Alloy or Re-Core?

Alloy or Re-Core?

Author
Discussion

Milky400

Original Poster:

1,960 posts

177 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
As above, do I recondition my existing rad or go for alloy? Obviously cost for alloy is a fair bit more but is it worth it? I've read pro's and con's on alloy rads so a little unsure....

Chees

dvs_dave

8,581 posts

224 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
I stuck with original. Standard Tuscan cooling system is more than adequate so waste of money improving something that doesn't need improving. It won't make it any more powerful or reliable. Weight saving is a bit of a myth too as the alloy core ones typically hold more water to increase cooling capacity so once full of coolant are at least the same weight or maybe even heavier.

gralin69

232 posts

199 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
http://classicalloyradiators.co.uk/products/325/Tu...


Quality product used 1 of these easy job both bonnet's off for access nothing to do with Air Con good luck refill with (Blue Antifreeze0 from memory on their information

Cockey

1,384 posts

227 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
When I researched this, I think I came to the conclusion that the alloy radiators are not as efficient as the original copper ones. And aren't the aluminium ones cheaper?

I initially chose to get my original repaired (which didn't work), so in the end got an exchange unit from Racing Green. Pretty sure recoring your original should stop any leaks, and you end up with a good as new radiator. I didn't have any one local enough to do this though.

chris watton

22,477 posts

259 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
I bought an aluminium rad for my Tamora from here:

http://www.aaronradiator.co.uk/catalog/TVR_radiato...

THREEFISHORANGE

574 posts

220 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
Ive just picked up my re-con rad this afternoon. It looks brand new. The whole centre aluminium core has been replaced along with new gaskets.The original plastic end caps have been reused( apparently cannot source new ones) 12 month guarantee. Flow and pressure tested. Used the company before for the griff rad.

R7EBO

501 posts

141 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
I had an alloy rad made from scratch as I couldn't find one, or even a core for my car as it's an early mk1 and was quickly superseded. Someone had one core on a shelf but when they went to get it to package it up it turned out to be damaged!

Less than 18 months later it started leaking again as the core had come away inside, which then cost me another £300 to have repaired & strengthened. So not brilliant so far...

Basil Brush

5,061 posts

262 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
I got an all copper and brass one from these guys for 275 quid a couple of years ago.

http://www.northernradiators.co.uk/

My original was I'd guess the same as Ryan's being an early Mk1, all alloy with curved inlet and outlet. The replacement had the shorter straight stubs so I had to use some curved hose pieces to connect the hoses but not a big job.

977

448 posts

183 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
I've got one of these - http://tvr-parts.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tvr-k7... - for the Chim.

went in alright, looks lovely, seems very sturdy. I did need to buy a 90 degree silicone bend, a 36mm joiner, and an otter switch blank though.

fans run a lot less time to bring the temp in line in traffic, so I'm assuming it must be more effective at cooling. Much lighter comparing like with like, however, adding water may swing it either way depending on capacity.

Sorry if this doesn't apply to the Tuscan but I've no idea why it wouldn't.

cerberatony

417 posts

183 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
I also had an alloy one from these guys http://www.aaronradiator.co.uk very pleased

Milky400

Original Poster:

1,960 posts

177 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Right...

The old one is not repairable, so that means alloy for £346 from Aaron or recon from TVR Parts for £270.

Think I'll be trying out TVR's service

Milky400

Original Poster:

1,960 posts

177 months

Monday 9th March 2015
quotequote all
Right, I tried TVR parts and wont comment. The recon rad they were selling for 270 didnt include the 70 exchange surcharge that was not advertised. Ended up ordering one from Aaron's which I then cancelled five minutes later as the original place I took the dead one to called to say they had found a tvr core for 150 including end caps (I slighty butchered the air con mount removing mine )... So nearly half the price of TVR for the same thing....

A massive thanks to Anglia Radiators in Cambridge top top local friendly service, if any of you choose to go there book a couple of hours as he loves to talk all things radiator from the earliest T Fords to Hurricanes and Spitfires. Also big thank you to Laura at Aaron for being understanding and refunding.

Two fantastic companies and a reminder of what customer service should feel like.

Just got to put the bloody thing back in now.



Edited by Milky400 on Monday 9th March 22:17


Edited by Milky400 on Thursday 12th March 06:19