Contact the Authors: “Tiger Tom®” Ehrhart and Chuck King

The following explanations, facts and plots provide supporting details for the article published in Tiger East/Alpines East Rootes Review and other marque newsletters.

The additional charts on this site illustrate some of the more significant variables we were able to quantify. Our intent is to show the more significant differences of the various variables we measured.

Our Appeal

We ran out of hot weather and our testing is incomplete. However, these tests have helped identify the key areas for improving cooling on a Tiger and Alpine as well. Building on the variety of information and experience gained, we can now focus on more specific objectives to improve cooling.

In the Summer of 2001, we are prepared to identify and quantify more specific improvements. We plan to test a variety of Fans/Radiators/Pulleys/Water pumps/Shrouds/Air restriction and ideas that you make available to us. The ideas can come any time. But we need the physical items for typically a couple of weeks in the heat of the summer so we can include them in our comparison test. We will do our best to coordinate testing with the availability of the components.

General Test Program Notes

1. Idle tests were run until engine temperature reached approximately 215 ° F, the point at which the fuel began to boil in the carburetor fuel bowl and affect the idle speed, AND/OR the temperature stabilized within one degree for three consecutive two minute measurement intervals.

Air Flow Enhancement

1. A Ford C9DZ-8600-A Maverick 6 cyl cut down to 14″ diameter was used for most of the testing. It is our opinion that the actual idle temperatures and times would have been lower and longer respectively throughout the tests if a more standard 15″ Maverick fan had been used. However the outcomes of the various tests clearly identify significant improvements even when using the 14″ fan.
2. An enclosed fan shroud fabricated from a Ford Taurus shroud was used for much of the testing in this test program while using a 14″ Maverick fan. Airflow testing shows an enclosed shroud does improve airflow through the radiator. Our enclosed shroud was not as deep (front to back) as a stock shroud. This provided an improved axial and radial position relationship with the fan blade over stock with respect to radiator/fan gap and blade tip and shroud edge. We also know that a 15″ fan can flow considerably more air than a 14″ fan. We ran out of hot weather and were not able to incorporate the enclosure principles into a stock shroud and test with a larger diameter 15″ fan. We are not providing data on this arrangement because the fabrication modifications of a stock shroud and performance measurements have not been completed.
3. Airflow testing of the Derale # 17015 fan indicated its performance was significantly superior to all other fans tested. Unfortunately we were unable to compare its performance at idle and interstate speeds because the hot weather left us. We know it performs better and recommended it accordingly. We plan to quantify its performance in the summer of 2001.
4. The sheet metal brace located across the lower front of the radiator obstructs approximately 10% of the radiator surface area, about three rows of tubes. We recommend it be removed. We have done some testing without this brace obstructing the radiator. Our best results are without this brace in place. The addition of additional bracing and a deflector at the base of the radiator to the bottom of the valance are believed to offer improved cooling. However, we have not done a comparison test at idle or interstate speeds to quantify the effect. We plan to do a comparison test in the summer of 2001.
5. Engine compartment venting: Using streamers to identify air flow at idle, we observed large amounts of hot air EXITING the engine compartment and reentering the front of the radiator from two distinct sources. The openings in front of the horns and the gap between the radiator and crossmember.
   At highway speed the openings in front of the horns adversely effect cooling because air is forced to ENTER the engine compartment. Consequently air expelled from the radiator is reduced because it must compete with the additional volume of air to exit an already restricted engine compartment. Blocking the opening in front of the horns is a valid old time Tiger cooling improvement that should be first on the “To do” list.

Plot interpretation

These plots are intended to demonstrate specific issues as explained by comments with each plot. Values and differences shown on the plots are for reference purposes only. They indicate significant difference(s) or interactions between a given variable or variables as measured. The reader should not attempt to extrapolate data for any reason from a plot. There are significant testing factors that must be factored into the meaning of the data that may not be apparent to the reader. For this reason, the reader is encouraged to contact the authors for additional explanations or detailed test data used to create the plots. Our interpretation is provided for each plot. Of course, you may have some of your own………but be careful.

In general, the plots clearly show that there is no one fix for cooling a Tiger. Efficient cooling requires a balanced cooling system design related to water and air management. It is a common practice in the Tiger community to focus on radiators for improved cooling. Clearly, as evidenced from our results, radiators, high tech or Godzilla monster of any kind do not provide significant cooling improvement with out lots of airflow. Our studies support the need for improved airflow. Airflow is a complex process of interactions between the radiator, fan, shroud and overall body constraints. We have made strides in identifying key areas to improve and have noted them in this report.

Improved Tiger cooling can be expected over a stock cooling system when a variable shown on a plot that produced significant improvement is incorporated in a Tiger, but the magnitude may be different than that shown on the plot. Maximum cooling will be achieved when all the changes listed in the Summary of results are implemented.

