Cooling System Questions

[Wayland]

I just got back from a 2200 mile trip in my AAZ-powered Kubvan. One thing I discovered on this trip is that the 20  3/4" wide core Rabbit radiator is way too small for this van/engine combo when hauling heavy loads through the mountains in 90 deg weather. Due to the engine compartment configuration it is not possible to install a wider radiator. I was looking at the Chinese made TIG-welded aluminum radiators available on ebay and other sites, and wondering if anyone on here has firsthand experience with the quality of these units? My other question was whether a 6-blade fan off a MK II would be a worthwhile upgrade over the 3 or 4 blade MK I fan, and whether it is indeed a direct bolt in, as it appeared to me it was.

[GEE-BEE]

I traded over to the 26.5 wide scirocco radiator from the small mki a/c version

Iam installing the flexalite model 412, 2600 cfm, very thin

It will cover up the complete radiator, this is very efficent and its dual fan

there is a optional switch you can turn off the fan on the hwy, while running a/c sytem

Iam doing a fitment for flexalite so there marketing/engineering dept sent a freebie

I tried in the past the mkii and the dual from a passat, there too deep and not as good as output/flow as a flexalite

Azautohaus has the radiator for 76.00

[theman53]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-1992-Volkswagen-Golf-MK2-GTI-16V-Aluminum-Radiator-2-ROW-MT-New-1991-1990-/331050796793?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d142a46f9

mine was 136.00 shipped, but the same seller last year. I have ran it for about 7500 miles no issues yet. Since you cannot do a rad like GB this will fit the bill. It is about 5" narrower than the MKI rad I have, which needed me to cut the fan shroud and weld it back together to get it to work. Since it is dual row my cooling capacity is approx. 4 gallons, which is about double stock non ac rad IIRC. It will still get hot if you work the snot out of it. If you let off and be easy on it with good air flowing past it, the coolant will cool off in a couple miles in my mkii. I had some redline water wetter in it but had a hose leak and that is all gone. If you are running hot and don't want to do anything else, pour a bottle of that in and you will see at least 15f less on your gauge stock rad or not.

[shorttimer]

^ True that ! Water wetter is the bomb !