overheat no more

[Palmer 221]

My amazon has been suffering from overheating problems since i bought it.

sat in traffic, If i didn't have the heating on full, electric fan on and have the choke on to rase the idle the engine would overheat.

So while i was doing some engine work i thought i would change to an aluminuim radiator, 77deg C thermostat and a 5 blade plastic fan.

When i put all the above in i noticed the fan was sweeping below the bottom of the radiator, also the distance between the radiator and the fan was also quite large. so i thought i would try and make a shroud.
(i did take pics but lost them)


anyway... i did my first idle test and something i didn't expect see happened.
I can clearly see the thermostat open, cool the engine then watch the thermostat close. I didn't quite believe how effective the changes were so i left the car idling longer then to would normally take to overheat and it still stayed cool.

I recorded my observations, there isn't a proper exhaust on the car hence the extra loud idle.

https://youtu.be/Hvbl6aI6FEM

I'll do my usual hillclimb to confirm the changes have worked when i can, but so far things are looking rally good.

[Ron Kwas]

Palmer;

I would say the most improvement is realized from the Fan and Shroud, since this results in a more positive Airflow and much improved heat-shedding...I don't think its from the Aluminum Rad (essentially the same size and surface area). Overheating when stationary or crawl-speeds at idle is often a result of poor Airflow, (engine isn't even working hard and producing a lot of waste heat)...I expect your hillclimb/loadtest will show the same thing.

Cheers