Antique & Classic Cars Blog

Cooling is one of the many challenges confronting enthusiasts who wish to swap a bigger engine, usually a V8, into a car that originally came with something smaller. We’ve tracked that issue here with a ‘72 TR6 whose 2.5-liter straight six has been replaced with a 3.5 liter (215 cubic inch) aluminum V8. The Triumph radiator wasn’t up to the task.

Top of “new” radiator needed some anchoring. Original TR6 supports, which ran to sides of TR6 radiator, fit well connecting the grille opening (braced with a factory piece on each side) to the factory GM top-mounted radiator support.

So in went a genuine 215 radiator from a ‘62 Buick Special, re-cored for higher efficiency. The swap involved custom brackets, tricky lower radiator hose routing, different fan spacing, and then some custom bracing on the top to keep the new heat exchanger in place.

The original TR6 braces had to be bent at each end so they could angle down yet not bend their mounting points when the bolts were snugged. One is rusty. I’ll redo that, but it’s an old piece so the vintage look is OK for now.

Sunday offered up the time to secure it, fill it, and start the engine. Yeehah! She starts, she runs, the fan blows like a special-effects wind generator, and it doesn’t look too far from stock, or factory modified, which was the goal.

As you fit non-original parts, make sure you have hood clearance. We’re OK on that score too.

Little more tinkering over the next few months (or decades depending on who you talk to at this address) and she’ll be ready for the road.

Looks pretty good except for the bleached-out photo (shot it too dark).

This entry was posted on Monday, October 8th, 2007 at 5:48 pm and is filed under Car parts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.