Radiator Upgrade

[PeterC]

My 4.5 W reg Chimeara has been losing small amounts of water on every trip. By a process of elimination I finally confirmed that the radiator was in fact the problem.

On making enquiries I could have bought an allegedly strengthened(?) reconditioned radiator for £189 + vat on exchange. Although some radiator repairers may do a full core replacement and rebuild for less.

The alternative is to pay a bit more and fit the very latest TVR factory radiator design which costs £212 + vat plus the optional conversion parts which will cost around £16 + vat on top.

The new radiator design is not soldered but is a fabricated design using an aluminium core and plastic header tanks at each end. This should eliminate for ever the continuous cracking & leaking problems of the older soldered version.

The new radiator is easy to fit and I will happily email anyone a few extra tips on doing the job.

Incidentally I have a (leaking) radiator from a W reg Chimeara if anyone is interested and wants to make me a silly offer? I can possibly deliver or meet half-way with any likely buyer.

[budd]

A had a similar weeping / leaking issue on my Griff a few years ago , I had it recored with a 4row core to replace the original 3row core . The result for less than £100 I got a rad that looks brand new and improved cooling to boot , a bit of a bargain I think.
Also if the rad's been leaking for some time the previous owner will most likly have tried to seal it using rad-weld or similar, this clogs up the std rad and is a temporary fix at best.

[flintstone]

budd, that sounds like a bargain. £100?

Where did you get that?

[griffdude]

Jools at Joospeed is currently offering cooling upgrades for chimaera/griffs, he's worth a .

[simon.b]

£100 for a re-core is about the going rate, check your local yellow pages for a radiator specialist and go for the small guy not the national chains.

Also ask them to fill the end caps with extra solder and explain this is the weak point and the core needs gluing in that bit better (worked a treat on mine).

Cheers,

Simon.

[budd]

Hi flintstone
I had it done in a little backstreet rad workshop in Dewsbury west yorks , they've done work for me before even a one off motorbike rad and always very good prices, if your local and need some work done I can give you a contact No

[MOD500]

I had the 4 core rad fitted to my chim 500 too, car ran alot cooler.

[nasz]

Peter,

What are the details of the new radiator as I would like to replace mine. Ie. part number? Donor vehicle details and what is the conversion kit called. So when I call up the rad peeps they don't go... erm sorry mate we don't speak daft

Thanks

[JonRB]

I'm running a re-cored rad on my Chimaera 500 too.

nasz - I replied to your other trhead with the same info.

Why do you want to replace your rad when a re-core will be just as good, cheaper and also less hassle than sourcing a new one that may or may not fit?

>> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 26th January 09:28