Davies Craig do fan kits, you can get them from the likes of Merlin Motorsport, Demon Tweeks or ebay
www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk
www.demon-tweeks.com
I can't help with a direct replacement radiator but you can get you're old one re-built with a more efficient core.
Davies Craig products from | Merlin Motorsport
Davies Craig products | Quality parts, spares & racewear for all Motorsport needs. Huge stocks supplied worldwide. Fast delivery. Professional service. Call us for technical help
Davies Craig | Water Pumps & Cooling | Demon Tweeks
Make sure your performance car or bike runs at the optimum temperature with electric water pumps & cooling kits from Davies Craig. Buy now at Demon Tweeks
I can't help with a direct replacement radiator but you can get you're old one re-built with a more efficient core.
I use the Davis Craig same as Panky, works very well. I wouldn’t scrimp on these things so buy quality even if they’re a £100 or so more.
Ally rads - I think the escort (mk1?) fits and there’s loads at good prices on ebay (just check the pipe exits). You’ll need to move the rad forward a bit which is quite simple to do with spaces. You’d likely need to do this anyhow if you fit the David Craig as a pull fan unless you also remove the water pump and fit an electric one. Again Panky has done that I believe
Ally rads - I think the escort (mk1?) fits and there’s loads at good prices on ebay (just check the pipe exits). You’ll need to move the rad forward a bit which is quite simple to do with spaces. You’d likely need to do this anyhow if you fit the David Craig as a pull fan unless you also remove the water pump and fit an electric one. Again Panky has done that I believe
I've got the Davies Craig water pump but my fan system is a bit of a hybrid I scavenged together very cheaply but very effective. Escort turbo diesel fan (£6) and a Fiat temperature switch (£3) off ebay many moons ago. All that with a standard radiator and a bike rad in the heater return makes for a very nice system - took me a while to get it right but now I'm happy with it 
But as Jim says a ready made kit takes all the guesswork out of it and worth the purchase price (I just like messing about)
You could also look at the Kenlowe range, long established and good quality.
But as Jim says a ready made kit takes all the guesswork out of it and worth the purchase price (I just like messing about
)You could also look at the Kenlowe range, long established and good quality.
JJ Autosleeper
Active Member
Re the original mechanical fan and radiator: Does the cowl fitted to the rear of the radiator surrounding the fan achieve anything? I have not seen one on any other Rootes vehicles.
Also does removing the mechanical fan and fitting an electrical one gain any noticeable horsepower? This question in relation to a 1725 low compression engine set up van.
Also does removing the mechanical fan and fitting an electrical one gain any noticeable horsepower? This question in relation to a 1725 low compression engine set up van.
The ducting is essential on the standard fan to ensure a good flow through the rad, you will notice the difference if you remove it as the airflow on a Commer is rather convoluted as it is.
Fitting an electric pump with gain a few horses but a noticeable reduction in engine noise is a definite bonus (still noisy in there though) What you will find if you remove the mechanical fan for a lekky one is the fan will cut in regularly and maybe end up running continually which defeats the object a bit. A small bike rad plumbed into the heater return improves the cooling capacity and the fan should then only cut in when in standing traffic or when idling after a hard run. This is only possible though if your cooling system is in a good clean and restriction free condition so a good flush is the way to go before any mods are done.
Fitting an electric pump with gain a few horses but a noticeable reduction in engine noise is a definite bonus (still noisy in there though) What you will find if you remove the mechanical fan for a lekky one is the fan will cut in regularly and maybe end up running continually which defeats the object a bit. A small bike rad plumbed into the heater return improves the cooling capacity and the fan should then only cut in when in standing traffic or when idling after a hard run. This is only possible though if your cooling system is in a good clean and restriction free condition so a good flush is the way to go before any mods are done.
JJ Autosleeper
Active Member
I have flushed the cooling system twice (Radflush) and removed and cleaned out the rear core plug when changing the gearbox. So that’s all done. She got pretty warm last summer still though. And thought I may modernise the system and quieten her down a bit. Also gain a horsepower or two.
I’m curious about the bike rad idea. There is space for one. Do you have any pictures of how you managed it?
Presumably no one switches off the heater feed in the summer, as noted in the manual.
I’m curious about the bike rad idea. There is space for one. Do you have any pictures of how you managed it?
Presumably no one switches off the heater feed in the summer, as noted in the manual.
Not a very good picture but I had it tucked up behind the front valance. It's off a KTM 125 and is big enough for the extra cooling needed for the slightly tuned Rapier engine I've got in my van. That's the scoop I made for the cooling air inlet and the re-positioned horn for reference. Have you tried inverting the original air scoop? it does improve the air floe a bit.
And no I don't turn the heater of in summer just close the flaps and open the window
You can just see the inverted scoop on Bonnie her
And no I don't turn the heater of in summer just close the flaps and open the window
You can just see the inverted scoop on Bonnie her
I had the redundant hole for the impeller spindle welded up and kept the pump body in place as the coolant flow still needs to use the same rout.
I have seen someone use a blanking plate with an elbow welded on used in place of the pump housing
Modified pump housing along with a new thermostat housing I made to accept a temperature switch for the electric fan.
I have seen someone use a blanking plate with an elbow welded on used in place of the pump housing
Modified pump housing along with a new thermostat housing I made to accept a temperature switch for the electric fan.
I’ve done the scoop and the bike rad mod - difference is I’ve mounted the rad on the front under the bumper, bit Max Max
I plumbed it out and back into the system before the heater control valve (which is just before the heater matrix) so can keep the heater off in Summer.
Saying that I’ve the newer Commer so has sliding heater control in the cab - I think older vans may have to lift the middle seat to switch the heater on and off
I plumbed it out and back into the system before the heater control valve (which is just before the heater matrix) so can keep the heater off in Summer.
Saying that I’ve the newer Commer so has sliding heater control in the cab - I think older vans may have to lift the middle seat to switch the heater on and off
I've actually moved the bike rad, it's now bolted to the underside of the scoop as far back as I can get it and level with the bottom of the main radiator. It's bit vulnerable but it works better in the air stream there, I keep beaning to make a protective mesh to help deflect road debris. Might get round to it while he's off the road.
Hmm it sounds like I should go all in on this then, pump, fan, rad and see how that goes, then maybe a bike rad too if that’s not getting results.
I need to poke about but I think my van has a valve in the cabin rather than the engine bay. Suspect some past modding has been done.
I need to poke about but I think my van has a valve in the cabin rather than the engine bay. Suspect some past modding has been done.
Not sure if these old Photobucket pics will open but they show an alternative to the blanked off water pump housing that I did. A simple plate with an elbow welded on makes a nice neat Davies Craig installation.
Scroll down a bit for the pics.
Scroll down a bit for the pics.
Katy, Freshly rescued
Looking fantastic[8D] The first fill up of many;) Summer's Coming
forum.commervanfan.co.uk
So an update to this, I've ordered a Davies Craig pump and management system as well as an escort rad and electronic fan!
So I will have to sort out the waterpump issue, I can weld so thats an option, closing up the spindle hole on the current pump housing with all the gubbins removed.
So I will have to sort out the waterpump issue, I can weld so thats an option, closing up the spindle hole on the current pump housing with all the gubbins removed.