Aluminum Radiator

What sets your Spider apart from the rest?
Post Reply
So Cal Mark

Aluminum Radiator

Post by So Cal Mark »

We just finished up the first installation of the new aluminum racing radiator in an FI Spider. The rad is all aluminum, welded seams; no crimping or plastic used at all. The overall size is 19"x21". The rad comes with threaded bungs for mounting. We had to fab upper and lower brackets and space the sway bar down 1/4". The lower radiator saddle was unbolted and removed for clearance. We added an adjustable fan controller that allows the fan to come on at any temp you desire. We also added a 14" electric fan. This radiator has about twice the capacity of the stock radiator.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCXgHJ92Mqw

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
User avatar
maytag
Posts: 1789
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:22 pm
Your car is a: 1976 124 spider
Location: Rocky Mountains....UTAH! (Not Colorado)

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by maytag »

ok. I'm droolin'... but before I get ahead of myself... what's one of them thar kitssell for?
I'm no Boy-Racer..... but if I can't take every on-ramp at TWICE the posted limit.... I'm a total failure!
MNspiderman

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by MNspiderman »

Are you just showing us a very nice radiator you just got done installing for a customer or is this something that your going to be selling in the future?
Newell33

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by Newell33 »

Please, please, please be reasonably priced.... I'm frustrated that I can buy a Chevy full-sized radiator for $180.00 and have to shell out $600.00 for one for my Spider. Yes, I realize the tooling and engineering time required. I also realize that there are 50 times more Chevy radiators sold, but hey, I can still be frustrated, can't I?
So Cal Mark

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by So Cal Mark »

The radiator will sell for $200. The adjustable fan controller is $40. I haven't priced the bracket and hose kit yet. Hoses are available at Autozone or any other parts store, so I may just make the bracket kit and supply #s for the hoses.

I haven't fitted one yet to a 78 or older Spider, so currently it will be marketed for 79 and newer Spiders. As soon as I fit it to an early Spider I'll get that posted
halg

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by halg »

Mark:
I hope you don't have the same thing happen that is going on with my Coupe. The water coming out of the engine is 203 (my ECU has air and water temp sensors that can be read directly in degrees)going to the top of the radiator(external thermostat) The radiator is doing to good a job of cooling the water that the return is cool enough to start closing the thermostat and the 203 water then goes back to the engine where it is mixed with the cooler water but the outlet stays at 203. My radiator has 2 temp sensors to control my 2 fans, the second one at the bottom outlet never turns on the 2nd fan. Maybe with a long run the temp will stabilize? Everything has been short runs so far.
Hal
Newell33

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by Newell33 »

Excellent news on the pricing. $200.00 for a nicely fitting aluminum radiator is perfect. I'm guessing you'll sell quite a few at that price point.
azygoustoyou

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by azygoustoyou »

Nice Mark :!: :P
Fiat88

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by Fiat88 »

When will they be available Mark? :D
User avatar
v6spider
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:57 pm
Your car is a: 4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
Location: Mount Vernon WA

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by v6spider »

Hi Mark,
Nice! This is what I am going to do with my conversion car.
Would this radiator support the cooling of my 4.3L v6 I would hope so as the stock Spider radiator and fan will cool it? How many cores? Be Cool makes one that size is this one of theirs or is this one that you are custom making for sale?

Thanks! :)
Rob
http://www.v6spider.com
4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
surfingfreeman
Posts: 388
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 10:34 pm
Your car is a: 1982 2000 FI
Location: Burlingame, California

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by surfingfreeman »

Looks very sweet, and @ $240 very reasonable, well done Mark
Mike
surfingfreeman
Posts: 388
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 10:34 pm
Your car is a: 1982 2000 FI
Location: Burlingame, California

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by surfingfreeman »

"threaded bung", now that sounds like it might be a tad uncomfortable...................what we will do for our fiats!
So Cal Mark

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by So Cal Mark »

Rob
I would say this will cool your V6, it's rated up to a small V8 for cooling capacity. It's not a Be Cool unit, it's from an Aussie company we're getting several products from. I'd been working with them for about a year on this and they finally got them into the US.

As for the "threaded bung", just think how popular you would be in prison with a bung that can easily have something screwed into it :oops:
User avatar
v6spider
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:57 pm
Your car is a: 4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
Location: Mount Vernon WA

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by v6spider »

Cool mark! I will be getting in touch with you when i can afford to buy one. Price is reasonable for sure I think the be Cool unit is 300 bones...is it possible to get larger inlets and outlets? at least ones that will work with my v6?:)

Cheers!
Rob
http://www.v6spider.com
4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
So Cal Mark

Re: Aluminum Radiator

Post by So Cal Mark »

Rob
the radiator has 1 1/2" connections that should be the same as your V6. We'll have hoses for the Fiat conversion in the optional installation kit
Post Reply