Spider Veloce 1991, Radiator Performance/endurance? plastic vs metal and beyond...

[CC alfa]

Okey here is how everything start...

Again summer was here...and we didn't broke the last year record by 2F degrees (123F! , “F” as an Fahrenheit ok!) nevertheless the motor was running 220F almost all the time, that is right before the red zone…, even at nights when the temp goes around 90F...

So I look into, coolant, coolant additives, water pump, belts, fans and so on, and even took the thermostat off… everything seems OK…

SO, I start to believe, after some read around here and there, that my radiator could be block, I took different temp measurement at the body of the radiator and seams ok but to be sure… and to make my 2 month history short…I took it to the radiator shop and say “flush and test flow only”….well they #&!@$^#&*$^#9 disassemble! You can image the rest…

Ok…they admit their mistake, blab la bla… and they are building a custom metal one for me, metal as standard I believe copper/bronce (?) one…all this after we look for a new one, but the almost 700$ for a new was out of the picture…believe me, I try my best…


My questions for the board is:

1.- Taking for fact that all the radiator specifications (dimension, capacity, same old fans…) are all equal, which will have better performance/endurance:

a.- The original Plastic/Aluminum

b.- Aluminum

c.- Copper/Bronce type.



2.- Does anybody knows the exact capacity of the original radiator by itself? My best guess after all my test is 1.25Lts…


3.- Does any body know how many cubic feet/minute (flow) pull each standart fan?

Thanks!
CC