Fluidyne FHP35-PAN versus Fluidyne FHP30-PAN

I'll tell you what I found out from Fluidyne. The newer radiator, the FHP35-PAN is now a 5 row radiator with 1-3/8 dia inlet/outlets and is 3.5" thick.

Fluidyne said the FHP30-PAN was a 3 core radiator. The person at Fluidyne did not know the thickness of the FHP30-PAN unit. Hopefully someone here can chime in and give the thickness of the FHP30-PAN unit.

John

The earlier Fluidyne is 3.5" thick with 1.5" inlet and outlet.

John

quote:

Originally posted by jb1490:
The earlier Fluidyne is 3.5" thick with 1.5" inlet and outlet.

John

The earlier radiators have 1" rods (I think). If the new ones have the same overall thickness, that means they would have to had made the rods thinner. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

1" wide tubes restrict the flow of coolant less, allowing for a higher flow rate through the radiator. Wide tubes like that are usually used in high flow style cooling systems, and make the most sense in a single pass radiator.

I'm assuming the new Fluidyne radiator has 1/2" wide tubes, which will slow down the coolant flow rate through the radiator just a bit. That's the same reason the Pantera has a dual pass radiator. So the narrower tubes compliment the dual pass radiator design. I'd like to see the new core, I'm wondering if there's more space between the tubes, similar to the Hall Phoenix radiator, encouraging more air flow through the radiator, possibly making it more suitable for the OEM pusher fans.

-G

I've attached a picture of the tubes for the FHP35-PAN radiator as seen through the temp sensor hole.

The tubes are approximately 1/2" wide and there are 5 rows. The rows are spaced vertically 13/32" apart.

Here's another shot from the back. The radiator is 3.5" thick and the inlet and outlet are 1-3/8" in diameter.

Thanks for the pictures John. The core looks like a standard core, not like the core of the Phoenix radiator.

-G

It looks very similar to the Phoenix except for thickness. The amount of vertical rows is similar and the tube size seems close, it's just that the Phoenix is thicker.

The Phoenix is shown below.

Phoenix vertical tube row spacing is about the same as the new Fluidyne as well.

thanks John,

the second photo helps, you're right, the horizontal spacing of the fluidyne tubes appears to be no less than the spacing of the Phoenix tubes.

So now I'm curious ... are the Fluidyne tubes staggered like the Phoenix tubes? The angle of the photo makes it difficult to see. The Phoenix tubes don't look staggered from that angle either. Or is it my poor vision?

Neither the Phoenix that I have or the Fluidyne have staggered tubes like your graphic. The Phoenix is 4" thick and the tubes have a thicker wall than the Fluidyne but the best i can tell is that they both have five rows.
John

George,

I'm a little confused now. Going back to the Fast water pump pulley discussion. The purpose was to increase flow. Does the 5 row radiator actually slow flow or does it possibly add surface area for increased heat transfer while maintaining a similar flow? Would adding both to a car counter act each other?

Steve

Steve

Its my belief the DeTomaso/Ford folks designed the Pantera radiator as a dual pass style to give the coolant the same amount of dwell time in the small Pantera radiator that it has in a larger single pass radiator found in Mustangs and Torinos. Different core configurations may make small differences in dwell time, but as long as the radiator is a dual pass design I would expect it to function fine (or to put it another way, it will still be in the ball park).

I'd be interested in knowing what Fluidyne has to say, why they changed the core. Has anybody spoken with Fluidyne?

-G

so what radiator will allow the engine to run cooler? what radiator will last longer? I have a stock engine and stock water pump

I called Fluidyne and spoke to a guy that was very informative. He said that the smaller tubes of the 5 row allow for higher pressure, the radiator is rated at 40PSI. He said that due to the smaller tubes the insulating factor of the water against the surface of the tubes is reduced. There are also now more weld points attaching the fins to more tubes which again improves heat transfer. He would not give me a percentage of improvement over the 3 row version but said that it is an improvement.

Summit lists the FHP35-PAN for $597.00.. Make me an offer on my FHP30-PAN

Steve