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MG MGA - New rad

Well, my original radiator finally gave way and is leaking. Fortunately caught it on a local run about 2 pints short. Normally runs 170-180 but it quickly ran up to 212 when stopped.
So, which is the best rad to buy and from whom?
Art Pearse

What about this supplier? Looks original style.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-Original-Type-Radiator-for-1955-1962-MG-MGA-Ships-from-USA-All-Metal-/151452298894?fits=Model%3AMGA&hash=item234342ae8e:g:XYAAAOSwRLZT1~4G&vxp=mtr#shpCntId
Art Pearse

Certainly in the UK the best route would be to get it recored by Bob West but you are in Canada so???

Paul
Paul Dean

Good news - it's the water pump!
Now I can keep my nice cool rad.
Art Pearse

Darn - it WAS the rad.
Meanwhile bought a pump from Moss and had to oversize the bolt holes to get it to fit the block.
Art Pearse

Art
I would check with your local radiator repair shops. They can install a new core of same size or maybe one with more rows. That way you will know exacly what you have.The new radiator may not be up to the standards of yours when recored.
Sandy
edith sanders

Edith, the tanks are quite beaten up and for the price of new around 240 USD I dont think its worth it! The Sports car place in TN has a UK item that looks identical to original. Not sure about the Moss offering, no pic.
Art Pearse

As always read Barney's take on it first- http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/cooling/cool_100a.htm

I think I'd stay away from a modern core
gary starr

Art,

I know aluminium radiators are not everyone's cup of tea and I for one don't like the non-original looks of the construction but I don't think I've heard of anyone who has bought one for their MGA complaining that they don't do their job.

If this is true then I can't see that the fact that the metal is different will give any improvement.

I think it is more likely to be the geometric construction. I may be wrong but I think that the MGA Al radiators all have the same two row in line construction. Maybe someone will correct me but I don't think I have ever seen a three row in line or staggered Al radiator.

Aren't Bob West's cores two core in line?

I'm sure most radiator shops would be able to supply a two row in line core without the need for going to Bob West............................Mike
Mike Moore

I thought Bob's were the original cell core.
gary starr

Art, Mike and Gary, in order, I hope.
Modern core designs, especially with, as I believe they mostly are, staggered designs, don't seem to work well in an MGA application, I suspect because of the crowded engine bay with little room for the air to exit. But this is the type of core usually supplied with with modern replacement radiators and radiator cores. My own MGA had been fitted with a modern core by the previous owner and the car ran unacceptably hot.

The original "cell core" or "V-cell" type seems to work much better in MGAs, and if you're fortunate enough to have one, and it's in good order, it should perform perform well. If your v-cell core needs replacing, try to find a shop who'll supply and fit a genuine style replacement core for you; there are sources.

Unfortunately in my case, the top and bottom tanks had been cut and modified to fit the modern core prior to my ownership, and even though my radiator shop could source v-cell cores (not cheap by the way), they advised that they couldn't fit this style of core to my rather butchered header and bottom tanks.

I consequently fitted an aluminium radiator, custom designed and fabricated for my needs by PWR in Queensland Australia. Amazingly, it is just a single row design!! But there's a few internal hidden tricks of the modern hi-tech radiator trade incorporated, such as dimpled tubes, to increase the surface area, and to increase turbulence, both assisting with heat transfer. It's marginally smaller than the original, and of course much lighter. It's extraordinarily efficient, and even in hot Australian summers I can see the temperature gauge oscillating as the thermostat opens and shuts.

I believe the Bob West radiator is NOT a cell core/v-cell design, but rather a modern style core, but with a non-staggered tube design. I've read that they work very well in an MGA. But Bob did tell me once when we were discussing radiators, that even he fitted an aluminium radiator to an MGA he was preparing to race (I think, from memory, at a historic event at Le Mans).


T Aczel

The aluminium radiator:
I had the bottom tank shaped flat on the bottom, (as I thought this would be cheaper than the curved profile), but still high enough to clear the starter handle.
The result is a bottom tank with a smaller water capacity, but this seems to have no impact on cooling, probably because the core is so efficient anyway. (I actually had the top tank tapped at the rear, in case I decided I'd want to fit a switch for electric fans. But it works so well, there's absolutely no need for supplementary fans, though I DO have a shroud fitted, which does seem to help in traffic jams when idling in hot weather).


T Aczel

This thread was discussed between 21/06/2017 and 30/06/2017

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