L radiators - Aussie Desert Coolers

[El_Freddo]

Hey all,

After all my cooling problems I dropped a dead L rad to the mob below for use as a template, now I have a new 3 core L radiator being made up in all copper/brass at Aussie Desert Coolers. I've been quoted $450 for the 3 core and $350 for the standard single core setup. If anyone wants to know how it goes/photos etc i'd be more than willing to post testiments/pics.

Can't wait to get my hands on it. The old MY radiator is getting me around for now but i have to keep a close eye on the temp guage. Part of my problem was my AC condensor is partially blocked. You can see through the fins but there is some small stone stuck in there, once i removed the condensor it ran a lot cooler. Also cos the MY radiator is shorter in lenght to the L's original I can't run the engine fan, I have to rely on speed and the thermo fan

I hope this new radiator will hold up to my expectations - I've heard good things about them from mates which is how I got onto ADC...

Cheers

Bennie

[brumbyrunner]

Let us know how it goes.
I've seen them advertised in magazines for years and always wondered how effective they were. Been waiting until I needed a custom rad to try them I suppose.

[El_Freddo]

Let us know how it goes.

Will do. I'm itching to get my hands on this new rad. its starting to warm up again after last weeks winter stint (which i was happy about)...

Bennie

[brumbyrunner]

warm up?
thats funny. It's at least 38' here everyday with nearly 100% humidity

[El_Freddo]

warm up?
thats funny. It's at least 38' here everyday with nearly 100% humidity

Going from 32 degrees (unknown humidity) to about 15 overnight isn't plesant but is good for driving in with a cooling problem...

That's my "warm up" again senerio...

Bennie

[Busdriver]

Hey El freddo, I know its probably too late, but I could have put you in touch with a brand new radiator (still only single core though) for $220 here in Wodonga. I put one of this guys rads in my L series wagon and its got A/C and the gauge struggles to get off cold! Seriously, when it did get to 1/4, I turned the twin thermos on and it went back down to cold!
I reckon a triple row core should nearly run too cold, if thats possible.
All the best with the new one anyway......

[Matatak]

a single core Lseries radiator in near new condition with good thermo fans on it. is ALL that is needed to cool an EA motor. even an EJ NA can be cooled sufficiently by one.

if its gettin to hot then there is either a blockage in the rad. thermos are insufficient or ur not gettin proper airflow.

seriously a triple core is overkill.


but neway.
id like pics of it fitting in its allocated position and wt thermo fans u are going to run.

[El_Freddo]

if its gettin to hot then there is either a blockage in the rad. thermos are insufficient or ur not gettin proper airflow.

seriously a triple core is overkill.


but neway.
id like pics of it fitting in its allocated position and wt thermo fans u are going to run.

I realise a single core will do the job, probabily why they came out with them in the first place. With my 3 spotties and the roo bar's lower bar I think this reduces or affects the airflow into the car. The AC condensor certainly did.

I've had an insufficent radiator for so long that i'd prefer overkill and a well worked thermostat than a hot car any day. It turned out that the one we drove over to WA with was the same.

The thermos i'll be running will be the standard setup (engine fan and standard thermo, i will be looking at getting rid of the engine fan when i can). The radiator will be made up to slot in the exact place of the original to roughly the same dimentions (it may be thicker though).

I'm also looking at upgrading to an EJ probabily next year once the cooling issues are sorted, only then can i start to move forward in other areas on the car and by then should have a "real job"...

Thanks busdriver. As you've said, a little too late. I tried getting a new one cheaper than the $333 or $390 i was quoted for the standard factory item. I figured spending the little extra would be worth my while in the long run.

Cheers

Bennie

[Matatak]

i do agree. the extra 100 to 150 is well worth it.

but with a triple core comes increased thickness. so im curious as to how thick it is and how ur fans are gonna go.

[El_Freddo]

Hey all,

Last night i installed the Desert Cooler 3 core radiator. I looks very nice. One thing i was disappointed about was that they didn't drill any holes in the mounting frames (i was told they would do this but not tack any bolts to the holes like the factory item). So I did it in a rush, it came out a little brutal but has done the job.

Some pics:

MY radiator from chris that i've patched over and over. We did some mods to fit this in...


The other side of the MY rad:


The new radiator!


This radiator has non-shaped end tanks so i had to take to one of the head light backing body work to ding it in so the rad would sit properly. This was done with a SFH (small F. Hammer)...
The radiator is defenetly thicker than the last one. Got about 3mm gap between harmonic balancer and the original thermo fan. There's not enough room to get the mechanical fan to fit on the thread - if you could again there'd only be about 3mm gap :/



The 3mm gap:



Another thing i had to do was cut down the upper rad hose due to the new intake port being a lot longer than the original... No biggie there, it was simple to do.

