Temperature

[mark westbrookwhite]

Hi Guys I have finally got the beast (MGB engine in my roadster) running but it seams to get very hot! I broke the plastic fan so I have fitted an electric fan instead, this was supplied by Brown and Gammon (MG specialists) so should be good for this engine however I realy dont want to damage the lump and would like to know what is the maximum temperature I should let it get up to?
I am fitting a new gauge tonight which is in deg. c.
Has anyone got any ideas on how to get the temp down if it gets up to this limit?

[stevejgreen]

Re: Temperature

The standard Roadster problem.

You should find everything you need to know at

http://www.marlinownersclub.com/forum/group.php?discussionid=9&do=discuss

but never more than around 125 deg C

[gary.price]

Re: Temperature

Iv got a electric fan and a engine driven one, early opening stat and a 3 core rad. The core rad was the best money spent, you cant put a price on peace of mind. I compete in mine in motor sport so it dose get used hard at times. on the road i dont need the electric fan on ever. Mine was always hot before i fitted the engine driven fan. With the standard rad you could always add the extra fan and early stat and see how you get on with it. make sure its in good condition tho. i did add a second heatermatrix aswell which increases the coolant capacity. Steven

[tony.branson76]

Re: Temperature

I can't add much to Steve's excellent piece on keep and share. I recommend signing up to this invaluable resource.
I have the landcrab radiator on my 2 litre efi roadster and it runs at about 90 degrees on the temp gauge. My B series roadsters have both had recored Viva radiators. The temp gauges only indicate somewhere between C and H. I have recently acquired an infrared thermometer as one seem to be running close to H but doesn't boil. With the cast iron cylinder head you probably won't damage a B series engine with a brew up as long as you stop and let it cool down and ensure it is kept full of coolant. However driving any distance with inadequate coolant will lead to head gasket and possible cylinder head damage. When you do this the temperature gauge may give false reassurance as the sensor is not in water. The give away is that the heater that formerly was blasting out hot air will suddenly go cold.

Good luck

Tony

[mark westbrookwhite]

Re: Temperature

Thanks guys the mechanical fan sounds like a good start,. I dread having to take out the rad as the guy who sprayed my car helpfully sealed the seams so to remove the nose cone is going to be a nightmare. I will pluck up the courage during the winter months as I would like to move the electric fan to the front of the car, at the moment it is on top of the steering rack at the back.(Not ideal) I would also like the filler cap where I can get to it so I think this with a new larger core will have to be my Christmas present (My wife will be so exited!!!!).

[mark westbrookwhite]

Re: Temperature

P.S. How do I ask for an early open Stat. will they know what I am on about or are they going to ask me for a specific temperature?

[stevejgreen]

Re: Temperature

There are three thermostats available their opening temperatures and part numbers are:
74 Deg C - GTS 102
82 Deg C - GTS 104
88 Deg C - GTS 106

These are common between Marina's and MGB's

The radiator cap should be a 13lb one and will depend on whether you have an expansion tank or not.

[gary.price]

Re: Temperature

You should be able to remove the rad without taking the body apart its just a tight fit. What are you planning on using it for? If its just road work you should getaway without a 3 core rad. Just keep an eye on the gauge on long hills in the summer.

Steven

[mark westbrookwhite]

Re: Temperature

Hi Steven not Gary Yes just road work I am too old and fat to go into competitions plus I think my wife would go spare if I said I was going to spend even more time on the car.
And thank you Stev. for the part no's I have an expansion tank but for some reason and I cant remember why I changed the blanking cap from the radiator and put it on the tank and put the pressure cap on the rad.
I just have a small pipe on the bottom of the expansion tank which goes up to the overflow pipe on the rad.

[mark westbrookwhite]

Re: Temperature

OK so I have given up The 10mile drive to the Old Warden show on Sunday proved it 110 Deg. on the dial so the rad came out on Monday the new Civic rad is due today lets hope it turns up and my boy and I can sort out some brackets to put it in (My lad wants to use cable ties if we can't) If all goes well we are booked into the Cranleigh show on Sunday so I hope to see some of you there!!!!!

[stevejgreen]

Re: Temperature

No sure about cable ties, despite being alloy, it will be heavy when full of water!.
I like the idea of a Civic Rad, but you will need to make sure that as much of the air getting into the nose cone goes through the rad and does not take the easy route down the sides or top and bottom.

[mark westbrookwhite]

Re: Temperature

My son was joking about the cable ties ( I think) I have made a template out of thin steel and now my son is picking up a piece of aluminium sheet so he can cut the actual bracket. this should block most of the gaps around the cone.
The rad is a new aluminium race spec. unit so will hopefully sort out the problem. we are also transferring the electric fan to the other side of the rad (between the rad and the grill to give us a little more space for a Manuel fan and if that is not enough another electric fan on the inside.
A real prunes on my Al-bran approach!!!!

[mark westbrookwhite]

Re: Temperature

Bracket all done 2mm aluminium nowto sort out the bottom hose and find som way to stop the air coming over the top!

[stevejgreen]

Re: Temperature

That looks quite neat. Perhaps its the long term way forward if the old Viva radiators become impossible to refurb or repair.
It's time to edit my overheating guide.
On my Viva radiator installation I found that a short section of industrial quality 22mm pipe insulation fits the gap quite nicely. It also has a temperature rating well in excess of the rad temp.

[mark westbrookwhite]

Re: Temperature

Sounds like a plan and simpler than the contraptions I was dreaming up. off to the plumbers merchant then.