Cooling system change
Discussion
I got TVR Power to ship me out a new SS rad, fans, both sensors, hose kit - so that the T350 can cope a bit easier with the Aussie heat.
It's being fitted by a British car specialist (Cremorne Prestige in Artarmon - Morgan, Land Rover and Lotus specialist), but just wondered how many hours labour I should expect? I appreciate they don't know the car, so might take slightly longer than a TVR specialist - but I'd like to make sure if it should take 3 hours, that they don't charge me 20.
Easy job, or difficult?
It's being fitted by a British car specialist (Cremorne Prestige in Artarmon - Morgan, Land Rover and Lotus specialist), but just wondered how many hours labour I should expect? I appreciate they don't know the car, so might take slightly longer than a TVR specialist - but I'd like to make sure if it should take 3 hours, that they don't charge me 20.
Easy job, or difficult?
Edited by Mattt on Thursday 14th February 08:38
Mattt said:
I got TVR Power to ship me out a new SS rad, fans, both sensors, hose kit - so that the T350 can cope a bit easier with the Aussie heat.
It's being fitted by a British car specialist (Morgan service agent), but just wondered how many hours labour I should expect? I appreciate they don't know the car, so might take slightly longer than a TVR specialist - but I'd like to make sure if it should take 3 hours, that they don't charge me 20.
Easy job, or difficult?
Looking at mine for the Tam, that I had done a couple of years back it was quoted as £262 before discounts ex VAT, I think I paid about £180 labour in the end. Don't know what Castles hourly rate was but working on £75/hr its not far off 3hrs they were billing forIt's being fitted by a British car specialist (Morgan service agent), but just wondered how many hours labour I should expect? I appreciate they don't know the car, so might take slightly longer than a TVR specialist - but I'd like to make sure if it should take 3 hours, that they don't charge me 20.
Easy job, or difficult?
If it is all coming from TVR Power, it might be worth asking them how much labour they normally expect for fitting those items and any for any useful tips.
My new rad and hose kit (Tamora) from Power was 3 hours labour. No thermostats and previous fans reused. But I imagine that a non-TVR garage will take longer if they aren't familiar with the car.
My new rad and hose kit (Tamora) from Power was 3 hours labour. No thermostats and previous fans reused. But I imagine that a non-TVR garage will take longer if they aren't familiar with the car.
They say they have spent 2 days on it so far, including the hose changes etc - so I have a labour bill for over 2000GBP!!!!!
They say they had to take out the air con condenser as it's in the way, and de-gas and re-gas the system.
They also say the hose kit supplied by TVR Power wasn't quite right - they had to cut one of the hoses to fit either side of a part (down near the front pass side just by the nose cone), and were left with a staggered hose (left and right bends) of about 2 inch diameter.
They say they had to take out the air con condenser as it's in the way, and de-gas and re-gas the system.
They also say the hose kit supplied by TVR Power wasn't quite right - they had to cut one of the hoses to fit either side of a part (down near the front pass side just by the nose cone), and were left with a staggered hose (left and right bends) of about 2 inch diameter.
There's 2 maybe more versions of tamora front end with different rad positions so that complicates things. silicon hoses are a pain to fit also. I'd have said a day to do that full job if you've done it before. I'm not surprised you've got a bill for 2 days, I can see how a garage unfamiliar with the cars could end up there.
Mattt said:
They say they have spent 2 days on it so far, including the hose changes etc - so I have a labour bill for over 2000GBP!!!!!
They say they had to take out the air con condenser as it's in the way, and de-gas and re-gas the system.
They also say the hose kit supplied by TVR Power wasn't quite right - they had to cut one of the hoses to fit either side of a part (down near the front pass side just by the nose cone), and were left with a staggered hose (left and right bends) of about 2 inch diameter.
£2000 to change a rad! They say they had to take out the air con condenser as it's in the way, and de-gas and re-gas the system.
They also say the hose kit supplied by TVR Power wasn't quite right - they had to cut one of the hoses to fit either side of a part (down near the front pass side just by the nose cone), and were left with a staggered hose (left and right bends) of about 2 inch diameter.
Spoke to TVR Power who say they normally charge 2 hours for rad, and 2 hours for hoses.
They said the way to do it is remove the oil tank and slide the rad back, not bugger about with the whole air con system.
Can anyone confirm if Graham's book gives any instructions on it? I left the book with them for them to use.
They said the way to do it is remove the oil tank and slide the rad back, not bugger about with the whole air con system.
Can anyone confirm if Graham's book gives any instructions on it? I left the book with them for them to use.
Matt, your garage really ought to have checked the correct method before spending your cash wasting their time.
get written estimates from the TVR specialists for the work, present them to the garage, and agree that is what the job is worth....anything else is their "learning cost for not doing their homework".....and not yours.
a quick google would have highlighted the easiest method for doing this
get written estimates from the TVR specialists for the work, present them to the garage, and agree that is what the job is worth....anything else is their "learning cost for not doing their homework".....and not yours.
a quick google would have highlighted the easiest method for doing this
Mattt said:
Had a quick chat with Castle, who say 10 should have done it, and Kerridges reckoned 6 hours max.
Everyone says it comes out the top, this garage has taken it out the bottom.
If Graham's book says take out the top, then that's an easy argument - can anyone check please?
Remember, Grahams book is a Sagaris book and there you HAVE to remove the rad out the top...I can confirm you, because I changed the rad on my car two years ago ;-) On the Sag there's no other way....it's different in the lower front part to a T350/Tamora.Everyone says it comes out the top, this garage has taken it out the bottom.
If Graham's book says take out the top, then that's an easy argument - can anyone check please?
Have look through this:
http://www.varleyhyd.com/fj062.asp
I think you're dealing with incompetents who are having your kecks down.
http://www.varleyhyd.com/fj062.asp
I think you're dealing with incompetents who are having your kecks down.
The garage still believes there is no way the rad can come out without the air condenser etc being removed.
I'm going to try and get written confirmation from Kerridges (who sold me the car and serviced it) and TVR Power (who supplied the parts) that the radiator can be removed without taking out the air con system.
I'll scan the invoice on Monday, and have taken some pictures of the engine bay for clarity.
I'm going to try and get written confirmation from Kerridges (who sold me the car and serviced it) and TVR Power (who supplied the parts) that the radiator can be removed without taking out the air con system.
I'll scan the invoice on Monday, and have taken some pictures of the engine bay for clarity.
Emails sent to Dom at Power & Jamie at Kerridges, asking them to respond to myself and the garage - so will see what they say!
The bill was as follows:
The bill was as follows:
- Remove bonnet, radiator, air con condenser, oil cooler, drill fitting holes in new radiator and reassemble: 12 hours labour
- Renew cooling hoses, modify some hoses, supply one extra hose, change thermostat & sensors: 8 hours labour
- Evacuate & regas air con: 1 hour labour
I've just spoken with the garage again, and he was saying that the main factor in the radiator taking the time was the air conditioning condensor bolted to it - they said there was no way the radiator was able to come out without disconnecting the gas lines etc etc.
Can someone who has done the change (with A/C fitted) give me a quick step-by-step list of what needs to happen?
I know Graham's car has air conditioning, but he didn't seem to mention it in the manual from what I recall.
Can someone who has done the change (with A/C fitted) give me a quick step-by-step list of what needs to happen?
I know Graham's car has air conditioning, but he didn't seem to mention it in the manual from what I recall.
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