Page 1 of 1

heater core removal?

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:11 am
by zambon
I am thinking of removing the heater core from the Milano Gold that I just picked up. The problem is that this gold has a 3l swapped in and I suspect that it retains the 2.5 radiator. I fear that with the smaller radiator, the heater core might be helping keep my engine cool. Then again, I dont have a strong grasp of how heating systems work.

I just drove it 400 miles yesterday across a hot desert. It was seriously overloaded to the tune of 2 spare transaxles (one with a clutch). As well as a medium sized jack, various tools, and a box of exhaust tube bends. I also had a passenger. The engine never got above 175 deg. I never turned on the heat. Does that mean that I would have gotten the same cooling performace if I had no heater core?
Thanks,
James

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:57 pm
by Daniel
Without the heater on, the heater core is adding nothing to you radiator cooling.
If the rad is too small, you should show it up with lots of high rpm on a hot day - race track style stuff.

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:15 pm
by zambon
I am in Mexico right now and every day is a hot day.
I plan to test out my radiator just as you describe, but unfortunately I am wrestling with other issues right now.
Today I ran it at high rpm for a short time and I could see the temp starting to climb :(

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:33 pm
by patzo_3l
dunno about in the u.s but in australia the 2litre twinspark, 2.5 v6 and 3.0l v6 75s/milanos all run exactly the same radiaters. i wouldnt worry about it actually.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 3:34 pm
by zambon
I currently have the dash half way out due to the fact that I am going to remove the brake pedal box. I started looking at the ventilation/heater unit, since I am down there. I have been talking about removing it for some time now.
I loosened the two screws that are way up under the dash, but now I cant see any other places where the ventilation box is secured. I got frustrated with it and now I am starting to have second thoughts about taking it out.
On one hand it is only 25lbs, on the other hand the 25lb weight reduction would be from the front of the car on a V6...

Am I out of my mind to consider this? The car isnt a track car yet, but I dont drive it in winter. I should also note that the dial that contols the direction of the ventilation seems to have been broken by the previous owner at some point, so it isnt like I would be removing a fully functional system.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:06 pm
by Mats
you can make a small "jumper hose" between the two heater hoses to try what it would perform like without the core. That's the way the thing works with the heat in the 'off' position.

Also, a new radiator will probably make a big difference.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:26 pm
by Zamani
Get a TD radiator. Have it for 4 years already. No problems, good cooling capacity. You can buy them from Europe, but unfortunately the Euro is high now. I actually need the heater. I drive from SF to LA sometimes and at night it is quite cold especially in winter. With the low temp thermostat, the car cannot even reach 160F on the highway at night. I have to put the stock thermostat back in. Alternatively you can get a shutoff valve which blocks the hot water from flowing into the heater. I have that too.

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:30 am
by zambon
I definitely plan to get a new radiator. I am not sure what I will go with though. TD would be nice, one of the expensive custom ones would be nice. The cheap/huge GM ones would work, but maybe it would be better to spend more on a custom one and not have more radiator than I need, but that is another thread.
I think I might hold off on the heater core pull. At least for the moment. I use the heater very infrequently since I dont drive Alfas when there is salt/snow on the ground, but it is only 25lbs and it isnt from the exteme front of the car. Still, it is easy to justify eliminating a heater when you are sweating in a hot desert. Just like it was easy to justify a black car with no AC when I was living in the cool temperatures of Wisconsin.

I think I get too caught up on making the car spartan. I have a wierd pride for my car and its lack of comfort. For example, I have been running with no interior door pannels for 3 months now, and I never even think of putting them back on. When anybody asks me about it I feel proud and I say something like, "this car isnt for comfort." Then I go out and get beat at the stoplight by an SUV with the AC on :roll: