Radiator at the back

regis101 · Post by **regis101** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 5:00 pm

Greetings. Does anyone know of the downside to having a radiator mounted in the rear of a bay bus? Has there been a thread that deals expressly with this? It would be placed where the rear deck lid is located. Maybe some strange negative air vortex or something? Maybe a sheetmetal housing could be placed over it, in place of the rear deck lid, that extends below the rear valance would help draw the air out of the engine compartment? ( Much like any other road draft down tube only bigger). I'm thinking that the scoops on a bay bus promote positive air pressure in the engine compartment. Using push or pull fans would compliment the expelltion of air to help the radiator cool the water. Maybe I just had one too many beers here. After all it is Monday.

yllwveedub · Post by **yllwveedub** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 5:40 pm

Like this?

http://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php ... c&start=15

regis101 · Post by **regis101** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:06 pm

I have been following the Ecotec thread. Quite interesting and full of info. I was thinking of more along the lines that the rad is to be where the engine compartment rear lid is located. My bay bus' engine lid has about as much room as a Chevrolet std. radiator ( ~25x17, inches that is ). I see the beer has taken effect as my choice of descriptive words was unclear in the first post. We'll work it out.

metropoj · Post by **metropoj** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:49 am

The big problem was getting cool air in there and keeping hot exhaust air from going through the rad at the same time. I have asked a guy on the samba who had some pics of a Pinto rad on the side engine compartment but no luck yet.

As for On the far back, I've seen it done too. Look through some of my threads, there is a bunch of pics from Aussieland, including one with the rad where the engine hatch was supposed to go.

i don't have clearance

.... engine too long ....

regis101 · Post by **regis101** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 4:49 pm

I think a rear radiator is do-able using pusher fans. There has to be a positive pressure in the engine compartment if it is sealed up. The addition of some simple ducting that hangs down below the bumper should help pull air through the engine compartment. I need some engineers on this. The engine lid has an opening of about 400 sq inches. Should be plenty for a ~130 horse engine. I'll keep plugging along at finding as much info as possible. I do remeber seeing a rear radiator on a ( foreign ) bus. It was an aluminum crossflow style. Looked good to me. And , if it works there, the look is not obtrusive.

GfunkBus76 · Post by **GfunkBus76** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:20 am

I'm planning on doing the radiator at the bottom of one of the air scoops... or maybe even both of the scoops. Depends how much cooling I need. I might do some venting in the rear engine hatch, i wish I knew how air will flow and push around in there. let you know how it works out

wacked1 · Post by **wacked1** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:55 pm

here you go

wacked1 · Post by **wacked1** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:58 pm

wacked1 · Post by **wacked1** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:58 pm

wacked1 · Post by **wacked1** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:59 pm

Plasticfantastic · Post by **Plasticfantastic** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:10 am

What engine are you using that leaves that much room? Like metropoj, I have zero clearance at the engine lid.
I'm definately for the rad in the rear and keep hoping someone will try the motorcycle rads on each side to hear how that works.

metropoj · Post by **metropoj** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:58 am

maybe they're using a motorcycle engine LOL. Seriously, I'd like to know too .....

That was the pic I was referring too, but couldn't for the life of me remember what thread it was in thanks Whacked1 .....

regis101 · Post by **regis101** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:18 pm

Even if the radiator , had, to be on the outside of the body, it wouldn't be too bad. Having it attached to the body and keeping it off the bumper is still OK, but pushing it. Cutting out the body to within an inch or so of the tail lights would allow for a wider radiator. Could also trim the body downward. the 71 and down busses had the removeable rear valance. Dunno. The possibilities are mounting depending on how far one wants to go. Kennedy has a radiator square" chart in their catalog. It is generally 400 sq."

bluesbug · Post by **bluesbug** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:58 pm

My 61 VW panel van has a suby EA-81 with a suby radiator where the engine cover was,and 2 electric fans pulling in.The 100 HP engine cools fine so far and I had room to put a metal plate(with holes) in a frame to cover it all up.
Bluesbug

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:41 pm

is it just me or does putting the rad on/in the rear deck create a bunch of access problems?

Seems like there are better places to put it. e.g.

See http://www.birkmamero.de/news.htm for description (in German)

Shoptalkforums.com

Radiator at the back

Radiator at the back

Splitty with rear radiator