1988 Expansion Tank Turbo R

[simonlyons]

Help

My expansion tank is split, as soon as the cooling system is pressurised it leaks a little. It had a radiator leak whcich was resolved, as soon as it was fixed the header tanks leaks.

Bentley UK have them on back order so I am a little stuck. Does anybody know where I can get one. Im going to apply a fibreglass repair to get me home but then I am stuck. Have tried numerous breakers but all to no avail. I sourced some tanks from the low pressure turbo model but they are a totally different shape. IF anybody has one to sell or knows where I can get one I would be grateful.

SCBZSOTAOJCN23**3 Chassis number

Many thanks

[Bluebottle911]

Have you tried Introcar or Flying Spares?

[ecurie]

This might be of interest to you :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bentley-Turbo-1988-Expan...

Edit : I just realised that the eBay ad is yours. Strange : you're selling one on eBay and trying to find one here ?

[matt5791]

Flying spares are good, and have a very good inventory of used parts, but Roberts Hall will always better them on price, often by a substantial margin:

www.roberts-hall.co.uk

David Roberts is very helpful and will always take the time to discuss on the phone. And they may have a used one too.

[Bluebottle911]

ecurie said:

This might be of interest to you :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bentley-Turbo-1988-Expan...

Edit : I just realised that the eBay ad is yours. Strange : you're selling one on eBay and trying to find one here ?

Looks like he found two since Monday's posting, now selling the second.

[simonlyons]

I bought two from a breakers but they were for the pre 84 models. Its completely different.

Im not that treacherous, had a very busy week so apologies for the delay.

I emailed Bentley on Tuesday and they confirmed they have 54 in test as the part has been on back order for a year. Fist batch split. They are like hens teeth, allegedly there is forty two turbos off the road awaiting a header tank. Bentley said if they pass the tests they will release the stock this week.

Scary, fixed a rad leak and the header tank started leaking, pressure in the system must increase greatly.

[simonlyons]

By the way i tried all the suggestions before posting, got one positive reply from Canberra in Australia. Wanted 450 quid. Intro, flying, roberts, gallimores, phantom. All to no avail.

Demand item me thinks.

[matt5791]

You could probably repair it as a stop gap measure.

[Bluebottle911]

Makes you wonder what other parts we may be unable to get soon.

[simonlyons]

For all of you looking, I have just spoken to Terry at Bentley in Crewe. He let me know the replacement expansion tanks are in teh final stages of test. Hopefully they should be released to teh network in the next two weeks.

I have fibreglassed mine as a replacement and its driveable. But I cant use it yet as its to risky.

By the way has anybody replaced their cooling pipes with silicone ones? Is it worth it?

WIll keep you posted on the progress of the test and if anybody wants two tanks for the pre 85 models Ive got two!!!

[matt5791]

Bluebottle911 said:

Makes you wonder what other parts we may be unable to get soon.

Since buying the Continental R, I have been amazed at the incredible parts back up for these vehicles. Everything I ask for seems to be available.

I am used to dreadful parts back up though - my Lancia 2000hf has a virtually non-existant supply, so bad I have had to put together my own stock of parts by breaking 2 cars and then buying any other bits that come on the market! We did some body work and had to have the panels made from scratch.

[Bluebottle911]

matt5791 said:

Since buying the Continental R, I have been amazed at the incredible parts back up for these vehicles. Everything I ask for seems to be available.

I am used to dreadful parts back up though - my Lancia 2000hf has a virtually non-existant supply, so bad I have had to put together my own stock of parts by breaking 2 cars and then buying any other bits that come on the market! We did some body work and had to have the panels made from scratch.

Yes, I can safely say that I have never (so far!) been unable to get what I have needed for my Turbo R, or any other R-R or Bentley that I have owned for that matter, though I did have to resort to Beaulieu autojumble when the casting on the front of the engine of my Phantom to which the fan is attached broke - I found one from a P2 that did the business, but you can't expect to get every part for an 80 year old car off the shelf just when you need it (my car had to suffer the ignominy of being driven around for 6 months with an electric fan borrowed from a Cobra whose owner had gone abroad). However, Simon's experience does make me wonder whether we are going to have similar problems and have to resort to your tactics with your Lancia (assuming we have the storage space needed).

As it happens, I have been having a not dissimilar experience with my 911 (similar age to my Bentley), which has just emerged from its annual MoT / service. Were it not for the ingenuity of my mechanic in doing a temporary fix to get through the MoT, it might have been off the road for several weeks, possibly months, waiting for a wishbone to arrive from Germany. The parts are made, like with Simon's washer bottle. In fact, Porsche pride themselves on their ability to provide parts for older models, but getting hold of them can sometimes take ages. The other aspect, as I am sure you have discovered in your shopping for secondhand parts, is that there are significant savings to be made. Another part my 911 needed was the aircon compressor. This is not an MoT issue, so it would not have meant it being off the road, and indeed this is available off the shelf, but at a price. As it happens, I have been buying some 911 parts (mainly off e-bay) to build up a bit of a stock, so was able to fit a secondhand one that cost me £50 instead of a new one at £650. Buying off e-bay is a bit of a risk, but if you are lucky it can save a great deal.

While on the subject of prices for parts, have any Turbo R owners still on original 15" wheels noticed how much tyre prices have shot up lately? Avon 255/65 CR27s are now £430 each (inc. VAT)! Does anyone know if there are any alternatives?

[matt5791]

Whilst I've never really been able to make myself like the newer VW Bentleys, in all fairness to VW they do seem intent of keeping up a good supply of parts for the older cars, and making it as easy as possible for people to source genuine parts from independent suppliers.

For anyone looking for parts, I have found Roberts Hall to be very competitive on price when compared to the more established companies. And David Roberts is very helpful and clued up. It's always worth asking them for a price.

[hidetheelephants]

Depending on the price of the OE part, how about a custom stainless steel or alloy header tank? They aren't that pricy.

[simonlyons]

Do you have a recommendation who could do that?

[hidetheelephants]

Not specifically, but any decent S/S or alloy fabricator will quote you a price if you've got the old tank as a pattern for the connection layout etc.

[Bluebottle911]

hidetheelephants said:

Depending on the price of the OE part

Not very expensive actually. I was invoiced for one by Bentley back in 2003 at £83.41+VAT and it is currently listed on Introcar's site (albeit marked out of stock) at £77.65+VAT. How's that for inflation!

[simonlyons]

You need a tank a sender and a sticker now so it's about 140 including the vat.

[simonlyons]

Gents your help, i have the new tank.

How do you fit it?? Is there a method of draining the expansion tank first or do you drain the whole system?

If theres a how to then i would be grateful.

Simon

[matt5791]

I would highly recommend the workshop manual CD which is available for about £25 - really very handy. Should be a pretty easy job...