radiator muff

I have a SWB 1965 Series IIA.It's ex-military so also has an oil
cooler. I use it for light work on-road. Come the cooler months it
takes ages to warm up as you can guess. I've been thinking about a rad
muff but some people have said it doesn't make much difference?!

Tempted to try it out though as it gets annoying when the damn thing
is trying to stall for half the journey home. Presume card or similar
material over the rad grill is ok. Should I only cover a proportion of
the grill or is all of it ok?

Any views on this topic?

On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 16:54:34 +0100, Mr.Nice.
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I've seen lots of farmers using a plastic sack, which seems to work.

Anything shoudl do. It just needs to stop the cold draft a bit.
>
>If iceing is unlikely I'd always leave a gap in the middle so you are
>restricting, not blocking air-flow.

The proper rad muffs ive seen had a fold down section which you could
either fit in place with poppers to cover it totally, or leave it open
to let a small bit oif draft through.

I doubt that you could totally block the airflow on a normal LR witout
some serios work - there are many more holes than just the ones
through he grille! (theres a right draft in the cab of mine!)

> The proper rad muffs ive seen had a fold down section which you could
> either fit in place with poppers to cover it totally, or leave it open
> to let a small bit oif draft through.
>
> I doubt that you could totally block the airflow on a normal LR witout
> some serios work - there are many more holes than just the ones
> through he grille! (theres a right draft in the cab of mine!)
>
I've got an aluminium plate that fits over the grill with hooks at the top,
and locates with the NATO towing pin at the bottom. I fit it when the
frosts start and it comes off again in about March.

I did worry a bit about totally blocking the airflow but the gap behind the
bottom of the grill and the radiator is more than enough to allow the fan to
pull air when it's stationary or at low speeds. At high (?) speed (over
about 50mph) the fan doesn't seem to pull as well (I assume there's a
venturi effect at the bottom of the radiator) and on a warmish day it can
start to get a bit warm on the motorway, but never enough to have to take
the plate off (the temp guage moves up by about a needle's width). It
certainly helps get up to temperature a bit quicker - the heater needs all
the help it can get!
--
Bob Miller
1990 ex-RAF 110 3.5 V8 17KJ83
3/4 ton Sankey 09ES17

The message <[email protected]>
from [email protected] (Shaun) contains these words:



> material over the rad grill is ok. Should I only cover a proportion of
> the grill or is all of it ok?

The original as supplied by LR back, I would think, around late fifties
or early sixties, as per one I inherited from my Father, who hated the
LWB station wagon he had on test at that time for a few months like
poison, is a piece of green canvas the width and length of the centre
(upright of the T ) on wire mesh radiator grill. It is similar to the
canvas used on ragtops, it is seam sewn all round with a tube formed at
each end. At one end is a 1/16 th mild steal rod with about 1/2 inch
poking out each side, whilst at the other a 1/3 by 1/10 inch metal bar
again with about 1/2 inch out each side then folded up about half an
inch. the steal rod goes at the bottom and the canvas is rolled around
the bar to give the required amount of muffling, when in place the
folded up bits protrude forward around the grill and replacing the grill
holds the whole contraption in place.

If anyone wants exact dimensions I will hunt it out and post them.

--
If you received this through the miracle of modern technology then all
is well; if not then situation normal.
Chris father of ( also at [email protected] )
www.users.zetnet.co.uk/barnes_firsnorton

"Shaun" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: I have a SWB 1965 Series IIA.It's ex-military so also has an oil
: cooler. I use it for light work on-road. Come the cooler months it
: takes ages to warm up as you can guess. I've been thinking about a rad
: muff but some people have said it doesn't make much difference?!
:
: Tempted to try it out though as it gets annoying when the damn thing
: is trying to stall for half the journey home. Presume card or similar
: material over the rad grill is ok. Should I only cover a proportion of
: the grill or is all of it ok?
:
: Any views on this topic?

I've used a home made muff on my 1968 Ser 2A - if you think of the grille as
an upside down letter 'T' - I cut a thin sheet of ply that was as wide as
the midde arm of the 'T' plus about an inch either side. Chopped it off
about an inch below the hole for the bonnet opening arm.

Unscrew the Makers Plate and the grille drops forward on the two holders at
the base, slide the bit of ply in so that it sits between the grill and the
steel uprights and - thus - blocks part of the 'T'. Refit the grille.

If it gets too hot under normal use then just take it off and cut anothe
rinch or so off the top of it - I found on mine that the two smaller holes
in the steel radiator mount (at the bottom where the arms of the 'T' would
be) allow enough air in to cool just finein the Winter.

SP

"Spike" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Shaun" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> : I have a SWB 1965 Series IIA.It's ex-military so also has an oil
> : cooler. I use it for light work on-road. Come the cooler months it
> : takes ages to warm up as you can guess. I've been thinking about a rad
> : muff but some people have said it doesn't make much difference?!
> :
> : Tempted to try it out though as it gets annoying when the damn thing
> : is trying to stall for half the journey home. Presume card or similar
> : material over the rad grill is ok. Should I only cover a proportion of
> : the grill or is all of it ok?
> :
> : Any views on this topic?
>
> I've used a home made muff on my 1968 Ser 2A - if you think of the grille as
> an upside down letter 'T' - I cut a thin sheet of ply that was as wide as
> the midde arm of the 'T' plus about an inch either side. Chopped it off
> about an inch below the hole for the bonnet opening arm.
>
> Unscrew the Makers Plate and the grille drops forward on the two holders at
> the base, slide the bit of ply in so that it sits between the grill and the
> steel uprights and - thus - blocks part of the 'T'. Refit the grille.
>
> If it gets too hot under normal use then just take it off and cut anothe
> rinch or so off the top of it - I found on mine that the two smaller holes
> in the steel radiator mount (at the bottom where the arms of the 'T' would
> be) allow enough air in to cool just finein the Winter.
>
> SP

Spike, oddly enough I constructed one the same as yours on Saturday,
it fits quite neatly as you describe. To err on the side of caution
I've cut two horizontal slots in it to allow some throughput of air.
The 'genuine' muffs are about £40 I believe.

cheers