Radiator Fitting Problem

[AlexB]

I eventually realised that I had to take out the new induction pipe I had just fitted to get the new rad to fit...but now I have a new problem.

With the radiator bottom mounts located in the slots, the driver side top mount sits nicely against the rubber mount, but the passenger side is about 2-3 inches away from its rubber mount. I can obviously twist the rad to get it to fit, but that seems a like it would put strain on the rad joints. Have I missed some way of adjusting the mounting position of the rad? I am pretty sure that both the pegs are in the mounting slots so I am a bit stuck about how the old one fitted, but the new one is causing a problem.

Anyone else had similar problems and solved them?
Thanks

[Alexdaredevilz]

Have you tried swearing at it?

But it does sound like your not in both holes

[AlexB]

Oh, swearing at it was the first, second...and third option.

I am not sure how I could have missed the right hole, but will aim carefully when I try again

[Ribol]

Have you tried putting the new rad down on a flat surface to make sure it isn't the rad?

[Pink_Floyd]

Just put my recored rad in and it was a perfect fit. I would suggest that the either the mountings on the rad are wrong or the rad is twisted.

[Tyre Tread]

When I had my rad recored the bottom pins wer about 1cm wider apart than original.

I simply opened up on eof the holes into a solt until it droped in carefully.

A friend has the same problem recently and forced his into place. I do wonder which will last longer.

[AlexB]

Ribol said:

Have you tried putting the new rad down on a flat surface to make sure it isn't the rad?

Tried that this morning and the rad seems to be flat, so the next stop is to try fitting again tonight and see if I can spot the problem....otherwise some slight modifications to the mounting holes might be required.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Colin RedGriff]

Do you still have the old rad? I would compare it with your new one carefully, the mountings on your new one may be slightly different.

[AlexB]

Colin RedGriff said:

Do you still have the old rad? I would compare it with your new one carefully, the mountings on your new one may be slightly different.

Old one went in as an exchange - I'll check the fitting again tonight and might have to give the garage a call tomorrow and see if I can compare.
Thanks

[V8NRG]

Where are you guys getting your radiators from ? and at what cost ?

It's one of the only items left on my shopping list that i haven't got yet.

[lwt]

I had a similar problem, you can get different length mounts (usually sold for exhausts) and then use a few washers as spacers. Best not to twist the rad. Got my ally rad for £260+vat from Andy Cropper ([e-mail]) but he does need the old one as a pattern as they are all slightly different.

Ian.

[AlexB]

Well, tried again last night and it still won't fit easily. Prongs properly located in the slots, but the side mounts just don't want to fit nicely. However, the side mounts do look different to the ones on my old rad so I'm going to compare them on Saturday - spoke to the garage and they still have my old rad.

[AlexB]

spend said:

Side mounts & rubbers are a PITA, Joo taught me very early in my TVR days to fix a set screw through the glass (secured by a nut to lock it) then cut fuel pipe (or the like) as the 'rubber' and then secure with a nut outside the rad bracket. He also mentioned that frequently the rad side brackets need the width trimming down for clearance as well as the holes re-drilling / made larger. Since he'd been doing it for donkey's years I have no reason to doubt his advice as I'll never see as many as he had by that time however long I live

ETA: I can't spell & had to get in quick before Daz caught me

That's the impression I am getting - interesting you mention cutting down the side brackets - that is one of the things that seems to have been done on the new rad - quite a lot seems to have been taken off one side! Oh well....maybe new rubber mounts and some subtle adjustments with a file will be the way to go.

[AlexB]

Quick update - checked the mounts on the old rad against the new ones and they did look different so I am now having the old one recored. Hopefully I'll get that back for the long weekend and can get it fitted with mininmal problems - fingers crossed.

[Ribol]

AlexB said:

Quick update - checked the mounts on the old rad against the new ones and they did look different so I am now having the old one recored. Hopefully I'll get that back for the long weekend and can get it fitted with mininmal problems - fingers crossed.

Put the old rad down on a flat surface, draw around the brackets and compare it when it comes back, before fitting

[AlexB]

Ribol said:

Put the old rad down on a flat surface, draw around the brackets and compare it when it comes back, before fitting

Good tip....wish I'd thought of that when I collected the new one in the first place!

[Ribol]

Forgot to say, mark the two mounting holes too, when they lose one of your original brackets and replace with identical ones they won't be

[AlexB]

Just wanted to close this topic - the replacement rad (the original one recored) fitted with minimal issues (a slight enlargement of the mounting holes was required so the rad was not twisted).

Everything has gone back together and it's back up and running.

Thanks for all the suggestions
Alex