Upgrading the Radiator and Cooling Fan on a 1969 MGB Roadster

In all of the 18+ years of possession of our 1969 MGB Roadster it has by no means overheated, however a minor leak from the radiator in 2016 necessitated its change so I made a decision it was the precise time to improve the cooling system in preparation for the following 18 years.Whereas checking on costs for a brand new radiator I got here throughout an organization in The Netherlands providing an aluminium radiator for not far more than an ordinary one, so ordering was a no brainer. Happily I ordered this about one month earlier than the British voted to go away the EU and the Pound plummeted in opposition to the Euro.As the entire cooling system needed to come aside I believed I’d additionally exchange the engine pushed radiator fan with an electrical one. I’ve fitted Kenlowe followers to my vehicles up to now and whereas they labored completely nicely I had two points with them. Firstly becoming with their common becoming equipment was by no means that correct and at all times appeared a bit untidy and secondly the sensor was an odd bulb association which fitted within the head of the radiator and slotted into an additional seal, which I discovered troublesome to make watertight.

This time I opted for a Revotec fan because it fastened each these issues. Every fan comes with a laser lower aluminium body which inserts onto lengthy bolts rather than the conventional ones and the sensor is embedded right into a particular part of aluminium tube which together with two brief hoses replaces the conventional convoluted prime hose. The Revotec got here full with an excellent set of directions and all needed wires, connectors, and even a set of cable ties to tidy up the wiring.Inevitably my work concerned in changing the cooling system does not cease there as whereas this was faraway from the engine compartment I cleaned it up as a lot as doable. The radiator encompass and enlargement tank, I had beforehand fitted, had been eliminated and painted with black Smoothrite and the water pump hub in yellow. The internal wings had been cleaned, just a few areas touched in and all polished. I changed the decrease radiator hose, crankcase breather and oil cooler grommets on the identical time whereas I had quick access.All the pieces was put in comparatively easily and with no issues. I wired within the fan and controller loosely to verify all the pieces labored correctly, earlier than I dedicated to slicing the wires to dimension and fixing it as tidily as doable.The MGB all fired up first time and amazingly there have been no leaks from anyplace. The controller labored nicely and after permitting the engine to warmth up and the fan lower in OK. It took just a few cycles to set it at about the precise working temperature. A superb street check in diverse situations additionally proved profitable, nonetheless with out leaking. The Revotec works rather well producing an enormous airflow which cools the radiator in a short time and cuts out and in easily. My solely criticism of Revotec is that nowhere within the directions did it say what ampage fuse was wanted to the fan provide. A fast Google search discovered this on the Revotec web site. So why on earth do not they embrace it within the printed directions?

In concept eradicating the engine pushed fan also needs to launch just a few further bhp however no-one ever mentioned how a lot. However because the MGB was initially solely 95 bhp, and presumably through the years this has dropped a bit, even only some bhp might make a 5% distinction though there wasn’t any noticeable distinction throughout my street check.The brand new aluminium radiator and Revotec fan ought to serve the automobile nicely for a very long time and it gave me the excuse to wash up the engine bay.