13 replies to this topic

[Tankardrj]

Hi all, I have a 1994 Mayfair with a standard 1275 engine with HIF38 carb. Looking to get a new rad as i've been having a few issues with standard one. 

Does anyone know where to look for decent/cheap ones and whether getting an aluminium one is worth it? 

 

Are they also easy to remove/fit new as i'm no mechanic but would be looking to do myself

 

Cheers, 

Rob

[Tamworthbay]

Do a search as there are several threads that go through the options in great detail. As for fitting, they are just as easy to fit as a standard one which shouldn't present any problems but there are a couple of fasteners that are tricky to get to.

[mk3 Cooper S]

If you want a decent one - Radtec is the place to go

[Tamworthbay]

Radtec never bothered replying to repeated requests for info, failed to returned calls and ignored emails when I tried to buy from them. If that's what their customer service is like BEFORE you buy I wouldn't like to see what it was like after. By comparison one of the rads I bought off eBay arrived damaged despite being very well packaged. It was replaced within four days from half way around the world.

[mk3 Cooper S]

Radtec dont sell on Ebay and only manufacture from high grade aircraft aluminium for this product.

 

I have seen some of the ebay rads and have to admit they look good for the money but if you opt for a quality item will last as long as your car with the correct coolant.

 

If you need a contact number I could give you the hotline.

[Tamworthbay]

OP, if you search out the previous threads on this there are a couple of posts from me, without repeating all the info, I got a second hand radtec and a cheap eBay special. Both were pressure tested at Lola Racing (RIP) and both well exceeded what is required for a rad. I have used three of the eBay ones and all are still going, one after over 20,000 miles now. One costs £300 ish, one about £70ish, so at the end of the day you pays your money you takes your chances.

[Cooperman]

Why waste money on an expensive aluminium radiator when a standard 1275 radiator is completely sufficient. Just buy a good one from Mini Spares and you'll have no problems.

[Mini 360]

Why waste money on an expensive aluminium radiator when a standard 1275 radiator is completely sufficient. Just buy a good one from Mini Spares and you'll have no problems.

Styling.  Why just have function when you can have form & function all in one product?

[Cooperman]

You have 'styling' with a radiator  .

[Midas Mk1]

When you have a Minispares super cool 2 core, and it doesn't live up to its name. Once the thermex one was fitted, cooling issues were gone...

 

Styling wise aswell, we all don't have red and white tinted spectacles..

[666junky]

I want to ask the question as to why you are having issues in the first place? I run my 1275 micra engine on a standard mini radiator that has been battered to bits but still functions exeedingly well.. what are the symptoms? (Ps i have a cheapy alloy one as i thought the 'souped up' engine would need it.. but no, not even looked at it once since the build lol

[Cooperman]

When you have a Minispares super cool 2 core, and it doesn't live up to its name. Once the thermex one was fitted, cooling issues were gone...

 

Styling wise aswell, we all don't have red and white tinted spectacles..

So what's with the 'red & white....'? Is it because my rally car is red & white. Any reason why it shouldn't be so?

 

Anyway, I think I have a special claim to red & white. In 1961 my best friend, fellow pilot and rally driver, Bill, for whom I was navigator, was given a brand new 850 Mini for his 21st birthday. It was Tartan Red because that was what the dealer delivered to his parents.

He was very proud of it and we started to do the necessary rally preparation almost immediately. At the pub one night a friend said he had never driven a Mini, so Bill gave him the keys and said to take a drive in it. However, the guy arrived back on foot having gently rolled it! He agreed to pay for the damage and when it was at the body shop they phoned and spoke to me as they couldn't get in touch with Bill . The question was whether they should paint the roof a different colour. At that time Bill & I were apprentices at de Havilland Aircraft and the roofs of the Comets were all painted white to keep the cabin temp down whilst the aircraft were on the ground, so I said to paint it white.  We did our first rally in it, which we won, a few weeks later and were thus the first people to use a red Mini with a white roof in rallying anywhere. Later the 'works' copied our colour scheme, as have so many others since.

Bill now lives in California and has a 1971 Cooper 'S' which is, you've guessed it, red with a white roof. He and I still think of it as 'our' colour scheme.

[Mini 360]

You have a never ending supply of incredible stories Cooperman!!!  It's ace!

[Cooperman]

You have a never ending supply of incredible stories Cooperman!!!  It's ace!

Here is a photo of that car on one of the first rallies we did in it back in 1961 in the first red/white rally Mini. Bill is driving and we were 'seeded' at no.2, which was not bad for two 21-year olds who were still students. I think we finished 2nd overall on that regional championship event.