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Reub's front radiator (one piece front) cooling issues

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reub VWRX is gone...

2,054 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#730546
Cheers guys. I've not driven the car since October last year (go on...say it) and will soon be getting back into it - have had other priorities, including some momentary insanitiy which has seen me doing additional modifications to my 58's aircooled....go figure...

VWRX's gearbox is my main priority, then to tackle to cooling issue. Did I mention wheels, brakes and engine too??

Don't worry Wes - I'm up for a 'little effort' in sorting this out.... look at the effort that has gone into the car to date....

Based on my review of revisions required and costs associated I will be moving forward retaining the current radiator location with appropriate shrouding to the front and rear of the core, and installing a new aluminium core (the cheap commodore core has had it...).

I've also considered angling the core rather then running in a vertical position. I would guess laying the top of the core forward would assist given the air will be drawn from below the nose, however by doing this appropriate shouding will be required to the back of the radiator too as the aluminium fuel tank acts as a huge heat sink - hot fuel and fuel pump is not good...

I've also considered laying the top of the core back so to blow hot air down under the car, however this limits the free space for air intake at the front of the core and potentially involkes some recirculation issues...

I'll be sure to post pics as I progress, including templating of shrouds etc.
Reub

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#730679
I dont Know if anyone has said,
As me to lazy to read all posts
but your radiator hoses run different to mine ,
my bottom radiator hose is on the drivers side.????? or do yours cross over under car???
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

reub VWRX is gone...

2,054 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#730681
ian.mezz wrote:I dont Know if anyone has said,
As me to lazy to read all posts
but your radiator hoses run different to mine ,
my bottom radiator hose is on the drivers side.????? or do yours cross over under car???
Yeah, my bottom radiator hose goes to the passenger side and the top hose goes to the drivers side. My top outlet has been flipped to face forward rather then the back of the car.
Very observant dude 🙂
Reub

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#731037
Hi

I dug my old fan shroud that I used on my yellow bug. Its from a 1979 Audi 100 CD.

After seeing the small size that other people are using with their WRX conversions I'm thinking of going to a smaller radiator.

You can see the rubber flaps that are used on many VW?Audi cars. The flaps blow in the breeze when the fan isn't on allowing maximum flow through the core at highway speeds, when the fan comes on the flaps get sucked onto the radiator fan housing so that the fan only draws air through the front of the radiator.

Steve

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colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·

#739270
Hey Reub. You're a cooling issue.

reub VWRX is gone...

2,054 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#739293
colonel mustard wrote:Hey Reub. You're a cooling issue.

....yeah, always in heat....
Reub

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·

#739296
Yeah, Darwin is pretty warm.

pete wood 23 Windows of Awesome

6,828 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#739468
mate 4 words...

"do not move it!"

it's all about airflow and ducting like Boof said. I have a smaller rad than you. about 40% is exposed to the open airflow at the front and the fans don't come on unless the car sits for a long, long time. If you can, box in the back of your rad and seal the fan via a shroud it will make HUGE difference. A small gurney flap (like a nascar rear wing) under the car at the back of the box will create a significant vacuum behind the rad and draw the air through it. combine that with a small scoop at the front like others have said and it will work even better.

Lots of cars have front mounted rads like yours and work very well.
"stoopid is stronger than axles"
http://drivingnotpolishing.blogspot.com.au/

Klaus Custom Title Time!

1,439 posts · joined Aug 2004 ·

#739617
remove the indicator lenses and use them for ducting if there is enough room infront of the wheels , run the large flex piping or aluminium ducting, then place a led light setup for ind . just a thought.