How much radiator is needed?

[Steve C]

Hi

Go as big as you can, remember the air flow is usually not as good in your car as it was in the donor car, also make sure the path for the air flow is well sealed so that all the cooling air gets forced through the radiator, try to look at other successful transplants.

Steve

[tom'72]

make sure the path for the air flow is well sealed so that all the cooling air gets forced through the radiator,

Very wise words, after I did this the cooling capacity increased a lot and almost never have to use the fan (only in very heavy traffic)

[GeorgeL]

Originally Posted by Steve C

Hi

Go as big as you can, remember the air flow is usually not as good in your car as it was in the donor car, also make sure the path for the air flow is well sealed so that all the cooling air gets forced through the radiator, try to look at other successful transplants.

Steve

Good point. Engineering cooling systems is not simple, particularly when you are trying to put one into a vehicle that wasn't designed for it.

Since you can't depend upon the airflow being as good, you need to compensate by increasing the radiator size.

The general idea is that you want to take the air flowing past the car and slow it down on the inlet side of the radiator. This increases the pressure which causes the air to pass through the radiator. The ducting on the exhaust side of the radiator is also important. It should exit to an area of high speed airflow, which will have the lowest pressure. Above all, you have to prevent recirculation through the radiator. That means that the radiator has to be well sealed to the ductwork and the exit of the ductwork need to be well away from the inlet.

Don't depend upon electric fans to move the air. They are not made for continuous usage and you create another failure mode if you depend upon then. Fans should only come on when vehicle motion is insufficient to move air through the radiator.

George

[What-r-u-doing]

Hey dudes

Check out VW1302RSi and ask him how he did his, for a monkie he's switched on.

Phil.

P.S BTW you don't want to see the temp gauge drop lots when the thermostat opens its bad for the engine.

[ricola]

Originally Posted by What-r-u-doing

P.S BTW you don't want to see the temp gauge drop lots when the thermostat opens its bad for the engine.

I guess I should have put it in context, it was only 5 degrees or so and before the system was fully purged. Was just meaning that the system I built was way oversized for future engines

It was spooky seeing pics of VW1302RSi cooling set-up, almost the same as my VWRX cabrio!

Rich

[Bug@5speed(US)]

As FYI,

Bugat5speed has developed a radiator for both N/A and Turbo applications.

If you would like PM with your email and I will send you two articles with info. Only downside its in german but it will give you an idea..

Take care
Alex

[VW1302RSi]

Originally Posted by ricola

It was spooky seeing pics of VW1302RSi cooling set-up, almost the same as my VWRX cabrio!

Rich

Hi all

Ricola must be good minds think a like

I have just posted a description of my cooling system and some pics on my web page, and a wee vid clip as well.

http://vw1302rsi.multiply.com/

Scott