Rotary Midget project by Dutch 1960

3 minute(s) of a 97 minute read

Radiator time.

The 1985 Audi 5000 S radiator is almost like it was made for the car ($150 aftermarket new, all metal, on line, one with plastic tanks costs about $100 new). It is a double pass radiator, meaning that both the inlet at the top and the outlet at the bottom are on the same side of the radiator, on the right side of the car, in this case. The trick on this piece is that the lower outlet is above the bottom of the side tank, so it will clear the steering rack (hat tip to Gerard's Garage for the lead on the right part). Sitting on the front main chassis rails, the top of the radiator will sit about an inch below the top of the MG slam panel. With both bolt-in engine room front corner panels removed, the width of the radiator just clears the inner front fender aprons. The front radiator mounts must be trimmed back, as shown in photo #1. (i-Phone distortion makes the two posts look out of whack. They are square to each other and to the car.)

If the lower lip of the front air passage to the radiator is folded flat (seen in photo #1, not folded flat yet), the dimension for a front mounted "pusher" electric fan is 14" wide and 12" high, to clear the hood release and cable. I will fold it down, if I need to, after I junkyard dive a proper electric fan. The other question is should the left front panel (driver's side) behind the grille be opened up, as the right hand side is opened up from the factory, for the air hose to the heater fan. We shall see.

Photo #2 shows the radiator fitment. It is a little high right now, it will be dropped about 1.5" or so when the trimming of the lower part of the radiator mounts is complete (and assuming proper lower radiator hose clearance to the steering). Note the heater line is on the left side radiator tank, perfect for a rotary engine that is going to use the heater line water cooled oil cooler on the left side of the engine.

Photo #3 shows the clearance to the steering rack. A "puller" fan on the engine side of the radiator is going to be a tough proposition.

Photo #4 shows the upper inlet and lower outlet, just perfect for the application.

There are still the finer points of the mounts and brackets, to go, as well as heater and radiator hoses, an electric fan (switched and relayed), and mounting the MG factory pressurized metal radiator overflow tank, in a new spot.