Upgrading Radiator and Fan Suggestions

[WhyNot]

On my 91 vert, M20, 5 speed...
I need to replace the radiator and the fan
With the heat in Las Vegas and being a vert, every little bit helps.
Although the sock setup may be okay, since I'm getting new parts Im wondering if;
1-the conversion to E36 etc radiators cools better
2-The details of a conversion to a two speed spal puller fan

Im not really fond of the sound of the fan pulling air.
In stop and go the stock setup isnt best.

I thought there was some nice custom mounts but I could only find them for an E36 radiator, which is another reason to switch.

For the AC i may upgrade the pusher fan later on also

Any thoughts, except 'keep it stock', would be appreciated.

Thanks

[WhyNot]

any one from arizona with any experience in this?

[jlevie]

If the stock cooling system is struggling, even in 100F ambients, something is wrong with the cooling system/fan clutch, or the engine is running lean. If it only happens when AC is in use look to the aux fan and/or it's thermo switch.

That said, you can replace the stock radiator with a slightly more effective one. But to improve on the stock fan/clutch you will need to use a 16" electric fan rated at greater than 2000CFM. Which will make much more noise than the stock fan.

I realize that you said "Any thoughts, except 'keep it stock'", but the BMW engineers knew what they were doing when the car was designed. The odds of a "field solution"improving on that design are slim.

[Bearmw]

I think the stock system is good if working properly but if your upgrading how about a higher pressure reservoir cap and maybe also a factory fuel line cooler that was used in some E30's in hot climates?

[WhyNot]

But to improve on the stock fan/clutch you will need to use a 16" electric fan rated at greater than 2000CFM. Which will make much more noise than the stock fan.

I realize that you said "Any thoughts, except 'keep it stock'", but the BMW engineers knew what they were doing when the car was designed. The odds of a "field solution"improving on that design are slim.

thanks for the replies.
i am rethinking my re-engineering of the system.
probably a new stock radiator, an ac freshen up and spal on the front will do the trick

[mrgraphics]

You could try a triple pass radiator - there is more passes of the coolant through the radiator than the stock double pass. You could also put a 72 degree thermostat in so that it is essentially always open. A new fan clutch will probably work a bit better than your old one, locking quicker and turning with the engine more reliably. A metal fan water pump will also be more reliable. But aside from that, if your car cannot cool reliably with those adjustment you have bigger cooling problems / mixture issues.