Improving Airflow Through Radiator on a MK1

How do you improve the performance of your beastie?
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andyborris
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Improving Airflow Through Radiator on a MK1

#1 Post by andyborris » Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:23 pm

Inside the nose cone on my MK1 (and probably every MK1!) is a strengthening gusset, it runs from inner wing to inner wing and is almost above the grille. It has holes in it to reduce weight.

I wonder if by closing these holes, I'll improve the airflow through the radiator? At the moment, it seems (to me) that air can escape via these holes into the wings. Or am I misguided?

And do the hot climate cars use the same radiator as the UK ones?

Thanks

Andy

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Alec
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Re: Improving Airflow Through Radiator on a MK1

#2 Post by Alec » Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:16 pm

Hello Andy,

I don't really know but do you have a cooling problem? I have a MK 1 and don't suffer from overheating?

Alec
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Improving Airflow Through Radiator on a MK1

#3 Post by Polly » Tue Jan 20, 2015 10:44 pm

Don't know the answer to your question, but would it not be fair to say that because you have a fan pulling air through the radiator, the airflow might be in the opposite direction, so that the holes actually add to the cooling???


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andyborris
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Re: Improving Airflow Through Radiator on a MK1

#4 Post by andyborris » Fri Jan 23, 2015 6:08 am

Thanks for your answers.


Don't really have an overheating problem (except when the electric rad fan fails!), but I do have a lot more power than standard, so would like maximise the cooling.

And I'm curious! :roll:

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Okay

#5 Post by sprint95m » Tue Jan 27, 2015 5:15 pm

I am not familiar with the mark one but am thinking the panel has peened holes for strength? Therefore,
as an experiment you could try a lightweight plastic to block these holes (the sides out of plastic containers is what I would employ).


andyborris wrote:so would like maximise the cooling.
There are a few ways you can potentially improve cooling, eg....
fit an oil cooler
fit a better radiator (which is an aluminium type with horizontal tubes)
use Evans waterless coolant
fit a better expansion tank (with an outlet to the bottom radiator hose).
fit a shroud for the electric fan (if the fan is a pull type)
fit a larger fan


I followed your blog covering the BMW engine conversion with interest but can't find it now :oops: to check which radiator/fan you have.
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previously ran for nine years a Dolomite (1850), a 2500S (for 4 years), a Dolomite 1500HL (for a few months),
a Dolomite Sprint (for 10 years) and a second 2500S (for 5 years until 2007).

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