[Healeys] Aluminum Radiators available

Fri Jul 21 09:32:21 MDT 2017

Hello John, lets see if this works, its been a while since I've posted to
this forum:

Regarding the Aluminum vs. Copper radiator issue, I would just like to
suggest from an engineering perspective the pros and cons:

First off in terms of performance from a heat transfer outlook, if two
identical radiators were tested, but one copper and one aluminum, the two
would perform nearly the same, with the nod going to the copper one.  The
reason that the copper cannot significantly out perform the aluminum
radiator is based on how it is constructed.  When the fins are bonded to the
tubes, solder is used, and solder doesn't conduct heat nearly as well as
copper nor aluminum.  So there is some resistance to the heat flow making
the comparison nearly equal. 

Secondly, aluminum radiators, at least those that are being spoken of
(custom, welded ones) are not able to be disassembled for cleaning as with
copper or, for that matter, modern ones with plastic header tanks.  So
copper is better from a maintenance perspective. 

Thirdly, aluminum radiators are available only in the serpentine fin
configuration, whereas copper is available in both serpentine (as Moss
sells) and flat fin (as available if you recore your original unit and as
they were in the original configuration).  With recoring that will appear as
original, you have several options: Flat fin, four row which will fit with
no modifications, Flat fin 5 row which requires the side supports to be
slightly modified, or Flat fin, 6 row which requires the manufacture of a
new lower header tank.  

And of course there is the visual aspect that the aluminum radiator doesn't
really look appealing in an old british sports car 8^).  So if you are
considering upgrading your radiator, and decide to recore, don't take what
the radiator repair shop first offers, make him present you with ALL of your
options, not just the cheapest or easiest 3 row serpentine core (which is a
marginal performer as I found out much to my chagrin).  

Jerry Rude

BJ8 with upgraded, flat fin, 5 row core

Message: 2

Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:21:43 -0500

From: John O'Brien <banjojohn at cox.net>

To: "healeys at autox.team.net" <Healeys at autox.team.net>

Subject: [Healeys] Aluminum Radiators available

Message-ID: <db3bf616-5c90-04aa-3228-6caf1db5e177 at cox.net>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

Looking for any experience with current offerings on ebay.

I just got back a few days ago from the Conclave in Waco.  We had a 

great time and met many nice folks.  On our way home to Nebraska driving 

in 95 plus temps, my 65 BJ8 started running hotter and hotter until we 

had to pull into a service station and let it cool down.  It boiled over 

in the lot, so I had to replace some antifreeze solution too.  It seemed 

like, once the gauge got over 212 the temp rocketed well past the 230 

upper limit on the gauge. I had a similar situation last year driving to 

Wisconsin on a hot day.

So... I'm thinking of replacing the radiator with an aluminum one.  I 

put an aluminum rad. in my bugeye a few years back and never have a heat 

problem.  I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the aluminum 

radiators on ebay.  One is a Worley for $355.00 w/ free shipping 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-radiator-for-AUSTIN-HEALEY-3000-1959-1967-m
anual-/112368575956?fits=Make%3AAustin+Healey%7CModel%3A3000
<http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-radiator-for-AUSTIN-HEALEY-3000-1959-1967-
manual-/112368575956?fits=Make%3AAustin+Healey%7CModel%3A3000&epid=906260673
&hash=item1a29b065d4:g:zbQAAOSw4CFY7nCD&vxp=mtr>
&epid=906260673&hash=item1a29b065d4:g:zbQAAOSw4CFY7nCD&vxp=mtr

and the other is a GPI racing at $350.00 w/ free shipping 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/aluminum-radiator-AUSTIN-HEALEY-3000-1959-1967-/2529
84917906?fits=Make%3AAustin+Healey%7CModel%3A3000
<http://www.ebay.com/itm/aluminum-radiator-AUSTIN-HEALEY-3000-1959-1967-/252
984917906?fits=Make%3AAustin+Healey%7CModel%3A3000&hash=item3ae7137f92:g:Ia4
AAOSwnHZYfX0m&vxp=mtr> &hash=item3ae7137f92:g:Ia4AAOSwnHZYfX0m&vxp=mtr 

Both made in China and look almost the same except the Worley fan guard 

looks different.  The GPI looks more like the original Healey rad.  I've 

also seen an American made one from Wizard Cooling for $499.00, 

https://wizardcooling.com/1959-1968-austin-healey-3000-aluminum-radiator/ 

that looks very close to the GPI.  The Worley and GPI do not look like 

they have the overflow tube on the side of the filler neck like the Wizard.

Any thoughts or experience with any of these would be appreciated.

John O'Brien

'65 BJ8 (Madelyn)

'61 Bugeye (Lucy)

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/healeys/attachments/20170721/b2594318/attachment.html>