Reminder

When evaluating your cars cooling performance, verify the temperature sending unit, instrument voltage regulator and gauge provide accurate results as a system before making decisions, bragging or complaining about effectiveness of your cooling system.

General Plot Notes

When reviewing the plots, keep the following in mind:

1. Many plots show only the upper portion of the temperature/time spectrum since the purpose is to only compare differences at the extremes (temperature and Time).
2. The test # provides traceability to detailed test data used to create plots.
3. Some plots have multiple variables with emphasis only on the most significant outcome. Remember, each test measurement evaluated only one variable. The reader should contact the authors if additional interpretation is desired.

• Stock VS Air Flow Enhancements
• Interstate Driving LOOP Better Performers
• Interstate Driving LOOP
• RADIATOR Comparison
• FAN Comparison
  Flexlite 1314 VS Maverick
• Open/Closed Hood & Increased Air Flow VS Radiator Change
• Radiators VS Increased Air Flow
• Water Pump Pulley
  Stock VS ’81 Fairmont 6 cyl.
• Radiator / Crossmember Gap
• Redline Water Wetter
• Electric Fan Comparison

Variables Tested

Radiators

• Stock
• Griffin Single row Aluminum, Single pass (1 1/4″)
• Fluidyne, Single Row,Triple Pass (2″)
• FX Single Three Row Single Pass (1 7/8″ )
• CX Core Four Row, Triple Pass (2″)
• CX Core, Four Row, SinglePass (2″)

Pumps

• Stock stamped steel paddle
• Milodon Hi Vol, #16230 (Fits Tiger but requires longer mounting bolts, causes fan to be closer to radiator than other pumps, inlet close to fan belt)
• Stewart Hi Vol Stage 1, #16103, Mfg. claims 41% incr. vol.

Pulleys

• Stock: 5 7/8″ Diameter
• About 1978 to 1982 Ford Fairmont 6 cyl: 5 3/16″  Diameter (Pump hub should be pressed on 1/8″ further than stock location. Pulley fits standard Ford 5/8″ shaft.. Pulley hole must be enlarged to 1″ if used on a stock Tiger water pump hub)

Stress cracks emanating from mounting holes on Tiger water pump pulley are becoming more common. The problem is acerbated by the addition of increased radial loads from alternators, air conditioning, etc. Reinforce the hub in this area or change to a Fairmont hub, which already has the proper reinforcement.

Shrouds

• Stock
• Custom, fully enclosed: Fabricated from “Junk Yard Dog” Ford Taurus by Chuck King

Fans: Electric

• 10″ dia, 4 blade, Summit equiv # SUM-G4910
• 12″ dia, 10 blade, Perma-Cool # PRM-19008
• Other “Junk Yard” specials (See airflow data)

Engine Driven
(After-market fans fit 5/8″ Ford water pump shaft. They require enlarging to 1″ if mounted on a stock Tiger water pump with a 1″ hub.)

Stock Alpine I-II & increased pitch

• Stock Alpine I-II & increased pitch
• Stock AlpineV & increased pitch
• Stock Tiger
• Flex-a-lite #414 14″ diameter
• Flex-a-lite #1314 14″ Diameter
• Imperial #221615 15″
• Diameter

Derale #17015 15″ Diameter


Maverick 6 cyl & increased pitch
• Ford C9DZ-8600-A Maverick 6 cyl. Cut down to 14″ diameter
• Ford C9DZ-8600-A Maverick 6 cyl with increased pitch

We’ve moved this article.
Read Cooling the Tiger here.

Tips for Minx Series parts,  most taken from postings to the Hillman Listserve.*

The information has no guarantee of any kind, implied or otherwise.

Hillman Series Minx Replacement Parts and Interchangeability Information
www.charm.net/~pdbragg/whatsahillman/parts.html

Check out the  rest of this site for more about Hillmans.

We currently have no active link to this list serve. If you have the info, please use the contact form to let us know about it.

Thanks

Photos courtesy of Robert Jaarsma

Humber

Humber

Humber

Temperature vs. Time

Interstate Driving LOOP Better Performers

Click on the image for a larger one

These were the best Interstate performers.

Poster now available.

There are, in fact, two different posters with our same beloved car pictured. (Not sure why they show up here in different sizes.  Both posters are 24 x 18″)

to Orlando

toWashington

One, we showed you first, is captioned Washington, DC to Orlando, FL, and has palm trees waiving in the breeze.  You can get that one here.

The other has the skyline of Washington in the background.  Get that one here.
Both are just $5. each with an additional $8.95 for ground delivery.

Do you need one? Or both? Want to see other Amtrak posters? Click here

A visitor asked: How do you verify that a Tiger is for real and not a fake?

