Even though I drive an Alpine, this may be of some interest to Tigers
also. I haven't posted this to the lists until now since I wanted to
make sure the results are definite.
I had had a problem with my Series V Alpine running too hot on the
freeway at higher speeds and doing somewhat OK in city driving. A number
of people have advocated blocking off the horn holes in the engine
compartment as a partial remedy to this, the theory being air takes the
path of least resistance through those holes and not through the
radiator. In the Alpine, it's worse than the Tiger since there's no fan
shroud and there are gaps above and at the sides of the radiator.
About a month ago I taped up the horn holes (with heavy cloth masking
tape...not real pretty but it works) and all gaps above and around the
radiator so there's now no way for air in except through the radiator.
(I also taped off the "depressions" at either side of the front cowling
behind the bumper). The improvement has been dramatic and running a 160
degree thermostat with an added overflow tank, even in recent 100 degree
plus weather, the temp. guage needle never gets over straight up (about
180 degrees) even cruising at 75 MPH (not that I would ever break legal
posted speed limits). There seems to be a marked improvement in city
driving also, in that after stop and go traffic, temperature goes down
quicker, and further down, than before once I get moving. Anyone not
running an overflow tank might want to cosider adding one as this
prevents loss of coolant on the pavement and allows the radiator to be
filled all the way up, which I understand helps cooling too. I also run
a plastic six blade fan which puts out a lot more air, but forcing all
the air to pass through the radiator seems to make the biggest
improvement..
Hope this may be of some help to someone.
Steve Sage
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