[Healeys] Aluminum Radiator

[Bob Spidell]

Cool :) FWIW, that's pretty much how my BJ8 behaves with a stock radiator and Texas Cooler fan. Are you running a stock BN1 fan? 

On a side note, does anyone know why our cars routinely run under the thermostat set point? For example, I have a 180degF thermostat in my BJ8, and on not-hot days on the freeway it may run around 160degF. Under warmer conditions with more of a load it'll hold 180 until stuck in traffic, etc. then goes up 10-20 degrees. The thermostat should stay closed until reaching the set point--e.g. 180--then open and maintain that temperature until the the radiator can no longer, well, radiate all the heat produced by the engine. Is it possible our engines are being air-cooled enough to stay under the thermostat set point under benign temp and load conditions? 

Bob 

----- Original Message -----



On Wednesday, October 1st I installed an all aluminum radiator in my BN1 100. 
On 
Saturday, October 4th I went on a 200 mile plus journey from the valley floor 
in 
northern California up to 8500 feet elevation at the summit of Mount 
Lassen and then back into the valley. The temperature in the valley 
was about 95 degrees F and going up in to the mountains, I got stuck 
behind a motor home and on a very twisty, steep, hot and slow road, 
that's where I got my hottest, a little under 200 degrees! The rest of 
the trip I ranged from 150 degrees to 190! I'm not even going to count 
the 120 I got coming down out of the mountains! 
All in all, it's the best thing I've ever done for my car. The 
radiator was made by Wizardo;? out of New York, I got it off of eBay and other 
than 
them sending me the wrong radiator to begin with, (which they did 
straighten out), I would highly recommend their work and product. NFI, 
just happy with what it's done to my car. Didn't have to change a 
thing in the car and it bolted right in! Sweet! 
Steven Kingsbury 
BN1 #598