I'm yet to take it on a hot drive, but giving it a good thrash around the block a couple of times (with a hill climb) was good. Took a long time to get up to temp and didn't go straight to the thermo fan kick in point - only on the slower sections (40kmph) pulling high revs did the fan kick in for a little bit.

So, i'm waiting for a hot day to take it for a hard drive and watch the temp guage...

So far happy Now to save and pay up for this job (got a loan from the pero's, sad i know but i need my car), then look at an EJ conversion - I'm over the EA82's...

Cheers

Bennie

PS the mounting bolts were cut off an old radiator support bracket and are held in by the mounting bolts

[AndrewT]

Wow looks like a very beefy radiator! should cool excellently.
But FYI....there is NO way you will fit an EJ engine in there unless you put the thermo fans on the front side of the radiator. Not too hard I suppose but you know how limited the room is in there, especially with an aircon radiator, maybe intercooler one if you go turbo!

[Subafury]

wow cant believe u got a 3 core in there haha. looks like its time for some slim line thermofans.
and also you have a bonus because you just bought the second most expensive part of an EJ conversion! for when the time comes that is.

[brumbyrunner]

I have a new 3 core L radiator being made up in all copper/brass....I've been quoted $450 for the 3 core and $350 for the standard single core setup.

Hey Bennie, why did you go for the copper/brass over an alloy one?

[AndrewT]

Yeah slimline fans still won't fit with an EJ......they would have to be like paper.

See how the triple core radiator juts out into the engine bay? Mine sits completely flush with the top radiator support and my slimline Davies Craig fans *JUST* fit in between the radiator and the EJ pulleys (about 4mm clearance at the most).
I posted some photos one time for a guy but in the next few days I should have some new photos as im doing the same thing in the RX.

Benny u will have to run thermos on the front side of the radiator when u go EJ, no doubt about it - unless u can cut the front of your car up and mount the radiator a good 20mm further forward in the car.

[El_Freddo]

there is NO way you will fit an EJ engine in there unless you put the thermo fans on the front side of the radiator. Not too hard I suppose but you know how limited the room is in there, especially with an aircon radiator, maybe intercooler one if you go turbo!

I'll cross this bridge when i get to it I guess, but good to know in advance No turbo going in... I'm still at uni and currently the $ factor is seriously lacking...

wow cant believe u got a 3 core in there haha. looks like its time for some slim line thermofans.
and also you have a bonus because you just bought the second most expensive part of an EJ conversion! for when the time comes that is.

That was partly the reason for the 3 core, that and i'm over having my car run hot... It shoulda been done before our trip to perth but we thought the radiator in the car was okay at the time...

Hey Bennie, why did you go for the copper/brass over an alloy one?

Not a fan of alloy. Brass/copper can be patched enough to get you out of trouble if need be. Alloy forget it...

Bennie u will have to run thermos on the front side of the radiator when u go EJ, no doubt about it - unless u can cut the front of your car up and mount the radiator a good 20mm further forward in the car.

Yeah, cutting this up won't be happening... It sticks too far over the driver's light for me to beable to do that. I think it would be easier to mount the fans on the front side of the radiator...

Cheers

Bennie

[Busdriver]

Wow Bennie, that is a serious lump of radiator, do you have any idea of how much it has increased your cooling systems capacity? They only hold 5.5 litres from empty standard....... maybe you wont need any fans now lol.

[Suby Wan Kenobi]

Not a fan of alloy. Brass/copper can be patched enough to get you out of trouble if need be. Alloy forget it...
Cheers

Bennie

There are some really good alloy repair puttys around now that enable even the toughest repair possible

[El_Freddo]

Wow Bennie, that is a serious lump of radiator, do you have any idea of how much it has increased your cooling systems capacity? They only hold 5.5 litres from empty standard....... maybe you wont need any fans now lol.

Yeah its pretty big and i'm pretty happy with it. Dunno the overall capacity now, i just guessed it when i put the coolant in... The thermo fan only kicks in when i'm sitting in traffic on a hot day for a long period. Even then it only gets to 93 degrees (according to my aftermarket temp gauge plumbed into one of the heater hoses) where the thermo fan seems to kick in and won't go higher... The fan actually turns on and off in traffic, it used to turn on and stay on (with the temp needle edgin higher)...

Will be looking for a slim fan at the wreckers next time i'm there - prob one from an MY touring wagon that replaces the mechanical fan...

EJ plans are on hold too. I pulled down my MPFI on saturday to find the heads and cylinders in good condition, i just have to sort out the threads in the block (re-coils that weren't deep enough ). I'm looking at oversized studds with a set of nuts to hold the head on... Thoughts at the moment - price may swing towards the EJ, which is where i ultimately want to go now...

Cheers

Bennie