Repost from Dezert Racing Forum.

I'm building a x-chassis/formula toy. I havent been doing much lately but worked some serious overtime last month and have been buying parts like crazy. My latest thing I'm working on is figuring out where to put the radiator.

Is there any increase or decrease in cooling on whether you mount a radiator in front or rear. Either way there is no blockage of air to the radiator. In the front there is nothing in front of the radiator, and in the rear the vehicle is a complete tube chassis, so it’s pretty free flowing. In the front the radiator would connect like a normal vehicle with a short factory hose, in the rear I would have to run about 8ft of tubing through the chassis and have some silicon hoses on each side to connect to the moter and the radiator. Would this extra water help in cooling, or would it hamper it because it has longer to travel before it gets to the radiator?

Vehicle was a gmc k1500 frame, now has a tube chassis welded to what's left of the frame rails, 500hp BBC w'th400, np 205. Will be used for dual purpose sand/dirt. Glamis/Ocotillo

I have a 31x16 Ron Davis Radiator on Dual Derales RAD 13in 4000cfm fans.

I know Mike Hendrix has a dezert background so I'm hoping he can post his ideas. I want to know what I should or shouldnt do and why or why not, what to look out for, how to do it right.

Here are some recent pics.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i259/gm500hprat/100_1305.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i259/gm500hprat/100_1309.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i259/gm500hprat/100_1308.jpg

Notice the front end here, I would like to cut this down and get a better approach angle, I will be 4 linking the front as well at some point. The radiator and fans will not fit inside the chassis on the front so I will have to make some kind of cage to protect it or it will stick out like a sore thumb.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i259/gm500hprat/100_1307.jpg

Thanks in advance, Art

Personally, I think you should cut the horizontal tubes on the front of the
F-Toy chassis and stretch it so that it extends out even with the front
of the frame. That will give you plenty of room for a radiator and winch.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i259/gm500hprat/100_1307.jpg

A radiator in the front will always work more effeciently. If at all possible, mount it in the front.