<div dir="auto">I just got off the phone with a local radiator shop. I was told a re-core of my original radiator would cost $3-400. The reason is the price of copper and the availability of materials due to the pandemic halting production. This is assuming I have a modern type core put in. The straight horizontal fin cores are available, but they are used in industrial applications like fork lifts and farm equipment. He was honest enough to say even the Chinese radiator would probably work better than my 20+ year old radiator re-core with horizontal straight fins if the Chinese radiator had a modern type core in it. He also said any radiator that cheap ($170) can only be manufactured outside of the US. He also said the cooling efficiency was not that different between copper and aluminum. So, now I really don't know which way to go. I really don't think I need a $600 aluminum radiator. I will not be racing this Bugeye. The problem now is my MGB GT is running hot too. Checked timing on both cars. Top radiator hose gets hot, so I really don't think the thermostat is a problem. Crap.<div dir="auto">Mike MacLean</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Apr 26, 2021, 11:35 AM John OBrien via Spridgets <<a href="mailto:spridgets@autox.team.net">spridgets@autox.team.net</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<p>Michael, I did succumb to the lure of using an Aluminum radiator
in my bugeye. I had it built custom, and it was not cheap (don't
recall how much, but my wife groaned when I told her). I was
attempting to add on a Judson Supercharger, and thought I'd need
additional cooling capacity. I never could get the engine to run
right with the Judson so I took it off. I have to say the
aluminum radiator keeps everything running cool, so I won't be
swapping back, but everything I've read says a copper (original
material) core is the most efficient. If your car used to run
cool, and just started having problems keeping up, you might just
take the radiator to a good old fashioned radiator shop and have
it disassembled, rodded out and flushed good. I was having
cooling issues on my BJ8, and took my radiator to a shop and asked
if they could refit it with a higher capacity core. He looked at
it and said, "This is a high capacity core, but it is clogged
up." after he cleaned it out, it has been handling high
temperature days, etc. just fine. Of course the disassembly and
cleaning may cost nearly the same as one of the Chinese aluminum
radiators.</p>
<p>John O'Brien</p>
<p>'61 Bugeye (Lucy)</p>
<p>'65 BJ8 (Madelyn)<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div>On 4/26/2021 11:34 AM, Michael MacLean
via Spridgets wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="auto"> My Bugeye has been running hot in any ambient
temperature over 80 degrees lately. I have the original
radiator that was re-cored with an OEM type core almost 25 years
ago. I have been leaning towards getting an aluminum radiator.
Moss sells a two row aluminum radiator for $300. You can get a
Chinese made Bugeye type radiator on Fleabay for $165 with free
shipping. Nevermind the fact Moss charges a $10 oversize fee on
top of a shipping charge of $27 and then of course California
has to get their cut ($24). It adds up.
<div dir="auto"> A call to Moss just now was not all that
helpful. I was told that all they know is their aluminum
radiator comes from Moss Europe. Other than that, they have
no idea country of manufacture. Since both radiators are just
about the same in construction and core size I am not sure
what to do here. With Frank's words on Chinese made crap
echoing in my head might I be better off getting my original
radiator re-cored with an up to date core that will have more
cooling fin area? Do the aluminum radiators make that much
difference?</div>
<div dir="auto">Mike MacLean</div>
</div>
<br>
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John O'Brien
'61 Bugeye (Lucy)
'65 BJ8 (Madelyn)</pre>
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