Alternative radiator setup

[volkdent]

Might I suggest that the diameter of the inlet/outlets is correct for the design of the radiator and shouldn't be altered? If you just split a larger tube into two smaller tubes that are exactly half of the cross sectional area of the larger one, you'll flow just as well. Something like you'd see in an V8 exhaust header, where four small tubes merge into one. As the water flows through the larger tube, when it meets the split, if the lengths of tubing and the radiators are the same, the fluid should flow equally into each radiator, then they can merge back into the large diameter tubing and head back to the engine. Each radiator will have to have a bleed valve on it, but I don't think putting a large inlet/outlet on is the smart thing to do. This is only my opinion and I'm not a hydrodynamics engineer, but it make the most sense to me. If you get a decent airflow over those radiators and use aluminum on the way to the front and back for extra heat loss, I'll bet you you'll be just fine.

Jason

[al_kaholik]

Am I right in thinking that you are going to be using a brass/copper radiator with the aluminium block of the WBX? Surely that is going to be an issue corrosion wise? Or does this magical Evans coolant prevent corrosion?

I'm just asking as I've already sized up mini radiators for rear mounting in my soon to be WBX powered beetle and as we know alu mini radiators are going on for £150-200 which is money I don't have to spend

[DORIGTT]

Weren't the original radiators in Vanagons the copper/brass units? And weren't they were used with no problems?

I bought a pair of them on EBay for $ 50.00! Used of course, but checked out fine.

[al_kaholik]

Plastic/Aluminium according to the Nissens website.

This is something you probably should look into. Dissimilar metal corrosion will over time, and I don't know what type of period we are talking about, eat into the case, leaving you with some seriously bad engine problems.

I after some reading would suggest strongly that you do not use copper brass units. It would be a great cheap solution, but I cannot warrant a dead engine, and would rather make a bigger outlay on radiators.

Just my two pence, but I am interested on other peoples' input on this.

Al