NEW RADIATOR REQUIRED - thoughts on which one please folks

[BartonStag]

Hi all,
As per the title, i've had my radiator checked out locally and been advised I really could do with a new one - but which one? So many types out there such as 4 core (though i've heard they're to wide) etc etc, so any thoughts on the best one (and from where) I can get to replace it with, would be very much appreciated as usual. My car is a MK 2 and I do intend to fit a header tank to the system on reassembly of the car.
Many thanks in advance
Gord

[Lingen]

Gord.
If you can find one, testing at Gaydon showed the four-row offset core type to be the most efficient. Having the tubes offset in the core is what allows the air to most effectively circulate through it for maximum cooling, and was the type that was fitted almost throughout production of the Stag. The three row ones fitted to the very last cars were the worst. Some people have found the so-called "Supergill" ones work ok.
There are four row cores available that are no thicker than the originals. Having anything thicker brings the fan unpleasantly close to the core, and makes belt changing difficult.
Mike.

[mole42]

I bought a 4-row one from one of the usual suspects, they sponsor a blue rally Stag, and it’s both much thicker than the old one, and about 15mm taller. Getting the PAS belts in was a challenge, and I had to modify the bottom radiator support rail to get the top two bolts in.

[jbuckl]

Recommend Wolverhampton radiators for a recore using a new core for classics.
Ask them to reuse your original brackets though, then the position will be maintained.
Reasonable pricing , good service.

[Lingen]

Mole. Did you consider sending it back? Were you told you would have to modify the car to fit it? Why do such things happen when ones that fit, and work, are still available?
They aren't just parts suppliers, so would know that it was the wrong size for the job.
Mike.

[jbuckl]

I bought a 4-row one from one of the usual suspects, they sponsor a blue rally Stag, and it’s both much thicker than the old one, and about 15mm taller. Getting the PAS belts in was a challenge, and I had to modify the bottom radiator support rail to get the top two bolts in.

I was involved with a stag rebuild that had exactly the same bolt misalignment issue… same origin.

It’s why it’s best to reuse the original brackets if possible.

Had one with the new ‘recore kit’ brackets fitted where the fan got caught in the lower bracket. Trashed the viscous coupling and fan.

Amazingly the radiator was almost undamaged though!

…. do try to reuse the original brackets if possible.

The new ones supplied with recore kits are often just that bit out to cause such carnage.

Imho aluminium radiators (best avoided) / are a silly fashion that don’t provide any benefit…. Worse heat transfer & higher cost…leaks cannot be easily soldered at home ….appeal to magpies.

[mole42]

Mole. Did you consider sending it back? Were you told you would have to modify the car to fit it? Why do such things happen when ones that fit, and work, are still available?
They aren't just parts suppliers, so would know that it was the wrong size for the job.
Mike.

I’m afraid I didn’t send it back, at that time I was just trying to finish the rebuild and decided to live with it. Of course, now I rather wish I’d sent it back, especially as I notice also that the top two brackets are too far forward so that the radiator leans towards the engine at the top. Easy enough to resolder them in the correct place, but unfortunate. I will alert the supplier to try and help their rebuilders get it right.

[JeffW]

For the OP - on my old Mk 2 I needed to replace mine so I just went with the standard new 3-core replacement from the Brothers, fit and worked perfectly, no header tank.

Jeff

[Welsh_Stag]

I have a MK2 and after chatting with mike@thenook I bought one from Radtec - Triumph Stag (radtec.co.uk) and it fitted fine with no issues. There's an option for an integrated fan too.

[dasadrew]

I second all of the remarks about re-coring the radiator which is in the car now. I bought a 4 core one direct from the "manufacturer" and it simply wouldn't allow itself to be squeezed in. Bought a cheaper one (I think also from Rimmers) and it fits ok. Picked up a used original radiator off eBay and that wouldn't fit either. When the bank account fills up after Christmas I think I might get my original one re-cored. There's a radiator manufacturer in the next town which do recores and they reckon they can do the dog's danglies on my original one for $$££€€.

The bottom line for me seems to be that the original rads were a pretty tight fit, and had fairly generous tolerances on the brackets and on overall dimensions. Stay with the one which fits the car and recore it if necessary.

Incidentally, the run-of-the-mill one from R (I think) ist doing its job splendidly.

[BartonStag]

Hi guys,
Firstly thanks for all the responses, much appreciated as ever. With regard to getting my radiator re-cored, the chap at my local company did give me it as an option, however, he told me it currently has 4 cores. TBH though similar to some comments - it wasn't the best fit. As such i'm reluctant to go down that route, also many of the fins are battered and he can't do much about that i don't think.

[BartonStag]

Sorry folks - the page timed me out while i was faffing about trying to upload this image from Ebay!!
IMG_4048.jpg Any experience with these suppliers?

With regard to Radtec, i can see them on ebay, but the advertised rad is aluminium ........ and £670..... ouch!! Can you remember if this the one you have please Welsh Stag?
Again folks thanks for all responses to the post - keep 'em coming!!
Cheers
Gord

P.S hope the photo is viewable!!

[BartonStag]

Hi again - just checked my previous post ......... and the photo is NOT very viewable!! My apologies.
Anyone who wouldn't mind having a look to cast their eye over my potential purchase and let me know their thoughts - would be appreciated.

ITEM NO: 391539976002 Supplier is: triumph-recycler*com

Cheers
Gord

[Philip Wardle]

I'm not an expert on radiators beyond what I read on the forum and suppliers' websites, but I think its always encouraging when a vendor like triumph-recycler*com explains how his product addresses some of the well-known issues. I can see that their radiator is on sale for £439.99 (on 14/1/2023). The Radtec one is £648.00 for the base model, so a fair bit extra, although looking at the Radtec website their products look well designed and fabricated, expecially the integrated fan option.

For my project car I bought a bog-standard offering from one of the usual suspects. It needed fettling to fit, but the clearance relative to the standard fan is good. It seem to do its job well, but then the rest of the cooling system is new and the engine freshly rebuilt. So if the radiator performance turns out to be marginal it probably won't reveal itself just yet. If and when I need to replace it I would probably go for triumph-recycler*com based on what I can see here.

[mike@thenook]

I have the Radtec unit with the electric fan they also supply and no engine driven fan. Yes it’s expensive but it is extremely well made and I did want to use the Torqatrol viscous unit any more.
Radtec as you will read design & supply all manner of cooling units to race teams and the likes of Aston Martin…You get what you pay for….