[AL150AA]

I was told today that the rad. in my street rod was only using about 1/4 of it's cooling capacity because both my lower and upper rad. hoses are on the same side of the top and bottom tanks. (I hope that's clear). Can anyone verify this is true?
Alan

 

[angs1957]

I`d liketo know the answer to that as well?

 

[Rick_L]

I don't buy into that one.

Here's why. The flow restriction of the tubes in the core is far greater than the restriction from one side of the tank to the other. So whether the tubes furthest away from the inlet or outlet get flow is determined by the size of the tubes, not whether coolant can flow to them or away from them in the tanks. It's also why if you have some % of the tubes plugged due to corrosion and age that your radiator loses efficiency, and needs to have the tanks removed and the core "rodded out" at a radiator shop - and why that repair works to restore your cooling to what it should be.

 

[radman]

Like most things, water will follow the path of least resistance. If both fittings are on the same side, most of the water will be flowing on that side. For max efficiency, the inlet and the outlets should be on opposite corners of a radiator. That being said, a "good" radiator builder can baffle the tanks internally to flow the water the way it should go. For the cost, many do not do that so you get what you pay for.

 

[mickeywestsr]

I've never heard that before.....sounds like somebodys "observation."

 

[AL150AA]

Thanks for the replys.

I did some research and found that all radiators, except mine, do have the inlet and outlet on different corners, so I'm going to have mine modified and see if it's any better. Unfotunately due to the weather changing here in the north east I won't know until next summer. Even though I drive this car in the winter it has already been cold enough to not be a problem.

 

[acardon]

I agree with Rick. The resistance of the tubes is a lot greater than flowing from one side of the tank to the other. The one on the left is a furd radiator and it cooled the 289 OK for years and the other is a '60 to '65 Chevy Impala or Chevelle 327.

 

[Chevynut]

Note that the inlet and outlet aren't in the SAME TANK. I think that's important to understand. I agree with Rick too.

 

[acardon]

Here is a crossflow with the inlet and outlet in the same tank.

Not really, the tank is seperated into 2 tanks.

 

[radman]

You`re not going to get a crossflow radiator in a street rod application because the radiators are tall and narrow for street rods. When you are talking cars in the 50`s and 60`s, usually the radiators were larger than they had to be to cool the little motors in them. Therefore if both hose connections were on the same side it would not matter because it was oversized anyway for the application. Try to use a radiator like that on a 800HP big block and your theory will go right out the window. Just because something works for one application doesn`t mean it`s the right way to do it for other applications. If in doubt, ask a professional.

AutoRad
770-983-1345
www.autoradradiators.com

 

[AL150AA]

OK guys, here's the outcome so far. I have a custom radiator shop near where I live, so I took the radiator to them and they are going to move the outlet in the top tank to the other side of the tank, so the inlet and outlet are on different sides of the radiator. They tell me this will increase my cooling. They say I am only getting about 50% of the radiators cooling now and I should get that much more by moving the outlet. I'm going to try it and see if things get better. Unfortunately I won't know until next summer because the car runs OK in cooler weather.

 

[Chevynut]

I personally think you're wasting your time and money. If you have a downflow with upper and lower tank, and the inlet and outlet are in separate tanks, moving them from one side to the other isn't going to do anything. Read RickL's reply again.

 

[AL150AA]

I personally think you're wasting your time and money. If you have a downflow with upper and lower tank, and the inlet and outlet are in separate tanks, moving them from one side to the other isn't going to do anything. Read RickL's reply again.

I don't mean to take anything away from Rick's opinion, but I fell I need to go with trying what the radiator shop owners I have spoken to say. It's not much money and we really didn't get a definative answer here. So I guess we'll see what happens. Hopefully we will all be here next summer and I'll report the results then.
Alan

 

[Rick_L]

I don't know what's not definitive about the answers. There is a bit of disagreement, but one answer is right and the other wrong.

Keep in mind that you'll have to deal with custom hoses, and there is no way you can put a hose in the center of the bottom tank without making things real hard.

Every downflow radiator I've ever seen for a Chevy had the bottom outlet on the passenger side. There are reasons for that.

If you are having problems, I would pursue other solutions.

 

[56Mark]

I'm with Rick and CNut on this one. The tanks are like large distribution headers and the flow through the tubes is going to equalize.

Keep us posted on the results. Before and after temperature readings would be a good check. Good luck with it.

 

[TonyG]

I tend to agree with CNut, Rick and Mark, but I do see how it could make a difference if the coolant level was low enough not to keep both the top and bottom tanks flooded.

That being said, I have one of the U.S. Radiator Triple Flow radiators. The top nozzle is on the driver side, and the bottom nozzle is on the passenger side, because tanks are baffled to force the coolant down 33% of the cores on the driver side, up the center 33%, and down the passenger side 33%. They advertised 17% better efficiency. If that is true, then how the coolant moves through the radiator has some effect on its efficiency.

 

[radman]

You`re doing the right thing by moving the hose connection for better distribution. It`s good to see common sense prevailing over the "clogged tube/ restriction theory of water distribution.

AutoRad

 

[Chevynut]

This site often proves that "the professionals" don't understand simple engineering principles. Moving the connections to the opposite sides won't hurt anything, but it's unlikely to improve things much if any. It may complicate other matters as Rick_L has mentioned. I think you have some other issue causing your overheating problems.

 

[radman]

I respect your opinion, but I believe the purpose here is to help people. I`m just trying to pass on information I`ve learned in my 30 plus years in the heat transfer field( and automotive fabricating and machining). Whether you believe it or not that`s fine. Giving my customers the best product I can build is what really matters.

AutoRad

 

[jwmbishop]

I've seen many radiators this way - even in big old dumptrucks which make a boat load of heat, If the radiator is not plugged I have never seen it be an issue - I will note that when they start plugging - it's usually worse in the tubes farthest from the connections.... so I can see how full distribution could become a question - but thats an issue of maintenance not capacity.....