Discussion
So having removed the bonnet... far easier than I had imagined... I spent a happy weekend wrestling with the assorted lengths of rotting metal pipe, rusty hose clips ,and suspect rubber bits that dangle between the rad and motor.
Taking off the cover revealed a far better situation than I had imagined, the chasis pipes are intact and rust free for as far as I could see, despite being rather grubby, the coating cleaned up with duck oil.
Both the rubber hoses and steel pipes were really on their last legs, and wouldn`t have held water for much longer, I would recommend a regular "look under the cover" to any cerb owner.
Top tip... a big lump of sponge rubber to lean on... my ribs still ache, and most importantly.. remove all of the existing plastic tie wraps as the first job. I used to curse working on the mini, but I currently look like a case from the Self Harm clinic, Those blighters are sharp !!!
Taking off the cover revealed a far better situation than I had imagined, the chasis pipes are intact and rust free for as far as I could see, despite being rather grubby, the coating cleaned up with duck oil.
Both the rubber hoses and steel pipes were really on their last legs, and wouldn`t have held water for much longer, I would recommend a regular "look under the cover" to any cerb owner.
Top tip... a big lump of sponge rubber to lean on... my ribs still ache, and most importantly.. remove all of the existing plastic tie wraps as the first job. I used to curse working on the mini, but I currently look like a case from the Self Harm clinic, Those blighters are sharp !!!
[/quote] So, after following the excellent forum advice, the system bled easily using just the brass bolt on top of the rad, and a little patience in topping up the expantion tank slowly.
still had the tell tale small puddle under the front overnight, which confirmed my original suspicion that the rad was leaking a little.
The local rad repairer in Bournemouth( who I last used 24 years ago !!) now has it for a recore. He reconed it was a Range Rover core, with different end tanks ??
Worth a mention on the "alternative part numbers" list?
still had the tell tale small puddle under the front overnight, which confirmed my original suspicion that the rad was leaking a little.
The local rad repairer in Bournemouth( who I last used 24 years ago !!) now has it for a recore. He reconed it was a Range Rover core, with different end tanks ??
Worth a mention on the "alternative part numbers" list?
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