Radiator fit question

[UKTJ]

I am looking at options for a replacement radiator, I think the OEM one at 22 years old is not doing the job for me any more. Being in the UK I need RHD and while I know the recommendation has long been MOPAR and I think more recently Denso, neither of these options are available to me for a RHD radiator. I am looking at the options I have and have questions on fit. The Denso radiator is listed at 1.34" core thickness, many of the RHD ones I am finding are considerably wider, eg 2.6". Looking at the current set up this would mean the back of the radiator being pushed much closer to the fan, two questions:
1. what is the maximum core thickness that can reasonably be fitted?
2. will the back of the radiator being closer to the fan have any adverse consequences on cooling or otherwise

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Gilaguy23]

Radiators are typically listed as 1 row, 2 row, 3 row kind of deal. More rows better cooling and capacity. I cant help but thinking the RHD models were made mostly for mail delivery trucks for use in the US, losts of going nowhere fast but hours and hours of idle time going from box to box. . Boxes on the right side of the road and the driver on the RHS as well. Seems over the years that Ive replaced several rads the tanks were typically the same width but some had only the one row but allowed for up to the 3 if it was a HD radiator.

 

[mrblaine]

Radiators are typically listed as 1 row, 2 row, 3 row kind of deal. More rows better cooling and capacity. I cant help but thinking the RHD models were made mostly for mail delivery trucks for use in the US, losts of going nowhere fast but hours and hours of idle time going from box to box. . Boxes on the right side of the road and the driver on the RHS as well. Seems over the years that Ive replaced several rads the tanks were typically the same width but some had only the one row but allowed for up to the 3 if it was a HD radiator.

The RHD models were built and exported to lots of countries that don't drive on the wrong side of the road. The only difference between the export RHD radiator they send to the UAE and the US domestic LHD is the radiator mounting flanges are offset to the other side slightly. To convert a LHD to RHD is just swapping the mounting flanges by unbolting them and sticking them on the new radiator. We converted several the other way when LHD were hard to get and we could get the RHD version. ONLY applies to the OEM stuff though.

More rows does not equal better cooling.

 

[UKTJ]

The RHD models were built and exported to lots of countries that don't drive on the wrong side of the road. The only difference between the export RHD radiator they send to the UAE and the US domestic LHD is the radiator mounting flanges are offset to the other side slightly. To convert a LHD to RHD is just swapping the mounting flanges by unbolting them and sticking them on the new radiator. We converted several the other way when LHD were hard to get and we could get the RHD version. ONLY applies to the OEM stuff though.

More rows does not equal better cooling.

Thanks Mr Blaine. As I undertand it OEM MOPAR radiators hard to come by now, especially if you need it shipped across the Atlantic I suspect. Given the switching of the mounting flanges only works for OEM radiator I am still stuck with the choice of RHD specific parts. Do you have any idea what the 'thickest' sore could be without neding to start making modifications? I know I can just measure from the back of the OEM MOPAR I have in and see how much space between that and the fan, but I don't know how close the radiator can be to the fan without compromising performance.

PS, I should add I can see them listed on RockAuto but for Auto trans but I have a manual.

 

[mrblaine]

Thanks Mr Blaine. As I undertand it OEM MOPAR radiators hard to come by now, especially if you need it shipped across the Atlantic I suspect. Given the switching of the mounting flanges only works for OEM radiator I am still stuck with the choice of RHD specific parts. Do you have any idea what the 'thickest' sore could be without neding to start making modifications? I know I can just measure from the back of the OEM MOPAR I have in and see how much space between that and the fan, but I don't know how close the radiator can be to the fan without compromising performance.

PS, I should add I can see them listed on RockAuto but for Auto trans but I have a manual.

No idea on the rest but you can use the auto in a manual rig, it is just the trans cooler being the difference and you just don't use it. The rest is the same.

 

[jonny jeep]

RHD rads from Nissens can be bought at car stores or on ebay(UK). Watch the cheaper listings on ebay as they will be for LHD rads.
You can't swap the brackets from a mopar to a nissens to convert LHD to RHD as the Nissens uses a single bolt (M8 I think) at each corner rather than the two at each corner the OEM rad uses.

Here you go RHD Nissens 61015 on ebay. Cheaper than I paid for mine.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35146424...pid=5337789113&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

Nissens are an OEM manufacturer for a few brands so their quality is excellent. It's single core just like the Mopar rads and works great. I got mine 11 years and roughly 100k miles ago.

 

[UKTJ]

No idea on the rest but you can use the auto in a manual rig, it is just the trans cooler being the difference and you just don't use it. The rest is the same.

Oh dear, now it looks like MOPAR is a viable option. Hmm, shipped to me a LHD one I have to change the mounting flanges on is north of US$700 - that is a bit painful

 

[UKTJ]

RHD rads from Nissens can be bought at car stores or on ebay. Watch the cheaper listings on ebay as they will be for LHD rads.
You can't swap the brackets from a mopar to a nissens to convert LHD to RHD as the Nissens uses a single bolt (M8 I think) at each corner rather than the two at each corner the OEM rad uses.

Here you go RHD Nissens 61015 on ebay. Cheaper than I paid for mine 11 years ago.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35146424...pid=5337789113&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

And the one you bought still going strong after 11 years?

 

[jonny jeep]

Yes still going. And my brain isn't working correctly. I fitted it in '11. It's now 13 years and counting...

 

[Succentor]

Have to confess I let Frog's Island replace mine without asking with what brand…