air goes through the radiator though doesn't it
thickness counts for surface area, more fins = more surface area = greater cooling capacity.

Then why is the one in my XR8 the thicker 32mm one, and the one that was in my EL 6 was 25mm? Both are/were factory.

Ford dont make mention of the thicker ones, because they are no longer available. People ended up just putting in the thinner ones in 8s once they died.

thats a good guestion??
i no the e series v8 i have owned had a std 25mm??
and when it needed a new one (about 4 years ago now) ford told me they were the same part number..from 6 to 8..
maybe the original was different? and ford decided that supplying a 6 cyl as a replacement was good enough?

I've got the 5ltr plonk and replaced my busted 8 cyl radiator with a 6cyl one, there's only a few mm difference. Nothing wrong with it Had no problems, and with the large difference in price between the two was an easy choice to make

I just remembered a conversation with a radiator distributor in Brooklyn and he confirmed that the 6 & 8 cyl radiators are identical. I asked him about the XR8 radiator and he said they are a slightly different physical fit compared to the standard radiators.
Anyhow, yesterday I ordered a new radiator through Racetec and Brian said he'd got me a radiator which had more fins than the standard one, so I was happy. It's now in and the engine runs a lot cooler ( even in the 32° temp this arvo ).

No problem at all Ash.
I paid $275 for the radiator and as regards the engine temp, it used to sit on "R" when it was a hot day or driving up a hill, but on the way home it was sitting between "A" and "L" when loading up the engine and driving up the Dandenong Ranges.
( using the word NORMAL on the temp gauge as the reference )

When cruising on a level road, the temp gauge needle dropped down a little to just under the word NORMAL.
The thermostat I fitted a couple of years ago is just the standard thermostat as its just a mild stroker and not a race engine.
As I still don't have the display module for the v500, I can't give you an exact temperature sorry.

i've got a 32mm near new 2core here out of my turbo as i fitted a 40mm 3 core in the turbo for doing burnouts.The differance is 4 deg with the thermo's on sitting in traffic on a 32 deg day...

phill