Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Clive's Boys filler neck is a great piece of kit and we have manufactured radiators with no neck on the radiator for people who have bought one of his thermostat housing necks. You will need the tube we are manufacturing for the new aluminium radiator because the radiator inlet is on the fan nearside corner of the radiator. Inserting the tube into the conventional top hose lengthens the hose to reach the inlet connection on the radiator.

New radiator during fitting to an Elan +2



12" fan fitted to proper bracket, no need to gouge holes through you new core for the plastic pin system.

Does somebody know from which modern car this radiator comes from?

For those in the States, needing an alternate radiator, try www.wizardcooling.com. They have DYI kits for, what I believe is a very reasonable price. Some Tig welding required, but you will wind up with exactly what you want.

Looking at their web site they don't list the Elan under the Lotus heading but they do have two styles of rad for the Triumph Spitfire. I believe that the Elan rad was from the Spitfire but I stand to be corrected.

The 75 to 78 spitfire version is the same as the wide elan radiator, apart from the inlet/outlet are at the wrong angle/rotation.

mbell wrote:The 75 to 78 spitfire version is the same as the wide elan radiator, apart from the inlet/outlet are at the wrong angle/rotation.

The question was not which car had at that time the same radiator as the Elan.
The question was does someone know which modern car has this radiator installed, i don't belive that coolexperts produce this radiator, i think they only ad the brakets and this work i could do by my self...

Do you have any idea of the dimensions?

John

Interesting discussion! I appreciate Coolexperts input and offers but shipping from the UK to Canada would make his rads too expensive for me. Since I live in Canada but only one mile from the US border I can take advantage of "free shipping" offers on ebay. I was amazed at some of the offers-I am not against modifying things to work and a three row radiator for a 1980 Spitfire for $145 is very tempting as is a two row with twin fans included for about the same price!
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Car-Truck-Parts ... 0890.m1602

Edit-since this is the link to the Canadian ebay it shows prices in Canadian dollars! (40% higher...)

Has anyone tried fitting a 1980 Spitfire radiator to an Elan? The inlet would need modifying and what I assume is an outlet top right would need blocking off. A separate filler/swirl pot is required but I am planning on fitting one of those.
The price is very good for an aluminium/aluminum three row rad.

You'll probably have to ask Coolexperts what it is. I doubt anyone will be able too id it just from that picture. I have heard of people using vw radiators but no idea if that is one for a vw.

I have a spitfire radiator on mine, not sure what year. Just a standard copper one, had a shop rotate the inlet/outlet and remove filler neck (Clivey boy filler).

Would expect a Ali one too fit with the same mods. Looks like a 1980 one would not be as simple.

Vernon,

I fitted an S3 wide radiator to my Sprint, with twin, 'puller' (behind the rad) electric 9" fans, as a replacement for the OEM narrow rad and 'heater blower' OEM cooling fan, set up.

I have fitted the 'Cliveyboy' stat housing, complete with 22mm adaptor and stat.

I run on Fernox Alphi 11 anti-freeze and a 74 degree stat.

The fans are fitted with a manual over ride switch, (which is never needed!)

The engine runs at 74 degrees constantly and is perfect both, Summer and winter.

Get an S3 rad (and accessories) - problems solved !

Regards,

Phil.

I think the 3 row from ebay uses a "dual cross flow patten" for lack of a better term. If you look closely at the pics there is a weld half way down the left tank that separates it. This flows in the top left and across to the right for the top half of the fins, then flows back to the left thru the bottom half of the fins so blocking off the bottom left would in effect cut the cooling area in half...I think.
Feel free to correct me if I'm looking at this wrong.

I think most of the pics show the 3 row upside down....

I stand corrected by the post below, please ignore the above info.

Snowyelan: If you look at other listings you do not see the join that you have mentioned-nor do I think it automatically means the rad is in two parts if you do! This listing does not show the seam you mention-which at least indicates that they are not all made by the same manufacturer:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-1980-3-ROW ... 1180240261

I agree that most of the advts show the 79/80 radiator the wrong way up-the two inlets should be at the top-it is a down-flow rad.

Here is what I have on my car, a large aluminium radiator with 2 fans.
It is ducted so that air is forced to pass through it.
When driving, temperature is regulated to 74?C. I think it's a bit low, but I have seen some 74?C thermostats. Is it a proper operating temperature for a Lotus Twin Cam?
When car is not moving, temperature increases too much, even when the 2 fans are blowing. I suggest there is a lack of fluid in the circuit. I need to check it.

zimzum wrote:When driving, temperature is regulated to 74?C. I think it's a bit low, but I have seen some 74?C thermostats. Is it a proper operating temperature for a Lotus Twin Cam?

My understandig is that the engine temperature should be somewhere between 80-95 ?C.
Can you tell us where your radiator comes from?

Thanks
Mario