[Healeys] Radiator

[warthodson at aol.com]

5  members of our local club have had our radiators re-cored with hi
efficiency copper cores. We were told that there were two choices of cores.
One that included more fins per inch & one that had a more efficient tube &
fin design. We did NOT want the core with more fins per inch since a large
part of the problem with the Healey cooling system is getting enough air thru
the radiator & more fins would only make that worse. We are all happy with the
results. Do not over paint the new core. Use just a light mist coat. Despite
claims to the contrary paint does not improve heat transfer, it hurts it.
Also, using a lower % anti freeze mixture such as 25% instead of the common
practice of 50% will improve heat transfer. Water has a better coefficient of
heat transfer than anti-freeze. Do not use more anti-freeze than your climate
conditions dictate. Finally, install a thermostat that has a moving sleeve
that blanks off the bypass port in the head when the engine gets up to
operating temperature. Using a thermostat without a sleeve allows significant
amounts of coolant to bypass the radiator & simply return to the engine
un-cooled.
Gary Hodson


-----Original Message-----
From: john spaur <jmsdarch at sbcglobal.net>
To: healeys <healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: Wed, Jun 20, 2012 7:01 pm
Subject: [Healeys] Radiator


I checked the archives but could not find a discussion about my
particular question. I am getting ready to have some radiator work done.

The shop I am dealing with has what they call a High Efficiency
radiator core that some of the Alpine car people use. It has more
tubes that are smaller and as a consequence more fins. It is a copper
radiator. I am also told that there is a staggered tube design but
this particular radiator is not the staggered tube design.

Does anyone have experience with the staggered tube design versus the
smaller tube design?

How about just the HE core design?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Just researching solutions on the road to finishing the restoration.
Concours is not the route I am taking.

John
'62 BT7
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