MIght be time for a new radiator...
Discussion
Right, so I finally ran out of excuses and decided it was time to crack on with this job.
The radiator was refitted using all new hose clips and stainless bolts (OK, I couldn't find any stainless bar so the top spacers were turned from mild, I suppose I could have just cleaned the old ones up...). Fantastic pic from my camera, as usual...
I refilled the cooling system with water (no point in adding antifreeze at this stage in case it pees out everywhere!) and installed my home-brew pressure tester:
I pumped up the system but hadn't got to half a Bar before a couple of the hoses started seeping, so a quick tighten sorted them and more air was added...
I left the car for half an hour and the pressure didn't drop so I started the engine and warmed-up till the fan started cycling; the pressure gauge barely got above 1 Bar which is normal for the V8. The thermostat housing has a stupid leak which only shows up once the car has been stood for a while; when hot and under pressure it doesn't leak so I guess it's down to some distortion of its mounting face. Another job for another day...
Meanwhile I'd glassed the captive bolts in to the front airdam and cut some new stainless steel mesh to make a new intake grille. The top edge was stiffened in similar fashion to the original by being folded back on itself and rivetted to a length of stainless strip:
A trial fit of the airdam shows that some of the bolts don't want to slot straight into their holes so bit of fettling will be needed... watch this space
I'd also rewired the feeds to the front driving lamps but when I temporarily connected the lamps to the new wires and hit the lights switch, nothing happened. A bit of ransacking the old grey matter and a consultation with my fat file of 390 notes reminded me that the fuse labelled as being for the driving lamps is actually for the cooling fan and a spare, unlabelled fuseholder is the one for the lamps. Dropped in a fuse and Roberto is your Italian aunt's sister's brother. I think.
The Cibie driving lamps were used on quite a lot of cars over the years from the mundane Peugeot 205 to some big Yank tanks. They were available in chrome finish or a crackle black vinyl coating and with driving (long-range) or fog light lens patterns:
One of my casings had rotted away to nothing so I scavenged some more from Ebay. The fog laps tend to be more plentiful and cheaper but as all the parts are interchangeable you can switch them around to create what you need. I decided I prefer the black finish but only had one so I powder-coated one of my better spares to sort-of match it. I'll swap the lenses before I fit them; being clumsy I'm sure to drop them on the floor when refitting so I'll leave the fog lenses in for now!
The radiator was refitted using all new hose clips and stainless bolts (OK, I couldn't find any stainless bar so the top spacers were turned from mild, I suppose I could have just cleaned the old ones up...). Fantastic pic from my camera, as usual...
I refilled the cooling system with water (no point in adding antifreeze at this stage in case it pees out everywhere!) and installed my home-brew pressure tester:
I pumped up the system but hadn't got to half a Bar before a couple of the hoses started seeping, so a quick tighten sorted them and more air was added...
I left the car for half an hour and the pressure didn't drop so I started the engine and warmed-up till the fan started cycling; the pressure gauge barely got above 1 Bar which is normal for the V8. The thermostat housing has a stupid leak which only shows up once the car has been stood for a while; when hot and under pressure it doesn't leak so I guess it's down to some distortion of its mounting face. Another job for another day...
Meanwhile I'd glassed the captive bolts in to the front airdam and cut some new stainless steel mesh to make a new intake grille. The top edge was stiffened in similar fashion to the original by being folded back on itself and rivetted to a length of stainless strip:
A trial fit of the airdam shows that some of the bolts don't want to slot straight into their holes so bit of fettling will be needed... watch this space
I'd also rewired the feeds to the front driving lamps but when I temporarily connected the lamps to the new wires and hit the lights switch, nothing happened. A bit of ransacking the old grey matter and a consultation with my fat file of 390 notes reminded me that the fuse labelled as being for the driving lamps is actually for the cooling fan and a spare, unlabelled fuseholder is the one for the lamps. Dropped in a fuse and Roberto is your Italian aunt's sister's brother. I think.
The Cibie driving lamps were used on quite a lot of cars over the years from the mundane Peugeot 205 to some big Yank tanks. They were available in chrome finish or a crackle black vinyl coating and with driving (long-range) or fog light lens patterns:
One of my casings had rotted away to nothing so I scavenged some more from Ebay. The fog laps tend to be more plentiful and cheaper but as all the parts are interchangeable you can switch them around to create what you need. I decided I prefer the black finish but only had one so I powder-coated one of my better spares to sort-of match it. I'll swap the lenses before I fit them; being clumsy I'm sure to drop them on the floor when refitting so I'll leave the fog lenses in for now!
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff