When I first started looking at Stags I could never understand why there wasn’t a radiator cowl, especially as I was brought up with the fact they are essential for proper air flow. In any case it always looked unfinished not to mention a bit dodgy when the fan was running.
In fact, I remember reading a post on a MG forum from a guy whose car was running hot and one of the replies was to check the cowl was in place.
When I collected a new hood from Vmad recently I saw his prototype cowl which was just waiting for a few tweaks before it was ready for sale.
I have now bought one and fitted it, the radiator now looks finished and was easy to fit.
One word of warning to anyone fitting one to a radiator that is not original, I have a radiator which I bought from James Paddocks (also highly recommended) which is slightly different in design to the original. The clips fit into cut-outs which on an original radiator are pressed out of the rad frame. On my radiator they were not pressed out but simply cut into the frame, i.e. they are flat. This reduces the gap between the frame and the matrix so it is important to check the screws do not touch the matrix.
To overcome this I purchased a few cage nuts which fitted perfectly on the outside of the frame but this left a gap between the cowl and the rad which I filled using draft excluder.
I have never had any overheating problems with my car, the purchase of the cowl was more peace of mind than anything else plus it keeps the fan away from my fingers when I am tinkering with the engine.
The only downside that I can see is that the cowl may have to be removed in order to take the rad out but as that will probably only take 10 minutes I think I can live with that.
Phil
In fact, I remember reading a post on a MG forum from a guy whose car was running hot and one of the replies was to check the cowl was in place.
When I collected a new hood from Vmad recently I saw his prototype cowl which was just waiting for a few tweaks before it was ready for sale.
I have now bought one and fitted it, the radiator now looks finished and was easy to fit.
One word of warning to anyone fitting one to a radiator that is not original, I have a radiator which I bought from James Paddocks (also highly recommended) which is slightly different in design to the original. The clips fit into cut-outs which on an original radiator are pressed out of the rad frame. On my radiator they were not pressed out but simply cut into the frame, i.e. they are flat. This reduces the gap between the frame and the matrix so it is important to check the screws do not touch the matrix.
To overcome this I purchased a few cage nuts which fitted perfectly on the outside of the frame but this left a gap between the cowl and the rad which I filled using draft excluder.
I have never had any overheating problems with my car, the purchase of the cowl was more peace of mind than anything else plus it keeps the fan away from my fingers when I am tinkering with the engine.
The only downside that I can see is that the cowl may have to be removed in order to take the rad out but as that will probably only take 10 minutes I think I can live with that.
Phil