a very big radiator. They can also make it a
compound radiator/oil cooler, which is actually quite a good thing. The
water heats up first and helps the oil get to temperature, then helps keep
it cool. The wonder of regenerative heat exchange. Of course air does most
of the cooling.
It won't be aluminum. It will be copper. That's a good thing too. You don't
save that much weight and copper is more efficient.
While you're at it, plumb it so you have a surge tank and a coolant recovery
tank. My local radiator store did the whole job for about $350--including
the tanks and installation. Your mileage will vary. They need to be a good
shop to do this, but many are.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-fot@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-fot@autox.team.net] On Behalf
Of Joe Boruch
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 10:54 AM
To: fot@autox.team.net
Subject: TR3 Radiators
I put in a new Oil Temp gauge for my race at NHIS this past weekend and was
surprised to see the temps going to 260 during the race. The old gauge was
25+ years old. Not sure if it was the old gauge or the new one that is the
issue or if the temps are really that high. On the cool down lap it did,
however come down to 200. In previous years 220 was about as high as it
would go. Water temp was 210. I took the screen off of the back of my
grill and water dropped to 200 and oil peaked at 240, so the extra air
helped (it was also a 20 deg. hotter day after removing the screen).
I already have 2 oil coolers, but am using a stock looking/size TR3 aluminum
radiator. I would like to change over to a wider crossflow radiator and
since I am racing SCCA so the rules allow it. Does anyone know of an
off-the-shelf (i.e. not too expensive) crossflow aluminum radiator that will
work in a TR3? I understand that some hose rerouting will be needed.
Joe(B)
______________________________________________________________________
Surfing so fast you won't believe it's not broadband!
Try NetZero HiSpeed 3G.
Visit http://www.netzero.com to sign up today!
|