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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Maine Radiator

A local radiator shop will charge $375 for a new Maine radiator - 4 row, 3/8 tubing or $399 for a 3 row, 1/2 tubing. He recommends the 4 row at the lower price. He says the 4 will cool better because there are more fins and more air flow.

That price, here on Long Island (yes, home of the Hamptons) seems reasonable. I pull my Moss unit out, leave it with him for a few days for him to use as a dimensional model for the top and bottom tank and mounting flange, etc. then I pick up and install the custom built unit myself.

So - any experience with 3 vs 4 rows?

- Ken
Ken Doris

Ken

I have been advised by Bob West that the most important consideration for efficient MGA cooling is that the cores must be in-line and not staggered as is the modern norm.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I can report that both the Moss units and a rebuilt original spec rad will cool perfectly well, the moss ones just tend to spring leaks.
dominic clancy

Dominic - I agree about the original unit, but there are none available.

As for the Moss units, I expect it depends on the climate and the type of driving. I have had a Moss unit for the last 6 years. It was marginal the first year, and I got barely though a 1000+ mile trip in Florida, including a 230+ period in the Key West parade.

Each year after, it got progressively hotter. I added a pusher fan in 2007, but with that I'm just able to keep the temp below 230 in traffic in 90 deg plus heat. I have done every other thing recommended except the fan shroud

So, I'm definitely going to replace with a "better" design and looking for advice from those who have traveled down that path.

- Ken
Ken Doris

Ken,
The shroud is the best $50 you will spend on your MGA. However, this only assists at low speeds. My 56 1500 still got over 230F (into the oil pressure) on the 8,900 feet climb to Lake Tahoe last week! Air temp on our trip went from 92F to 55F.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Peter - which shroud do you use, metal or plastic?
Ken Doris

Ken,
I have a 3/8" spacing 3-row core in my A and it seems to work well, so I think that your 4-row version would be good. Make sure the grill slats on your car allow air through easily, mine had to be adjusted.
MG 2011 was a great time!
Matt
M. H. Dabney

I use a Ron Davis Aluminum Radiator. cost was $680 or $750. big difference. copper core cant compare. All race cars use Aluminum. None use Copper.
Andrew
ASH Andrew

I have the plastic shroud and am not impressed. I never could get it to lay totally flat against the radiator. If I had it to do over, I would try the metal shroud.
JM Morris

I suspect that race cars use aluminum because it's far lighter, not because it cools better. Copper transfers heat better than aluminum, but more important than material is design, so it's entirely possible that an aluminum radiator can outperform a copper one.
Steve S

Check out the article at www.dewitts.com/pages/whyaluminum.asp Their argument is that aluminum radiators cool better because a better tube-to-fin contact area is possible using aluminum. The comparison of two equal size radiators (for a Corvette) show a significantly higher cooling capacity for the aluminum over the copper/brass radiator.

Larry
Lawrence Hallanger

Thanks guys, all good info. I'm still hoping to hear from anyone with a Maine radiator installed. I saw an earlier thread where Gerry Foster had one, but he hasn't replied to this. I don't have his email, but if anyone does, could you contact him for me?

Also - Matt, I actually bent my slats open on the trip for MG2006!

- Ken
Ken Doris

Ken,
I was on the Rallye to Reno tour (all the way to San Francisco and back) and got back Saturday night. Just getting around to checking in. Yes I have a Maine radiator. Truthfully, I don't know if it's three row or four (will check), but I love it. 106 degrees F going into Dodge City. Stayed around 190. Never got above 210 on any of the climbs including the one to Tahoe. Highly recommend it.
Gerry.

PS: Missed you guys at the event. Hope to see you at WG in the fall.
G T Foster

Thanks Gerry - also, in an earlier post you said something about a "vcore". My local shop says this is not a vcore that he will order. Can you clarify?

Hope to see you at Watkins Glen again this year...

- Ken
Ken Doris

Ken,
About all I know is that the radiator shop who got the radiator core for me said it was called a "V core" and Maine radiator was the only place that supplied them and they did one run each month. I never really got an explaination as to what V core signified. From what I've seen on the internet V-Core is an aluminum racing radiator. This radiator is not aluminum. Maybe the radiator shop was full of "hot water". All I know is that it works great.
Gerry
G T Foster

This thread was discussed between 21/06/2011 and 01/07/2011

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