GlamisDunes.com > Radiator Location

DuneTrack-N

Jun 19 2010, 04:22 PM

Long story but heres the short version...
My wife and I have had this beam car for 5-6 years now plagued with many issue, finally close to the end and we are at the cooling stage.

My old radiator was mounted sideways with the length of the car, so its never getting direct air flow. Tried all kinds of things but nothing really worked well. i finally bought a new aluminum radiator (from a GD member

) Now the fun begins actually fitting it in the space I have available.

Old radiator was 1960's copper with two fans 19x25, no shroud, no air scoop
New radiator aluminum 19x35 single fan & shroud

So here are a bunch of pics and some thought I have. PLEASE give me your feedback right or wrong, I need ideas.

All the photos of the buggy are here, in case you need a bigger picture of the whole car.
Buggy Pics http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa77/ms...%20Sprite%20IV/
Buggy radiator pics http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa77/ms...%20IV/radiator/

Old Location for reference was mounted to the drivers side

Options

Option A - is not my preferred location, due to having the same scenario as before side mounted
Option B - mount the radiator above the existing support bars behind our heads
Option C - mount the radiator below the existing bars behind the seats

Now Option D I would love to cut the support bars out and mount the radiator almost vertical

What do you think about this? I don't know if the pictures tell the whole story.

Next week I will get the wife to model the radiator locations in the rail for a better profile.

crewzin70

Jun 19 2010, 05:22 PM

C , D or is there any way to hang it over the trans on that angled tail section with a scoop on the top forcing air down? A radiator tail wing, i know keeping the weight in the center of the car is better but just throwing the idea out there.
Try and keep it below the occupants if it is going to be close to them, should of mounted mine a little lower. I have a buddy with a tatum 2 seat LS1 and the rad is tucked in behind the seats and looks like it doesn't get air but with the electric fans it cools it right off.

steinberg55

Jun 19 2010, 08:30 PM

Put it behind the seats. You may have to get a bigger fan/fans but that's the best looking location. For bigger fans on a budget, Ford Taurus fans, two speed, they move lots of air.

DuneTrack-N

Jun 20 2010, 10:16 AM

QUOTE (crewzin70 @ Jun 19 2010, 06:22 PM)

C , D or is there any way to hang it over the trans on that angled tail section with a scoop on the top forcing air down? A radiator tail wing, i know keeping the weight in the center of the car is better but just throwing the idea out there.
Try and keep it below the occupants if it is going to be close to them, should of mounted mine a little lower. I have a buddy with a tatum 2 seat LS1 and the rad is tucked in behind the seats and looks like it doesn't get air but with the electric fans it cools it right off.

thanks i wanted to do the radiator wing at first but the radiator i got is way to big for that. I need one thats 16x26 to fit the wing.

Noozeyeguy

Jun 21 2010, 04:19 PM

I had mine in the wing position at first, moved it to behind the passenger cage last season. I like the midships location a lot better, the fans are noisier but the car seems to handle better without the radiator out past the engine. FWIW I have two strong Spal puller fans, engine stays pretty much at 205-210 in the dunes.

Before:

Click to view attachment

After (with new wing trunk):

Click to view attachment

crewzin70

Jun 21 2010, 05:09 PM

I may lower mine for more vision and keep the fluids below the passangers...(my kids) if the funds present themselves, been penny pinching lately to get me engine redone.
Click to view attachment

Rich42Glamis

Jun 29 2010, 06:24 PM

QUOTE (DuneTrack-N @ Jun 19 2010, 05:22 PM)

Long story but heres the short version...
My wife and I have had this beam car for 5-6 years now plagued with many issue, finally close to the end and we are at the cooling stage.

My old radiator was mounted sideways with the length of the car, so its never getting direct air flow. Tried all kinds of things but nothing really worked well. i finally bought a new aluminum radiator (from a GD member

) Now the fun begins actually fitting it in the space I have available.

Old radiator was 1960's copper with two fans 19x25, no shroud, no air scoop
New radiator aluminum 19x35 single fan & shroud

So here are a bunch of pics and some thought I have. PLEASE give me your feedback right or wrong, I need ideas.

All the photos of the buggy are here, in case you need a bigger picture of the whole car.
Buggy Pics http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa77/ms...%20Sprite%20IV/
Buggy radiator pics [url="http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa77/mscatena/1995%20Sand%20Sprite%20IV/radiator/"]http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa77/ms...%20IV/radiator/[/url

Old Location for reference was mounted to the drivers side

Options

Option A - is not my preferred location, due to having the same scenario as before side mounted
Option B - mount the radiator above the existing support bars behind our heads
Option C - mount the radiator below the existing bars behind the seats

Now Option D I would love to cut the support bars out and mount the radiator almost vertical

What do you think about this? I don't know if the pictures tell the whole story.

Next week I will get the wife to model the radiator locations in the rail for a better profile.

I just went watercooled... here's a couple pix of my install...

not the best spot but plenty of airflow which is what you want...

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

I suggest you make a cardboard mock up of the radiator and play with different locations... you will be suprised how many ideas you can come up with...

You can also see if it blocks your rear view...

DuneTrack-N

Jun 30 2010, 08:14 AM

Rich42Glamis your bracket is AWESOME!!! thanks for the PM

We plan to work on it tonite, bought a ton of tabs so we will be trying alot of options.
My buddies want to put it over the trans/wing area, so we will see.

DuneTrack-N

Jul 1 2010, 07:27 AM

after working till midnight here is what ended up with

rear mounted over/under wing

now it's time to work on the hard pipe and other changes that are required

DuneTrack-N

Jul 1 2010, 07:29 AM

So now what material should I use for the hard pipe???

Exhaust tubing?

and what size? same as the inlet/outlets, larger or smaller? was thinking 1-1/2" pipe

Rich42Glamis

Jul 1 2010, 07:39 PM

QUOTE (DuneTrack-N @ Jul 1 2010, 08:29 AM)

So now what material should I use for the hard pipe???

Exhaust tubing?

and what size? same as the inlet/outlets, larger or smaller? was thinking 1-1/2" pipe

PM'd ya...

twoduners11

Jul 1 2010, 10:48 PM

QUOTE (DuneTrack-N @ Jul 1 2010, 08:29 AM)

So now what material should I use for the hard pipe???

Exhaust tubing?

and what size? same as the inlet/outlets, larger or smaller? was thinking 1-1/2" pipe

yeah, just get a bunch of 11/2" exhaust j bends and have at it
p.s. those radiators a really easy to shorten if you need to
p.s.s. if you still have a thermostat i would take it out or replace it with a restrictor plate. your asking that water pump for alot of extra work

DuneTrack-N

Jul 2 2010, 06:54 AM

thanks for the t-stat comment; I will double check

last time I had the neck off, I think I put just a restrictor in but will def recheck it

DuneTrack-N

Jul 6 2010, 07:56 AM

update! we worked all weekend and here is the result only a few nights to go and we should be done

radiator all mounted and wired up

you can see in the above pic my water lines, just need to make some supports to hold them up

got a catch tank from my buddy who used to race dirt track cars, so this was his remote filler

had to rewire all the lights, due to welding the wires in one of the tubes, oops
here is the look now, moved the lazer stars to the from, added KC's to the top, moved the brake lights to the side

so the next items are get a aluminum sheet for all accessories (msd 6a, coil, fuel pump, fuel regulator, etc...)
should have this running next weekend to work out all the kinks

pismo test run maybe this weekend as well, for sure July 30th it all has to be done

Rockwood

Jul 7 2010, 01:04 PM

You make sure to bead roll or spot weld the ends of those radiator hard pipe to keep them from blowing off?