17 replies to this topic

[mahesket]

Hi everyone,

i have a 1985 mayfair with a 1340cc engine which just has standard cooling, and as i found yesterday this does not seem to be totally adequate.

what would be the best aux fan to fit so that i can control it from inside that cabin and flick it on when the temp starts rising to cool things down again.

Thanks,

Matt

[Dan]

The best thing to do is change the radiator. The standard 3 core rad was designed for an 850 and is marginal when it comes to cooling capacity for a 1275. As soon as you increase the engine capacity or heat ouput beyond the normal 1275 in any way you should uprate the rad. The best unit available (unless you want to spend hundreds on a ally rad) is the 2 core supercool from Mini Spares. They start from about £70.00. It is very unlikely you will also need an auxiliary fan with this, especially if you use a tropical six-blade mechanical fan. This rad will work far better.

Also your car will probably have the early 1/2" heater system, the later 5/8" system was added to increase the total amount of coolant in the system and aid cooling. Changing to this setup would help.

Edited by Dan, 31 July 2008 - 01:07 PM.

[t@z]

i have a 1330 and have no issues with heating using a MS 2 core rad and std fan sits about 75 maybe 80-85 when is serious traffic.

best advise is update the rad really.

i'm currently getting an electric fan to sit in the cowling with a manual switch as my one that bolts to the water pump ate itself on something so trying to elminate this happening again.......just hoping its as good as the old fan

my mates selline his 2 core rad worked fine on his although it looks bad so does mine on my car
http://cgi.ebay.co.u...p3911.m14.l1318

Edited by t@z, 31 July 2008 - 01:18 PM.

[mahesket]

nice one, i was just looking on their site, how do i go about converting to 5/8" system?

[taffy1967]

If you still want an auxiliary fan as back up, then this isn't a bad price: -

http://www.holden.co...ode=080.246MINI

[BJst416]

Here is a way of wiring it up if you decide to go for the aux fan

wiring for aux fan

[mahesket]

I'm going for that fan but from Moss-europe its £95.95 plus TMF+ 10% discount, plus 2 core minispares rad and 6 blade fan, just for security sitting in heavy summer traffic etc.

Cheers for the wiring diagram.

[Strontium Dog]

If you are going 2 core with a Kenlowe fan then you shouldn't need the mechanical fan and you gain a couple of ponies or so by losing it!

[mahesket]

Intresting? how would i go about doing that, is there much work involved?

My initial thought was just use the 6 blade and and 2 core setup as normal and have the leccy fan as a back up for when sitting in traffic etc.

how would mounting the leccy fan and getting rid of the mech fan work? where would they fit?

[m1n1]

Beware of the 6 bladed metal fan. When I fitted mine last year there were two problems; firstly when fitted (onto the minispares water pump / std A+ spacer / Large A+ pully) it hit the cylinderhead and dug into the matrix of the minispares 2core and bent quite alot of fins over; secondly scraping the radiator cowling quite badly in places. Cooling wasn't much better than the std. plastic fan; even with the fins bent back but i have gone back to the std. type.

I am using a kenlow electric fan bolted into the inner wing, off ebay for a tenner; but my car being '87 it does not have the round fan cut out; so I have made it sit just proud of the grill slats. It does suck quite alot of air, However it is not near enough to the radiator to acheive the ideal cooling effect; it adds to the std fan by pulling the hot air out from behind the radiator out through the wheel arch which just would otherwise sit there in traffic making the general underbonnet temp hot.

However It still gets hot; I may go back to a single carb. oh please do not remove the std. fan.

[mahesket]

which way round is it best to mount the leccy fan? pulling air from the rad or pushing air onto the rad? i assume taking air away to increase circulation, have people tried both ways of mounting

m1n1, i'm unsure weather my engine is an A or A+ is their an easy way to tell?

[taffy1967]

The only time you should think about ditching the standard mechanical fan is when you're radiator is sitting up front like that of a later/Twin-Point Mini.

The 1990/91 Rover Mini Coopers with a carb have a bolt on auxiliary cooling fan (not the larger cut out which came later) which draws the air away from the radiator (sucks rather than blows) and out through the inner wing grille beneath the wing.

Having an auxiliary fan blowing wouldn't be any where near as effective and chances are the radiator would overheat?

m1n1, i'm unsure weather my engine is an A or A+ is their an easy way to tell?

I believe the old dynamo fixings are still present on the older A series type of block?

[mahesket]

i'll have to have a look at the block when i go back to my parents this weekend, i think its got an MG metro rocker cover with fins and orange flower like oil cap. but i doubt that has any relevence to the block?

[liirge]

What about an Oil Cooler?

[mahesket]

An Oil Cooler has crossed my mind, although are they not for more highly modified engines? but all i really want at the moment is to get her running untill the MOT runs out in early Oct, then get the body work sorted over the winter i should be able to do most of the mech work my self but i ain't got the patience or skill for body work (or tools for that fact) lol. i know i'd end up getting stressed and rushing it and it would look pap!