18 replies to this topic

[John Clayton]

Iain McGrory reckons a new rad (preferably alloy) would be worth putting on this car

[Ethel]

It's a one man topic! Good reading though

Putting the block 'n head in a caustic tank to remove some gunge and improve the thermal transfer could help, but probably isn't an option. I do wonder about the advantages of leccy fans 'n pumps on a competition car, where your foot will often be flat on the floor making the power (and heat) close to linear with engine speed.
I'd also worry a bit about water circulation in the engine with a switched external pump.

[Sprocket]

with electric pumps, I wouldn't trust anything other than a Meziere pump on a serious competition car

http://www.meziere.c...860-wp136s.aspx

[John Clayton]

I got a bit of advice from a couple of eminent Race Mini engineering firms


Side mounted rad with elec fan

Only suitable for road use –didn’t provide enough cooling on Paddy Hopkirk’s Mini when it got into traffic on the Monte Carlo rally (even at high altitude with the resultant low temperatures)



Front mounted rad

Popular with the race chaps. Requires a swirl-pot but no elec fan is required for racing (for rallying it WILL probably require a fan as you have to drive to the stage start, queue up etc.). This option will probably save 4-5Bhp over a mechanical fan. Just get a new ront mounted rad/fan for a 90s Mini from Mini Spares (approx £200 for fan & rad + temp switch, wiring, piping, swirl pot etc.)



Elec water pump

Saves approx 3 Bhp.




I think my first step is to get the existing brass Rad out tomorrow and get it down to the local Radiator Firm and get them to do their free pressure and flow test on it. They can re-core this Rad (4-core) for just under £100 or they can do a new brass/copper 2-core Rad for about £70.

Edited by John Clayton, 05 June 2011 - 09:20 AM.