alloy ones are fine, light, strong, cool very very well & are cheap as chips
we run the chinese ones in all our engines, turbo twin cams & all

I put a 88 degree thermostat in as well and it runs perfect now sitting in traffic the needle just goes just above N but after moving off goes down just below N
using a inferred thermostat I can't get a reading higher then 95 degrees anywhere on the engine so it seems it likes this combo

The only problem is that they don't sell 40mm radiators with the overflow pipe facing backwards. They are all facing forwards?

Mini Spares own exclusive designed Lightweight aluminium type high efficiency radiator for fitment, rigidity and appearance, unlike others on the market with large ugly fixing nuts on the side, or where the header tank is 10mm wider that fouls the cowlings.The lower hose outlet is also positioned correctly to fit the Cooper S although the radiator will foul the inner wing cowling without modification. (the higher the pressure cap the hotter the water has to get to boil).Water boils at 212F and when under pressure can raise it by 3 degrees for every pound of pressure.Under testing the tubes can take 21 lbs pressure but the hoses etc might not.

Always use distilled water and change anti freeze regularly to stop Gulvanic corrossion as original radiator to engine block materials have changed.

2 inline 22mm wide core tubes with 9 V shape or equivalent of 15 fins/gills per inch, braszed aluminium core giving 25% more fin area and 30% more cooling area than a standard 3 core radiator this item really does cool very well.

Heat transfer from the coolant to air is better on this brazed radiator as there is no thermal barrier from solder. Remember -your engine needs to get to a proper working temperature for the oil to function correctly so never run your car too cool. It is always a good idea to fit an electric fan thermostatically controlled for road cars.

The drain hole plug is fitted at an angle so it can take a sender unit as required for later cars 1990 on.(See fitment below).

Outlet pipe at top comes out facing backwards. Lower outlet set at correct angle suitable for "S" variants plus all standard minis. Uses METRIC cowling bolts. Bolt holes may need to be adjusted on later one piece cowlings and modified on early 2 piece cowlings.

Fitted with a drain plug which is the same size as our screw in type sender unit C-ARA4445-The sender unit will need purchasing if required.

CHECK BEFORE FITTING

Take the cowling from the engine and make sure it fits the radiator easily and file out mounting bolt holes if necessary, which makes life easier when fitting in the car. Make sure you fit short metric cowling to radiator bolts.

Place cowling in position loosely but do not attach until the radiator has been dropped in place and checked for fitment.(then fit to cowl). Ensure the front of the radiator where the top hose fits clears the lip of the wing to avoid damage.

You may have to cut the tab from the boomerang shaped upper radiator bracket that sits against the thermostat housing, to allow movement and modification to squeeze the top tank in .

Make sure the fan clears cowling all round.

The variants that make this radiator difficult to fit on post 1990 cars is that the engine is further forward and the subframe mountings might have wrong alignment.

The engine mountings also play a critical part in alignment as well as any previous accident damage repairs.

Some minor modifications maybe required on cars with air con fitted (overflow tube needs adjusting slightly depending on location of AC lines).

Made specifically for pre 1990 cars it has been adapted to fit later cars and has a drain plug which is the same size as the screw in type sender unit as fitted to later cars.

The header tank on this radiator is 10mm wider than standard biased towards the inner wing and on post 1990 cars where the engine is ½" further forward fitting is not straight forward but has been achieved by competent car Mechanic/engineers.

Please do not attempt to fit this radiator to 1275cc post 1990 cars unless prepared to make modifications as the fins will get damaged making it non returnable.

FITTING

CHECK Take the cowling from the engine and make sure it fits the radiator easily and file out mounting bolt holes if necessary, which makes life easier when fitting in the car.

Place cowling in position loosely but do not attach until the radiator has been dropped in place and checked for fitment.(then fit to cowl). Ensure the front of the radiator where the top hose fits clears the lip of the wing to avoid damage.

You may have to cut the tab from the boomerang shaped upper radiator bracket that sits against the thermostat housing to allow movement and modification to squeeze .

Make sure the fan clears cowling all round.

The variants that make this radiator difficult to fit on post 1990 cars is that the engine is further forward and the subframe mountings might have wrong alignment.

The engine mountings available also play a critical part in alignment as well as any previous accident repairs.