Best aftermarket radiator for cooper s

[65MK1S]

I was hoping to find the best radiator for my 65 cooper s. I have the
original but it will need to be rodded out or recored and I'm having trust
issues with the local radiator shop on their ability to do a decent job. Also
don't know if the current radiators cool better than the old ones. I want to
make sure the radiator is not an issue in overheating on my mini. Thanks
for any advice

[Peter Laidler]

What makes you say that it'll soon need rodding out or re-cored? Is it leaking? You could entrust it to a different radiator repairer and keep the car standard. What about keeping ther bog standard radiatort and use a popular US spec waterless coolant. No boiling or pressurisation problems either

[65MK1S]

What makes you say that it'll soon need rodding out or re-cored? Is it leaking? You could entrust it to a different radiator repairer and keep the car standard. What about keeping ther bog standard radiatort and use a popular US spec waterless coolant. No boiling or pressurisation problems either

Thanks for input Peter, you can see the plugged cores in the radiator so something will need to be done.
If it is sufficient for cooling compared to today's radiators them I will go the repair
route. But if today's radiators are vastly better at cooling than the ones from 1965 then I will
keep the original radiator for the future and run the better radiator in the car now. It gets
quite warm here in the summer even though we are at 4400'. That's why I'm asking if the original
will cool just as well as the newer ones. If so it's a no brainer.

[Minicooper1964]

Stick with the original and recore would be my opinion

[iain1967s]

ARA4442 two core supercool from Minispares, or ARP1105 three core from Mini sport.

Both are well suited to a Cooper S, if you don’t mind the more modern looking ‘denso’ flat sided top tank.

[Fanfaniracing]

I made very good experience with the Minispares ARP1110

[Allen Brzeczek]

Have retained my original radiator for future refurb but am using the ara4442 which appears very efficient and works well for me, cured all of my summertime cooling issues with temp rise in traffic, and again temp rise and to a degree water loss during prolonged periods of spirited driving, my temp gauge now sits on N.

However, I do take the opportunity to have the occasional spin round the block during colder times of the year on cold, clear, dry days but the engine temp barely moves above the C.

Whereas I used the heater to help reduce temperatures do not use it in the cold as it takes the temperature down even further. Have taken to wearing a coat hat and skarf.

[Dan Tweed grey]

If you are not too woried about the looks and more interested in engine health you can fit a fletcher alloy rad.
I have been running one for three years now with no problems. I painted the top black to stop me feeling ill when looking under the bonnet.

[Earwax]

Hi 65Mk1S

I agree with the list/ style of radiators mentioned above but will give an alternative as well.

If cost but not at the sacrifice of cooling is the objective then most of the alloy ( probably Asian origin) radiators work effectively for a bit less than the more original types. ( I am in AUS - and have reconditioned (rodded / resoldered tank etc ) to good effect but probably twice the cost of buying something off the shelf. ( I did this once to support local businesses and keep originality - note not in a S)
I also have a pretend S spec Mk1 car that is a historic racer, In this one ( which is not original ) I opted for Alloy - it has no heater but i use an overflow tank as a header tank to slightly increase the volume of coolant.

Our summer temps can be above your 90 F and our winters where i race can go near your 40F.

Just look through ebay . Things I found out in my research. - 2 core 50mm is ideal -but make sure overall width is less than 56mm or you may rub. There are 40mmCores as well as 50 with basically the same dimensions so watch for this. The ones , i selected are from a "Worley" manufacture - but resold through lots ( maybe look on AUS ebay if you get stuck). I have a TIG welder son in law , who said the quality of welding is quite good. Running for a number of seasons now and handles hot and cold well

And just for interest as i do not know for sure, but i have heard...
the good original side mount Australian spec radiators had 16 fins per inch cooling whereas some UK built ones were 8 fins per inch.??

[65MK1S]

Hi 65Mk1S

And just for interest as i do not know for sure, but i have heard...
the good original side mount Australian spec radiators had 16 fins per inch cooling whereas some UK built ones were 8 fins per inch.??

Thanks for great info Earwax The 65 S radiator in mine looks to have 16 fins per inch. I went ahead and
rodded out the core. Fellow that did the work said it was 20% plugged. I also purchased a minispares unit
just in case this one leaks (it looks like it got banged up some at the radiator shop) or doesn't do the job.
It gets warm here also, 100+ F
Kent

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