Aluminium radiators

[harv235]

What are people's opinion of the Fletcher Aluminium 2 core radiators?

I have a 997 cooper (late 1962 build) that runs really hot, I suspect the sender is partly at fault, but these (the green one) are difficult to find.

Whilst I know they are not original items and those with originality in mind may bark, but technically has anyone fitted an aluminium rad to a 2 part cowling and are they reliable?

Harvey

427 CAH cooper 997.

[Dean]

i have a mini spares performance rad on my tuned 1071 and it keeps it at a nice steady 82c.

i not sure if the ally one is wider or not. but i have read a few posts ( not on hear) that some of the cheap ally rads are crap,
to be honest its not needed, when you can get a rad that fits and looks the same as the original. and works!!!!

sounds like you may need to flush out your system, check you thermostat , and clean the cores of your rad, also make sure your fan is the correct way round. check the hoses and heat tap.

you could find its one or a few of them causing the problem, and not the answer just to drop in a ally rad. you need to find whats causing the problem first and fix that,

[AWOODY]

I am using one of those cheap crap alloy radiators at $aud 88 delivered best investment I have made, runs good ,a little bit of fiddling to get in , been in for 2 years no problems (touch wood) I have got to the point with minis that I am not too concerned with originality as my car is not original and too much has been altered to change back, I just want to use parts that are going to work and be reliable , the Subaru Leone dizzy works well too (shock horror).

[Dr S]

I've had a super 4 core in the two piece cowl, its an absolute pig to fit. Bought a performance 3 core from Minispares this time. Supposedly for historic racers, absolute doddle to fit it!

very pleased so far.

[ianh1968]

(Please excuse my ignorance...)
If a "Fletcher" radiator is the same as a "Radtec", which is the most expensive type sold by MiniSpares...

I replaced the previous "best type" 2-core rad with one of these on
my 1480 and it made a considerable difference. Was it just because
it was new? Maybe, but the original one did get a pretty good flushing
out so I doubt very much that it was "clogged".

In other words,

This:
http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... 0to%20shop

Was much better than this:
http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... 0to%20shop

The expensive one cooled by at least 10 degrees C more than the one it replaced.
I was having serious problems in traffic and the new rad cured the problem.

Ian

[harv235]

I've been having a reasonably long conversation about the same subject on face book.

The upshot is that I think I may purchase a 2 core, conventional looking rad from mini spares.

I think in all honesty that the problem is more the gauge and not the radiator, so much so I am thinking of getting a capillary gauge to accompany the rad.

The problem may be as simple as a dodgy earth, but I need to roll the car out and have a look.

Cheers guys.

Harvey

997 Cooper.

[Spider]

The 997 Cooper should be able to cope well with a stock copper 3 Tube Radiator. If the car really is over-heating, then I'd suggest finding and fixing the route cause of that, rather than masking it by fitting a different radiator.

If the problem is in fact a mismatched Gauge and Sender, try one of these little gems to sort it;-

https://www.spiyda.com/magento/index.ph ... d-mk2.html

[Goldbrocade_62]

The 997 Cooper should be able to cope well with a stock copper 3 Tube Radiator. If the car really is over-heating, then I'd suggest finding and fixing the route cause of that, rather than masking it by fitting a different radiator.

If the problem is in fact a mismatched Gauge and Sender, try one of these little gems to sort it;-

https://www.spiyda.com/magento/index.ph ... d-mk2.html

Has anyone used these

[ianh1968]

Is that the same as this?

http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/e ... ge-matcher
(I know it says "fuel gauge", but basically it will be matching a resistance in a sender
to effectively what is a voltmeter, ie a temp gauge or a fuel gauge...
Ian

[Spider]

Is that the same as this?

http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/e ... ge-matcher
(I know it says "fuel gauge", but basically it will be matching a resistance in a sender
to effectively what is a voltmeter, ie a temp gauge or a fuel gauge...
Ian

They appear similar and for matching in this case, would likely do the trick, though the ones from Spiyda (no no me!! and not related to me either) are more adaptive, eg reverse resistance.

[andy1071]

As mentioned, the gauges are not the most accurate ones..

Before buying a new radiator (which may be unnecessary) try these:
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/karting/p ... indicators
And see how hot the engine is really running...

-They are a one-time only use, indicating max temperature achieved.

[harv235]

With regards the possible faulty temp sender I have just ordered a (green) sender as found on Ebay.

I am reassured this is correct for a 997 cooper engine.

I believe he has a couple left.

Harvey
Cooper 997