Radiator Sizes & Angles?

[John Fitzpatrick]

Julian is correct: you have two kinds of heat transfer going on in this case. One is direct, where one substance transfers energy to another – water to metal, metal to air – by molecular collision, the other is by radiant transfer, which occurs even in a vacuum. Too many variables and too complex a process to make generalizations about, but to generalize, the wider the difference in temperature between two objects in contact, the higher the heat "flow". Thats why a high air velocity through a heat exchanger is desirable (fans). But, having said that, for a given application, the guys to listen to are the ones in the field who deal with it every day, not academics like me.

 

[Trevor Booth]

well there you have it Jim, it is not the material it is the design. ain't science wonderful !!

 

[Jim Cowden]

Yes I had already come to that conclusion.
If you dont probe you dont learn.

Jim

 

[Chris Duncan]

27.5" x 13.5" x 3"
double row aluminum.
tanks top and bottom.
1.5" inlet and outlet both on bottom tank,
double pass
laid forward 25 deg from vertical, with bottom tank slanted to fit flat on pan
end tanks scotch-brite scuffed
fins painted semi gloss black

the large difference between copper/brass and aluminum is WEIGHT

Just from the seat of my pants I think pound for pound alum transfers heat quicker, you can tell when your welding it, nothing sucks up heat more than alum

looking at the Japanese manufactures they are almost all with a single row aluminum, but this is a larger frontal area than available on a 40.

modern design changes make a difference too. the modern cross section shape of the tubes is much different from earlier designs, better flow characteristics

 

[Dimi Terleckyj]

I seriously tossed the idea around as to whether to go alloy or copper but in the end the ease of maintenance and the fact that an alloy radiator that gets damaged or springs a leak generally has to be junked whereas a copper radiator can be repaired at any radiator specialist was the deciding factor for my car.

To repair or modify a copper radiator is simple.

The reason the major manufacturers mostly use alloy is that they can get smaller sized radiators in their compact engine bays and they are not concerned about the repair issue as they just replace the complete radiator as its easier and cheaper due to mass production.

Our cars with our custom radiators can be quite expensive to maintain if you have to junk and replace an alloy radiator just because it got holed by a stone or some object thrown up by the car or truck in front.

Dimi

 

[Doug Clark]

My Dads 1934 Scott Super Squirrel has a copper radiator, it consists of (a lot) of copper tubes stacked and soldered together at the ends, so the air goes through the insides of the tubes and the water goes around the outside.

This one is similar but not his...

BTW Steve McQueen had one, so yes they are cool.

Its not relevant I know, but heh I started the thread.