My car is a 2000 XK8. I actually had the same weather stripping and did seal the bottom and the top of the radiator, if a remember correctly. I left the sides open in the hope of getting some air moving in the engine compartment. I believe the XKRs lourvers are not there just for looks.

 

Jaguar seems to have gone to quite some effort to ensure that the air flow goes through the radiator and not around it, so is Nissens really saying that the efficiency of their product is such that all the sealing strips are superfluous?

I replaced my leaky condenser with a Nissens part, but had to modify both the plumbing support bracket and also the mounting lugs before it would fit properly. Seems to work OK, but definitely not 'plug n' play'.

Downside of using pattern parts, I guess.

 

Crossed thread thats easy ...When you wanted a holiday at Jag you sent your brother to the factory to do your job ...he was a milkman.

 

[QUOTE=michaelh;2555204]Jaguar seems to have gone to quite some effort to ensure that the air flow goes through the radiator and not around it, so is Nissens really saying that the efficiency of their product is such that all the sealing strips are superfluous?

I replaced my leaky condenser with a Nissens part, but had to modify both the plumbing support bracket and also the mounting lugs before it would fit properly. Seems to work OK, but definitely not 'plug n' play'.

Downside of using pattern parts, I guess.[/QUOTE
The point Nissen told me was the shroud holding the fans is the factor that makes the radiator work properly. My guess is the sealing of the engine compartment by Jaguar is to keep water and dirt out and also to reduce engine noise. I know people who have ran their cars removing the hood and the cooling system still functioned normanlly. Improving air flow in the engine compartment I think is good for all the rubber and plastic parts, why expose them to higher termperatures?

 

Considering the amount of info on successful XK8 installs seems suitable for naturally aspirated, I think Nissens fell flat to consider it applicable to XKR though. Faster I went, the hotter it got. What would normally would take a few minutes cruise at speed (emphasizing speed here) to cool back down, it would take at least 20 minutes. Give it any boost/acceleration and it would spike, massively.

As far as the insulation goes, goes either way in my mind but for example that deflection bracket with the insulation taped on it that is an absolute miserable bear to install, that in theory would keep hot radiator air off that air intake box. Once I have a replacement installed it will be wrapped all around while it is out.

For the Nissens I was able to get the stuff I bought off amazon to work as well, especially at the top where the top mount cover is.

 

WTF..... running without the hood would not be road legal ....???/

 

if you have an XKR all you need to do is buy a radiator for a DB7 Vantage and many other models they don’t cost a lot

 

I am not sure which of the radiator options for the DB7 you mean, but I looked up 32121574AD. It is an all aluminum radiator (even the end tanks) that looks like it could fit the Jags… it’s $1700+ from what I saw. Not exactly cheap.

 

call nar group they make the radiators

or buy one from radtec

 

I am not in need of a radiator right now, I just thought that it was an interesting tidbit of information that you mentioned and think that you should provide part numbers for future members looking for that alternative.


I just checked out radtec’s DB7 radiator and that is a pretty radiator. All aluminum just like the ones I saw for the P/N I mentioned. They claim an increase in cooling efficiency over the stock DB7 radiator. Are you certain they fit the XKR?


Radtec has an all aluminum radiator for the X100 for £520.
https://www.radtec.co.uk/shop/makes/jaguar/xk/modern-xk/jaguar-xkr/

This is the link. I think this should be on everyone’s shopping list in the future if it’s as good as it looks.