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Post by bobrec1228 on May 11, 2016 18:02:01 GMT -5
Has anyone ever made a homemade radiator? If so how did it work? My idea was to use 4"copper pipes for the sides, three passes of 1/4" copper tubing and soldier a filler neck off of a old radiator, i know i will probably loose efficiency but hope it would make up for it in strength. Any help or opinions would be appreciated.
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99x
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Post by 99x on May 11, 2016 18:15:17 GMT -5
I have seen Two 3x3x1/4 tubes with holes cut in them and pipes of various sizes welded across than covered with 1/4 plate with an opening hatch that was bolted to the rest of the radiator on top for ice fill hole. With pipe hose ends welded on for radiator hoses. And a pisser tube for when the ice melted and turned into steam. Worked pretty good and tough. Same concept as your descriping but made of steel
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Post by STROMI 121 on May 11, 2016 18:48:22 GMT -5
A very modified all aluminum radiator is a much cheaper and easier task.
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Post by bobrec1228 on May 11, 2016 19:24:59 GMT -5
Would a all steel radiator and only a fan cool effective or would the steel just retain too much heat?
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Post by klicky96 on May 11, 2016 21:36:04 GMT -5
Agree with stromi on this one. Can always weld some brackets off the aluminum to mount some plates, get creative, make some external tanks that cool the side tanks, just get creative with a pencil and paper. An idea had to start somewhere. In my honest opinion, I'd rather build it than buy it. So, if I spend 125 on an aluminum radiator, I'm gonna protect it the best I can. Bought one this past year, 1 run in my buddies truck, it was trashed. Protecting a radiator technically is legal in most cases, as long as everything stays mounted to the radiator right?!
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Post by STROMI 121 on May 11, 2016 22:03:16 GMT -5
An aluminum front and rear guard welded to the tanks of a cheap aluminum radiator is a cheap investment that is very effective. The radiator does not cool the engine. The airflow through the radiator that removes the heat is what cools the engine. Any radiator without proper airflow and heat dissipation is nothing more than a water tank. JMO
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Post by bobrec1228 on May 12, 2016 6:52:13 GMT -5
I totally agree, my idea was to use a old base board heater that has large cooling fins off the 1/4"copper tubes for my cross sections because i can work with copper easily, aluminum came to mind also but i dont have the tools or knowledge to work with aluminum unfortunately.
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Post by chazoz on May 12, 2016 7:17:48 GMT -5
I have seen Two 3x3x1/4 tubes with holes cut in them and pipes of various sizes welded across than covered with 1/4 plate with an opening hatch that was bolted to the rest of the radiator on top for ice fill hole. With pipe hose ends welded on for radiator hoses. And a pisser tube for when the ice melted and turned into steam. Worked pretty good and tough. Same concept as your descriping but made of steel this is what used to be the norm around here, with a hot water heater or boiler relief on one of the end tanks. some guys would hold upwards of 6 gallons in the contraption. guys were running complete nights at county fair shows and never overheating the whole night. worked very well, but it really made for an unfair advantage for county fair level shows. they've since been banned. |
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noser23x
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Post by noser23x on May 12, 2016 21:32:57 GMT -5
I've made radi barrels, they hold a ton of water and in our area 30 minute features or longer are almost unheard of. They work well in that situation and help hold the front together. They don't pull air through though, you are relying on the cooling of water and not air.
Oh and they take 3 people to lift in.
Neat story, one ran, sat all night, went out and it was still warm to the touch next morning. That was neat.
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Post by fallinskiestwice on May 13, 2016 6:14:54 GMT -5
What's a radi barrel?
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Post by amkear613 on May 13, 2016 6:43:06 GMT -5
Barrel on top of the roof. More common out west. Imagine a 30 gallon tank above the front seat area and long hoses to the engine. If you go through car pics you will notice them |
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Post by fallinskiestwice on May 13, 2016 6:54:31 GMT -5
Thanks. I thought that's what those were but couldn't fathom doing that lol
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Post by cheezwhiz31 on May 13, 2016 7:34:44 GMT -5
Or a tank in the front mounted like a radiator with a bleed off line.
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noser23x
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Post by noser23x on May 14, 2016 13:11:23 GMT -5
More west for roof, in the front preferred for me. Can tie in alot of things with it.
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Post by bluredvision on May 14, 2016 22:44:59 GMT -5
Anyone have pics of a front mount radi barrel tank?
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