I'm slowly going through some of the last setup stuff for the Brick, and one of the issues I've had for a while was heating up... sometimes LOTS ....

I think this has been the number 1 reason for head-gasket issues...
(now fixed with the Big-block head and Turbo-gasket!!)

The Radiator is a Minispares 4-core (read: f**king thick!)

But anyway, I remember cutting the metal cowling out of the engine bay, i dont really remember the reasons behind this now, but it seemed sane at the time....

I'm wondering if the two issues are connected, maybe air is finding it easier to go around the radiator than to go through it, so, compromising my cooling...

I'm thinking of making a new cowling with either alloy bends, or Rubber angles...

Ideas ?
J

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are you saying your mini is running a lot cooler??

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Jet Red Mini K

No, I'm saying, should I put a cowl back in there ?

Has anyone else cut the cowl out of their car ?
Did it run hotter ?


I'll make one up tomorrow if its the case.......

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It cant be that bad for it... look at all the flip front race cars with no inner gaurds.. try a themo fan

One of my Mokes has the cowl cut out, and yes, it is less effective (only in the order of 5 degrees on a hot day, in general). Never causes me any issues, but then again, I am not running a turbo and all the ancilliaries.

With a nice radiator (I have now gone to alloy) I don't ever see it being a problem (as long as I am not stuck in peak hour traffic on a 40 degree day for an hour).

The cowl is very important to the efficiency of the fan !

I would suggest that if you are going to do this crazy moke project
you get a thermo fan & matching cowling off a small jap car & mount it in a "suck through" arrangement. Will give you more engine bay room, and is much more efficient this way.

Will post some pics this evening...

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Too many cars, and too little time.

you need the cowl there the direct the air coming from through the grill and through the rad and out the arch without the cowl less air will go through the rad as it can go around it.

it isnt' a vw.. you need the air to go through the rad..

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Yeah... I agree that it is more efficient to have the cowl there...

...but I am currently sitting bang on 80deg on all but the hottest days of the year. Will review the suck-through thermofan setup after fitting the SC. But, if it ain't broke, I ain't gonna fix it.

Yes you DO need a cowl around that fan, no you don't need the tinware between rad and LH inner guard. Later UK cars had nothing there...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Kev, I've got the steel one between the fan and the rad, but between the rad and the guard.. nothing...

J

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ditto.

maybe your fan is on backwards?

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1152cc turbo A-series now with 125.7hp at the wheels !

AUSSIE Turbo mini forum >> http://boostmini.justboard.net/

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with nothing there you can change the cam with the engine in the car

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You can do that with any Mini, except the 1275s without side covers (eg 1100S motors, 1275LS, and 1275A+).
Just cut one of the rad grille slats & bend it out..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

OK, I posted some pics of my thermo fan & shroud here:

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=165514

Notice the small gap between the fan blade tips & the shroud, and the nice curved shape?

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Too many cars, and too little time.