Cooling System Questions

Land Rover Daddy

Well-known member
Apr 12, 2019
54
3
Crystal River FL
Does anyone recommend a radiator upgrade for a Disco I?
I want to make sure we keep this thing cool in the Florida summer!

Also, Someone in another thread recommended running a TD5 Thermostat which is set to a lower temp.
Can anyone give me a part number for the TD5 thermostat? the site I buy most of my parts from is difficult to navigate...

Finally,

Could anyone help me source the parts circled in this diagram?
Mine seem to be rotted out and I cant find part numbers for those either :(
 

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pinkytoe69

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2012
1,689
181
minnesota
Does anyone recommend a radiator upgrade for a Disco I?
I want to make sure we keep this thing cool in the Florida summer!

Also, Someone in another thread recommended running a TD5 Thermostat which is set to a lower temp.
Can anyone give me a part number for the TD5 thermostat? the site I buy most of my parts from is difficult to navigate...

Finally,

Could anyone help me source the parts circled in this diagram?
Mine seem to be rotted out and I cant find part numbers for those either :(

The td5 stat is for a D2. You can get a low temp D1 stat at most auto parts stores...get one with the vent.

Your parts diagram is also incorrectly for a D2.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
561
Seattle
You can spend a lot on a fancy radiator or get excellent performance from a less expensive option. I feel like I recount this anecdote a lot, probably because I do: with an aluminum Nissens radiator in my D1 I drove 600 miles in low range in 100-degree air temps up multiple 3,000+ foot climbs with a heavily laden vehicle and my ScanGauge held steady in the low 90s (Celsius). I think I paid about $230 for that radiator 3 years ago.

You can install a thermostat that opens at a lower temperature, but as fellow Discowebber Peter/pm will highlight, this doesn't make your engine run any cooler. It just widens the operating temperature range, which doesn't provide any benefit and arguably has drawbacks.

With the money you save by purchasing a less expensive radiator you can also replace your fan clutch, hoses, and water pump. You will then have peace of mind with your cooling system no matter what kind of heat you encounter in Florida.
 
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Rocky

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
2,178
7
Red Sox Nation
Having experimented with a lower temp thermostat, it didn't do anything to help temperatures. As long as the radiator is in good condition, and flows properly the only thing that helps in my experience is either a HD or Severe duty fan clutch (many threads on these) or an electric fan alternative.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
The D1 radiators do rot out. they won't leak but the cooling finns rot away till the only thing left is the tube and air doesn't slow down enough to cool anything. With a flashlight look at the back side of the radiator. They start out getting discolored.

I personally would look for a shop that repairs radiators, most restoration people will know if someone near you can re core the thing. the original radiator in a D2 is way better than any replacement I've seen. My guy charges me about $300 to re core radiators for me.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
561
Seattle
My guy charges me about $300 to re core radiators for me.

That's a good deal. I looked into that when considering my replacement options and the best price I could find in my area was twice as much as your quote. $600 is still cheaper than an OE copper/brass radiator, but not necessarily the best value.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
That's a good deal. I looked into that when considering my replacement options and the best price I could find in my area was twice as much as your quote. $600 is still cheaper than an OE copper/brass radiator, but not necessarily the best value.
Find a restoration shop. Chevy Ford whatever. If they know anything they will know some old fossil that can do it cheaper than $600. But then I'm in the middle of a corn field, and your in a fancy metro area. That could be costing you.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
561
Seattle
The Seattle Premium affects everything, from the price of housing to lunch at the taco truck around the corner. It's still not the Bay Area or NYC, but even so, nothing is cheap here.
 

ocarlo

Active member
Oct 30, 2017
31
0
NY, NJ
A month ago (height of the heatwave), I suddenly hit red and app said 245 degrees, and climbing!!
Had the rad flushed, installed 180 t-stat, new hoses - still 215-235f after drives longer than 30min, without AC.
Found out that no one will bother with re-cores anymore. Caved and had a new Nissens installed two days ago.

Joy o joy - never hit 190 in hour-long city driving with AC.
178 - 183 degrees!! in 160-mile highway at 65mph, with AC. Nissens at $305 from LK8.
(pic attached of 23 yr old stock rad)
 

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p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
837
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
One local place in San Diego I used to recore my D1/RRC radiators charged about 550 (last time I checked).
Aluminum radiator cools off the truck far better than copper, even recored with three-row wide cores.
 

logan_gibson

Well-known member
Dec 20, 2016
258
47
Alabama
Shipping kills it, but Bryce Thomas Radiator here in Gadsden did my last one(recore) for right around 150-200(cant find the receipt off hand).
They will also do custom aluminum radiators built to your spec.
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
Shipping kills it, but Bryce Thomas Radiator here in Gadsden did my last one(recore) for right around 150-200(cant find the receipt off hand).
They will also do custom aluminum radiators built to your spec.
He ought to start making radiators for Land Rovers. Made in the U.S.A...they'd be swamped, if his cost can be closer to a Nissens than a Genuine.
Maybe make aluminum reservoirs as well.
Gotta be cheaper than Allisport products
 

ocarlo

Active member
Oct 30, 2017
31
0
NY, NJ
So I kept the old rad thinking down the line...
Got laughed out of the repair shop. I take it citric acid bath's not gonna cut it?
by the time I could use re-use it, a recore would be $800...lol
sell it for scrap?
 

logan_gibson

Well-known member
Dec 20, 2016
258
47
Alabama
He ought to start making radiators for Land Rovers. Made in the U.S.A...they'd be swamped, if his cost can be closer to a Nissens than a Genuine.
Maybe make aluminum reservoirs as well.
Gotta be cheaper than Allisport products
https://cgj.com/
That is their website with number, youre welcome to call and get an estimate. I have a few radiators they can take apart and use to get a basis of everything.
For reference this is their pricing on the Jag radiators they do, the merc double row is $606.
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