Radiator leak - Re-core or new one?

[Ed450]

After a year and a half of FLAWELESS performance, the Chim has developed a radiator leak.

It seems to come from the bottom left hand side and it looks like the soldered joints have cracked. The car's in for a service tomorrow anyway, but i'm quite willing to fit a new/reconditioned radiator myself following the sage guidance of the bible (and because i'm a pikey).

The question is, do I go for a re-core, or new one? The car's a 98 S-reg, so the radiator is getting on anyway...

The other factor is time, i'm supposed to be taking the beast for it's annual trip through Europe in a few weeks , and need to get it fixed soonish. Can any of you recommend a radiator refurb company in the Bristol area? If I do go for a new one, where can I find it and for how much?

Cheers - fingers crossed the Chim will be chewing up the Stelvio-Pass in no time!

[Ribol]

Recore is fine, easy to fit, got mine recored by a mate in the trade, he fitted a slightly better core into it(more tubes), works a treat. He has done a good few and reckons they start to leak due to the body flexing more than the solder failing. Can't recommend anywhere local to you for you get it done though, any decent rad place should be able to do it.
Good luck with the Stelvio Pass, always worth the trip(it's where my profile photo was taken).

[Ed450]

Cheers mate,

Just looked at the TVR Car parts website - £212 for a new one, re-cores seem to be in the range £100-£150. Aparrently new ones often don't fit too well (need adaptor kits) although depends on the year of the car. Anyway, i'll see if I can find a local firm to re-core it. Speed is the key!

[jason1788]

I had a new rad in mine this year, from Offords. They supply one with reinforced or thicker brackets to reduce likelihood of cracking. Cost was 250 quid IIRC.

[JonRB]

A re-core near enough is a new rad but with the added advantage that you know it's going to fit in your car.

[TVR keith]

As you are going to southern parts it might be worth a look at fitting the later ally rad that was also fitted to the Tuscan. My 2000 450 has this and runs a good 10 degrees less than my mates 98 400 with the old type rad. This seems to be a typical reduction in temparature according to TVR dealers I don't know if the fans are different.

[Ed450]

I did look at the alloy one, but to be honest when it's working normally my chim runs pretty cool. Even in the south of France!
Also in "normal" UK weather i've heard of them running a little too cool (if that's possible!) with the alloy one.

[M@H]

Ed450 said:

Also in "normal" UK weather i've heard of them running a little too cool (if that's possible!) with the alloy one.

Shouldn't do as the thermostat would be shut if the temperature was too low, therefore the Rad wouldn't be in the equation.