TD radiator options

[greatpenguin]

Trying to clean up the engine bay, overflow bottle is still creating a muck.  This is my first diesel build, so im still learning everything here.  I know they run hot, but If im running an oil cooler, and a intercooler, do you think I could get away with running a radiator w/o a overflow tank.  I do plan to push some good power, but dont plan to push the car that often.

[hamradio]

A radiator out of an mk1 scirocco with built in expansion tank will work.  

[greatpenguin]

A radiator out of an mk1 scirocco with built in expansion tank will work.  

sounds expensive.  I will have to see if I can find something all aluminum from summit or something.  Honestly, I didn't know they made them with built in expansion..  Guess I need to do more learning.

[hamradio]

Ummm, a mk1 scirocco radiator will be a hell of a lot cheaper and easier than buying a universal radiator and making it work.

[greatpenguin]

Maybe... but sooo much uglier.   :lol:

The "Scirocco" style radiators are a little more expensive. I was surprised to see they have their own style on summit.

[8v-of-fury]

Mk1 rabbit and jetta's both came with the expansion built in to the rad.

Just a matter of finding one in good shape, Or are you looking for brand spanking new?

http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volkswagen/Jetta/Cooling/168/2

$78.50 for a brand new rad with built in expansion tank from German Auto Parts.

I much prefer the built in style ones, soo much cleaner looking and one less thing to break good luck.

[hamradio]

Maybe... but sooo much uglier.   :lol:

The "Scirocco" style radiators are a little more expensive. I was surprised to see they have their own style on summit.

OK,


"Scirocco style" does not equal scirocco rad.  The poster above me was kind enough to link to a brand new one with built in expansion tank for even cheaper than I thought they were.


I think the "scirocco style" ones came about because people found that scirocco radiators worked out nice for custom applications, or something to that effect.

[arb]

A radiator out of an mk1 scirocco with built in expansion tank will work.  

One thing to remember, most radiator tops in early w.c. VW's have tops that are lower than the high point in our heads.... thus the pesky expansion tank serves the added function of being the highest point in the system and allows trapped air a good place to escape. In my Caravan diesel conversion, I'm using both the stock dodge radiator (new) as it is larger than the VW and bolts right up, plus the expansion tank because I got a new one and they can't hurt if you have the room and it is not too old.

Wow, I see I never took a photo of my new radiator...
http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=15633&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

[GEE-BEE]

I installed a new radiator scirocco a/c type with the new style  vw overflow bottle on my 81 caddy with a 1.9 aaz swap...

The new style bottle included the mount , it's more of a round bottle type

Gee-Bee

[hamradio]

I think a rocco rad with expansion tank would still work fine...it seems to work fine on all of the gassers, and they probably have the same high points in the cooling system as a diesel.

[greatpenguin]

Thanks for the tips and such.

First, the reason I was wanting to go with a new aluminum radiator was to get an all aluminum radiator, including tanks on the side for looks factor.  After I spent the day looking at costs.  Reality has set in, and it would cost around $500 for a radiator that fits my bill.  That money would be better spent elseware I believe.

After searching all over GermanAutoParts, they have the radiator mentioned above listed for diesel and TD cars.  I would imagine that this would be safe, and higher level than the head (I had forgotten that point before).  

I am going to be running AC, but I figure with a high flow fan with a nice shroud it should make up for that.

I will just have to create a custom shroud to pretty up the radiator.  Maybe paint the plastic end tanks to match the bay.

I appreciate everyone's input.

[88jetta350]

could a MKII Radiator be made to work? I'm curious as to a cooling solution as well, since the 1.5 radiator in my '83 Golf looks way too small for a TD Application.