Experience with Zionsville/Speed Daddy?

[Wiscosh]

Having developed a leak in my water pump, it is time to make some cooling decisions. If I go the route of a 9 blade fan I will need to change my water pump, so before I buy a new one I need to figure out what I want to do. I am leaning toward replacing the radiator with a dual core aluminum one and installing electric fans. Speed Daddy sells a double core and two electric fans for under $200 on E-Bay. Zionsville is a lot more expensive for the radiator alone, but this may be a case of you get what you pay for. I don't mind spending the extra money, but don't want to do so if unnecessary. Any opinions out there?

 

[aearch]

dont use electic fans
they dont work
keep it stock w/ 9 blade

 

[Honolulu]

my 2 cents: You state you have a leaking water pump, not a bad radiator... so change it out. You can easily change the radiator later if needed, and the fan can be done later as well, again if needed. Changing the pump will require removing the radiator, but it's not difficult nor time-consuming to do so. A (stock) coupe cools well with a cooling system in good condition, so unless your rad is leaking, leave it well enough alone.

 

[Stevehose]

Which water pump do you have? You may not need to chage that, mine has 9 blade with the 4 screw face, you just need the coupler pieces.

 

[Wiscosh]

dont use electic fans
they dont work
keep it stock w/ 9 blade

I am curious as to why you say electric fans don't work. As another member said in a previous thread involving cooling options, a lot of us have electric fans on our daily driver and we don't give them a second thought. I think electric fans are efficient, reliable and quiet (with some negligible to modest HP gain). My only potential issue with them, is that I like the aesthetics of a red 7 or 9 blade fan, and need to research how much of a load they put on the alternator (but I suspect not much).

 

[Wiscosh]

Which water pump do you have? You may not need to chage that, mine has 9 blade with the 4 screw face, you just need the coupler pieces.

Good question, I will check.

 

[Wiscosh]

my 2 cents: You state you have a leaking water pump, not a bad radiator... so change it out. You can easily change the radiator later if needed, and the fan can be done later as well, again if needed. Changing the pump will require removing the radiator, but it's not difficult nor time-consuming to do so. A (stock) coupe cools well with a cooling system in good condition, so unless your rad is leaking, leave it well enough alone.

Thanks. I live in Baltimore, which has hot and humid summers, and if I want to drive my car on a typical summer day, I will also be using the AC. I figure the only way I will every hurt this engine is to warp the head by overheating it, so just for peace of mind I want some overkill on the cooling system.

 

[Stevehose]

You want hot and humid? Come to NOLA in the summer (as the BMWCCA will find out when they host Oktoberfest here in July). I run a 9-blade fan, aluminum radiator, shroud, and summer t-stat with no problems with a/c. Temp never goes above 185 on my aux gauge or above 4 o'clock on the stock gauge. If you don't go aluminum rad get the stock one triple cored.

Thanks. I live in Baltimore, which has hot and humid summers, and if I want to drive my car on a typical summer day, I will also be using the AC. I figure the only way I will every hurt this engine is to warp the head by overheating it, so just for peace of mind I want some overkill on the cooling system.

 

[Markos]

dont use electic fans
they dont work
keep it stock w/ 9 blade

Well, except for the millions of cars on the road with transversely mounted motors.

To me, the beauty of an old car is the simplicity. I like the limited amount of wiring and the fact that I can count the number of relays with 10 fingers. OE electric fans work great but I personally have less confidence in aftermarket fans and wiring. It's also a little less obvious when they fail, other than the temp gauge spiking.

I used to be in to jeeps. I seem to recall that the folks who switched to electric fans spent a lot of time fiddling with their electric fans.

There are definitely benefits to an electric fan other than the whole parasitic loss component. If you happen to drive your car is summer parades or very slow cruises, the car may benefit from an electric fan. Also, if you have an after-run switch it helps the motor cool down when parked.

 

[Ohmess]

To respond to your original question, I have had a Zionsville radiator (with an electric fan) in my e39 540 for ten years now, and live just a little south of where you are located. The quality of the radiator is excellent, and the only cooling system problem I have had was when my water pump developed a slow leak that I had trouble diagnosing.

 

[Wiscosh]

To respond to your original question, I have had a Zionsville radiator (with an electric fan) in my e39 540 for ten years now, and live just a little south of where you are located. The quality of the radiator is excellent, and the only cooling system problem I have had was when my water pump developed a slow leak that I had trouble diagnosing.

Thanks

 

[Wiscosh]

You want hot and humid? Come to NOLA in the summer (as the BMWCCA will find out when they host Oktoberfest here in July). I run a 9-blade fan, aluminum radiator, shroud, and summer t-stat with no problems with a/c. Temp never goes above 185 on my aux gauge or above 4 o'clock on the stock gauge. If you don't go aluminum rad get the stock one triple cored.

I come to NOLA every year at the beginning of December. My friends in NOLA were offended when I said a few years ago how bad the summers were in Houston -- they took it as a point of pride that they suffer just as much in the summer. From the little bit of research that I have done, it seems very expensive to re-core a radiator. I do like the idea of ending up with a radiator that is my original one (somewhat) and that looks right, but I may not be able to justify the expense. What can I expect to pay for a triple core, and what does that do to the clearance between the engine and the radiator?

 

[HB Chris]

Recoring can be very expensive, the e24 rad is available and looks original.

 

[Wiscosh]

Recoring can be very expensive, the e24 rad is available and looks original.

Thanks for the tip. Coincidentally I have an e24. Parts for them are dirt cheap.

 

[Stevehose]

I think I paid $300 and I made sure they were aware of clearance issues. But I have since moved on to an aluminum rad, works better and much lighter too. I painted it black (except the fins) to make it look period.

I come to NOLA every year at the beginning of December. My friends in NOLA were offended when I said a few years ago how bad the summers were in Houston -- they took it as a point of pride that they suffer just as much in the summer. From the little bit of research that I have done, it seems very expensive to re-core a radiator. I do like the idea of ending up with a radiator that is my original one (somewhat) and that looks right, but I may not be able to justify the expense. What can I expect to pay for a triple core, and what does that do to the clearance between the engine and the radiator?

 

[Mike Goble]

I bought this aluminum radiator off Ebay for less than $200 shipped and it works very well. I ditched my mechanical fan several years ago in favor of a small electric pusher fan from a 90's BMW.

 

[Wiscosh]

I think I paid $300 and I made sure they were aware of clearance issues. But I have since moved on to an aluminum rad, works better and much lighter too. I painted it black (except the fins) to make it look period.

I like your shroud. Is that a BMW shroud from a later series or an aftermarket?

 

[Stevehose]

It's part number 17111115083 and I don't believe it's available new anymore, I got it from RogersTii, pricey (as all of his stuff is), but nos. It required some trimmimg at the bottom to get it to fit into the slots of the radiator but no big deal. It also fits early e12 and e24 according to realoem. They come up on ebay occasionally also. Other styles may fit but SFDon would know.

http://www.rogerstii.com/bmw-radiator-fan-shroud/

I like your shroud. Is that a BMW shroud from a later series or an aftermarket?

 

[Ohmess]

I believe the e24 radiator shroud can be modified to fit with just a little cutting.

 

[Wiscosh]

I believe the e24 radiator shroud can be modified to fit with just a little cutting.

That is what I will try, assuming it will fit a replacement radiator. I have decided to go with an aluminum finned double core rather than have mine recored. I will let you know how it turns out. I decided to go with the 9 bladed fan and viscous clutch instead of an electric fan purely for looks. I was able to order a water pump, fan, clutch and pulley from LJI.