Which radiator ?

[Big Jim]

It looks like I need a recon rad . The steel support has rotted away on the bottom and the fins are brittle and it's becoming bald .
I have a 2 core rad , it runs constantly at 80 , the fans rarely come on and it has never overheated . Do you think it would be a good investment for a 3 core ? You may know by now I like to keep it original (and save some money) .
Jim

[marky]

I have a two core in mine and it works fine - the temperature builds up quite quickly if you are stuck in traffic or idling but the fans bring the temperature down in seconds when they kick in. Have run it for a over a year in all temperatures and all is good.

Mark.

[Lotus-e-Clan]

There is always a negative to increasing cooling capacity by increasing radiator size or thickness ....

1) Aero (increased drag)

2) weight - not only structural weight - but also the increase in water volume adds weight at the rate of 1 kg per litre. OK this can be offset if you go for an aluminium rad.

As others and yourself have said - and my experience is the same - the std cooling system works well. I'd be inclined to swop the otter switch for a Revotec electronic fan switch though.

OK I understand you want to keep thing standard - but if you did want to improve cooling AND gain some performance then disconnect the flaky std water pump and fit an EWP. I was able to dump one of the rad fans with the EWP conversion because the increased water flow in 'hot traffic' situations (an EWP can run at full speed) more than compensates for the reduced air flow through the rad by having one rad fan.

[wonderplatinum]

Lotus-e-Clan,
Do you have any pics of youre EWP installation?

[amarshall]

Lotus-e-Clan,
Do you have any pics of youre EWP installation?

Tech. Articles (does anybody ever venture in there except me ? ) : http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=908

[Big Jim]

I was all set to go for a 2 core from LB , £130 +v (£180 3 core) . I then found PNM , which is much closer to me had 3 core for £160 +v .I wasn't aware that the plates with the bolts welded to are separate items , I have done some video of the job ,I will post it if it works out .

[Big Jim]

Job done.
I should have fitted a 2 core rad . The top and bottom steel channel is wider , so the end plates with the bolts on are too small . I had a clearance issue .The bottom hose was very tight against a body mounting bolt . I needed to move the rad up , right or forwards .but there is something stopping it in every direction .
The bottom channel on my old rad had rotted away , so the fan cowl was dangling in the wind .It looks impossible to get a fixing into this when on the car , so here is my mod .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd19wWxm ... e=youtu.be

[Mr Locust]

Youtube says "This video is private".

[Big Jim]

try this
http://youtu.be/xd19wWxmt5k

[Mr Locust]

Same again. Do you have tick a box to share?

[Hawaiis0]

Still Private old bean

[Big Jim]

Another try
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd19wWxm ... e=youtu.be

[Hawaiis0]

That's got it chappie

[Hawaiis0]

You are the kiss of death ! Guess whose rad started to spill it's guts in sympathy

[smokey]

Mine went on Monday too. Waiting for a 2 core to be delivered tomorrow. Job for the weekend along with the windscreen wiper motor and the bodged throttle cable still hanging on, just.

I found my 2 core rad on an SE always ran a bit cool but when in traffic the temp quickly rose and one of the fans needing to cool it down.
Undersized with a thermostat issue and a broken fan perhaps..