The easiest way to identify a “real” Tiger is to determine if it has been authenticated by the TAC process. If the car has been TAC’d, you’ll find a numbered decal behind the cubby (glove) box. TAC stands for Tiger Authentication Committee; a group of inspectors using inspection criteria to authenticate a Tiger body shell as being original (i.e. produced on the Jensen assembly line).
The STOA has a list of currently authenticated Tigers.

Many Tigers have not gone through this process yet so you are now left to your own  visual feature assessment.   It’s too complex a process to get into here. What I would like to do is put you in touch with a knowledgeable owner in your area. Please advise general area where you need support and I will provide you with a contact person.

Or join our Forum and poke around to see if others have had similar questions.  You don’t have to be a club member to take advantage of the great info being shared in the Forum.

According to John Grunsfeld, the astronaut on the Hubble telescope repair, owning an Alpine qualifies one as an important life experience for astronauts. Check out segment this recording of Car Talk. The reference is at 5:50seconds. [ed note: I think the original broadcast of this show was on June 6, 2009]

Here’s the link to the rest of the converstations with and about John Grunsfeld and the Magliozzis.

Anybody know what year this was?

A sleeping giant legend returns. The Hershey Hillclimb was held for the first time in 32 years the weekend of 20 and 21 April. Thirty-year or older race cars ascended the 7 tenth mile scenic service road to Hotel Hershey. Although rain showers were in the area they stopped each day to provide a dry run with lots of course cleaning by corner workers. Many where heard to say things like, “I don’t even sweep my house or shop this clean.”

The “HILL” has been shut down for 32 years and used as a hiking and nature trail. Hershey Executives recognized the value (both $ and community partnerships) by recognizing the potential of an event that was very successful in the past. In it’s heyday, the Hill had over 215 entrants and an estimated 10,000 spectators for a weekend.

The inaugural Hershey Vintage Hillclimb (HVH) was stolen by Sunbeams, an IMP, an Alpine and three Tigers ascended the famous hill. There were some really neat cars running, Lancia, Allard, a 1926 Pontiac Oakland hillclimb car, Porsche, Sunbeams, Aston Martin, Healy’s, Volvo, the aromatic acoustically challenged two cycle Saabs, and many others. Did I mention Sunbeams?

The red Series I Alpine, a local PA car owned by Frank Troxel, was raced for the first time in about 30 or more years. It was previously used as an F production hill climb and/or road race car. The IMP is an East coast favorite owned and raced extensively by Rick Rose at road races and hillclimbs. The IMP was always a successful race car having been a dealer sponsored (Beck Foreign Cars, York PA) The car is prepared to the latest race technology and is always a crowd pleaser along with the driver. It is a very fast IMP, and quick car until it hits a tree. Rick gets the dubious honors at the inaugural Hershey Hillclimb of being the only car to be extracted from a tree and drug home. And Rick still had a smile on his face. The Hill is that much fun.

The long distance award goes to Curt Bowland who towed is BRG street drivable quick C-production type race Tiger from near Chicago. That’s about a 1/3 of the way across this US of A, folks. Now that’s dedication to the marque and a lot of effort for 50 second thrill. This was Curts first hillclimb. His expression related to a comparison of sex for the first time., When Curt got off the hill, he was Beaming all smiles and puckered up after coming down from a high.

Geof Byrd brought his bright eye sucking crowd stopping yellow race Tiger from VA along with his trusty side kick, Co-driver Gilbert Grable. This too was their first hillclimb. There is no rush like flogging a Tiger up a narrow twisty road with trees on the edge and bringing it back in one piece. Both Geof and Gilbert managed to keep its brilliance in tact while pushing the limits of physics all the while turning respectable times from years past.

The crowd favorite geewiz wow pucker factor car, Fastest Time Of the Day and breaker of the hill record by over two seconds was…you guessed it, a red and white Tiger driven by Merlin Miller. Merlin has driven this Tiger on other hills and East Coast racetracks. The car is an engineering marvel closely resembling a SCCA GT-2 car. But more importantly, is how Merlin drives. He makes a Tiger dance with a fluid smoothness and balance of a ballet dancer by rear steering the car with his go pedal. It is a visual rush that even captivates the spectators.

Sunbeam racers did our marque proud. Both the drivers and cars stole the crowd’s attention. One even garnered its way into the record books as the fastest car ever beating out all the Vettes, 600HP purpose built vehicles, Open wheel formula cars, Porches, etc. . Out of 61 entries we had more Beams than MGB’s, Healeys, Porches, VW’s and other popular marques. The bar has just been set. The Hershey Vintage Hillclimb and Sports car show date has not yet been set but a late April date is being considered. The new record challengers have to break a Tigers record and the Sunbeam spirit from racers and spectators alike.

Ever notice Sunbeam drivers always garner spectators’ attention. Must cause that extra Beam they all have.