radiator clearance and airflow

**wagonist** · 15-09-2006, 08:12 PM

I'm trying to figure out a radiator setup in a really tight engine bay, ie I'm putting in a longer engine than was in there from factory.

Now I've only got 35mm clearance at the top of the rad, but more at the bottom where I can (just) fit a slimline 10" fan in.

There is an 85mm gap from the end of the power steering pump (of which the shaft & retaining nut stick out 15mm further than otherthing else...

) to the back of the A/C condenser, & with a 30mm thick rad core, that leaves 55mm.

I'm thinking about moving the rad backwards towards the engine & fitting the fans on "blow through" on the front fo the rad between it & the A/C condenser.

I could possibly move the A/C condenser a bit further forward, but I've also got to fit a water-air intercooler radiator out the front as well. Couple of mm shouldn't make that much of a diff though.

Could there be issues having the rad too close to the engine & blowing air on to the cam covers. ie not having enough room for the flowing air to escape?

Anyone see any issues or suggestions with what I've mentioned above?
Any help would be appreciated because I'm really stumped.

**Andrew162** · 16-09-2006, 02:20 AM

Steve I had this same problem when the ST205 front-cut got fitted into the RAV. I didn't end up having to move the radiator anywhere, fortunately, nor did I have to consider losing the A/C either. I had the stock RAV rad in there still with the water/air transfer unit in front of it. A bit of crafty carving of the inside of the front bar saw that the water/air transfer unit, then A/C element, then rad, all fit in with but mm to spare. Regarding thermo-fans, I had to lose one of the stock fans because the turbo was now sitting in it's place. Got an 11" repco-jobbie which was slim enough to not be obtrusive, and a new thermo-switch and pretty much all was good after that.

Regarding your situation, I'd be going for the option of moving the rad towards the engine more and having the fans on blow-thru. This seems like the most efficient way of doing it, but do you lose anything by doing it? Which engine are you putting in? Airflow I'm not 100% sure on, but when I think of the hot air blowing out when the thermo-fans kick in (say I'm standing next to the driver's door), I feel the hot air blowing under the car. Hot air blowing onto cam covers wouldn't really be an issue I don't think, they get hot enough as it is. Whatever warm/ambient air that's escaping from the engine bay usually goes up through the gaps in the hood-to-cowling or hood-to-quarterpanels, or below the car.

That's my thinking on it anyway. Hope it helps.

**jonra23** · 16-09-2006, 06:48 AM

If you can move AC condenser forward and then move raditor forward a bit as well then juggle fans around on the back of the radiator between bits on front of motor will let you run the biggest fans.

If you move the radiator forward and put the fans between AC condenser and raditor you will end up aith a gap only as wide as your most forward part of the engine.

One big therm fan will draw more air than multiple small units.

regards
jon

**wagonist** · 16-09-2006, 10:24 AM

Unless I can move the rad forward at least 30mm, then a fan simply won't fit properly on the back of the core, hence the reason I'm thinking of moving it backwards to take advantage of the existing gap in front of the rad. At the moment, this is wasted space due to the mounts of the various cores.

**BeRad** · 16-09-2006, 11:38 AM

what i contemplated doing with the celica when i upgraded the turbo, was mounting the radiator on an angle to allow fans to be put in without interfearing with anything..

you wouldnt think there would be any dramas with being to close to the engine. as far as blowing air on the engine is concerned.

**wagonist** · 16-09-2006, 04:13 PM

Unfortuantely, I don't think tilting the rad will fix anything.
the biggest problem is at the top, where I have no room to move anyway.

**BeRad** · 16-09-2006, 05:14 PM

can u relocate the a/c condenser on the engine bay side of the radiator.? freeing up space at the front.35mm might be lucky

**wagonist** · 16-09-2006, 05:19 PM

hmmm, interesting.
Though I'm not sure how much fabrication & modification of the metal lines running to it would cost, but worth looking into.
I don't use the A/C that much. Usually just at full bore when I get into a car to cool it down, & then I rely on having the windows down.