Any successful radiator in engine compartment conversions?, Or other than front trunk installs? Options

[Mueller]

I know this had been tried 7+ years ago, I was wondering if since then has anyone done a watercooled conversion and not put the radiator in the front trunk?

[DBCooper]

The question was whether a radiator had been successfully used in the 914 engine compartment. I think the answer is still generally not in a 914, with a lot of discussion of theoretical possibilities. It HAS been done in other cars, for example that Laborghini, or closer to home by Toy-Jet, which put their radiator in an LS1 911's whale tale:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1418073678.1.jpg)

On the more practical side VW bus guys have been out there actively trying lots of different ways to adapt modern engines to their old air-cooled busses. One that was interesting to our discussion was split dual radiators in the engine compartment fed with large scoops on the sides of a bay window bus, augmented by large fans. This worked reasonably well but still tended to heat saturate after extended time on the freeway.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i53.photobucket.com-2618-1418073678.2.jpg)

Another bus had huge fans pulling air into split window's engine bay, proved not nearly enough. Yet another had scoops across the underside of a kombi gave good airflow and worked for a while, but scooped up a lot of dirt and crap that eventually clogged things. Another was roof-mounted like a luggage rack, which sounds a bit like the targa suggestion.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i53.photobucket.com-2618-1418073678.3.jpg)

The owner intends to camouflage that so it looks like a suitcase or a beer cooler, interesting idea but probably not the best look for a 914. This one actually works really well, it's in direct air flow, but not exactly in the engine compartment.

Obviously these aren't 914's, but it's significant that most of those applications are low to medium powered Subaru engines that are relatively efficient and don't need a huge amount of cooling. A higher powered engine would certainly be more difficult. Basically what's relevant is that the practical experiments indicate that it's really difficult to cool without having access to direct air flow. That means I wouldn't be optimistic about it working in a 914's engine compartment either, but hey, if you think you have a good idea, go for it.