Gel types? You can buy AGM batteries here? Where?
Radicaliez,
As phat7 said, large size FMICs can act like an air-dam that prevents sufficient cool-air reaching the rad. Even if you get a large size rad the point is the air-flow.
You can readily upgrade the rad to larger sizes without displacing the battery. There are advantages for putting the battery in the back if you can as it helps free up some space up front and move weight backwards - especially advantageous if you are plonking a large heavy copper rad up front.
FM and VMs are about the same. I've been told that the key disadvantage of VMs is in some applications, if the car is not moving, the radiator becomes heat soaked and temps rise. You would have to keep moving to keep the air-flowing sufficiently through the VM. However, while you are moving, the VMs have a much better heat dissipation rate compared to FMs - assuming you keep the front bumper.
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Hmmm... can anybody share the pricing of copper and aluminium rads?
I bought a large aluminium radiator 2nd hand from Ah Choy for RM 1300 a few years ago - I think.
Heard him say that 2-3 core copper rad would be a little cheaper.