GRIFF 500 Radiator
Discussion
I had mine recored last year,the problem i had was the two bottom mounting brackets that hold the pins which locate into the rubber bobins were to wide to lift out and it jamed tight in the inner wings,i suspect the radiator was fitted new from underneath when the car was being constructed so i had to pull hard to get it out and bend the brackets,when it was out i straightend the brackets and ground the excess metal off the outer edges and it slotted back in seconds its not a hard job but you need two people and you must protect the body work and take your time removing it , i had to repaint the lower inner wings with smoothrite satin black aerosol looks perfect if i had not had this problems it would be an easy hour to remove the rad and the same to put back regards Steve.
Blimey, that`s timely! Just clicked on to look for rad info - just found a puddle under the car. Griff/Chimaera book agrees with previous postees - it`s a straight forward job but use 2 pairs of hands to lift the rad out and in again and protect the body work really well.
Can anyone give ballpark figures for re-core versus replacement costs, and also recommendations for suppliers please? Lead times for re-coring?
Can anyone give ballpark figures for re-core versus replacement costs, and also recommendations for suppliers please? Lead times for re-coring?
As everybody says it is quite a straightforward job. I hope the following will help.
1)You can get the radiator out with the fans on or off, but it is very heavy.
2)Cover the edges of your paintwork with paper tape, as it very easily will get scratched.
3)I had my rad. recored at considerably less cost than the TVR part (£124.00+ VAT). But make sure when they resolder the side tanks back on that they keep the overall width the same.
4)My rad. leaked because one of the fibreglass 'trays' that the fans are bolted to was digging in to the core of the rad. and had worn right through several of the tubes. I bought some plastic channel from B&Q and positioned it so that the fibreglass edges rested in the channel on top of the fins of the rad. core.
5)The fan comes out bottom first, i.e.,lift up the rad., pull the bottom away from you towards the engine and then revolving it towards you lift it out as it becomes vertical.
6)This is a good time to access the air filter as it is now easy to get to.
1)You can get the radiator out with the fans on or off, but it is very heavy.
2)Cover the edges of your paintwork with paper tape, as it very easily will get scratched.
3)I had my rad. recored at considerably less cost than the TVR part (£124.00+ VAT). But make sure when they resolder the side tanks back on that they keep the overall width the same.
4)My rad. leaked because one of the fibreglass 'trays' that the fans are bolted to was digging in to the core of the rad. and had worn right through several of the tubes. I bought some plastic channel from B&Q and positioned it so that the fibreglass edges rested in the channel on top of the fins of the rad. core.
5)The fan comes out bottom first, i.e.,lift up the rad., pull the bottom away from you towards the engine and then revolving it towards you lift it out as it becomes vertical.
6)This is a good time to access the air filter as it is now easy to get to.
I got an ally one from Radtec which is £380+VAT. Looks good and comes with housing for the fans so you do away with the previous fibreglass jobbie.
As has already been said the side mounting brackets are too wide so you'll have to trim them. It's a basket of a job and it took me about 10 hours. Remove bonnet, drain system (carefully), disconnect electric to fans, remove alarm siren and bracket (the bracket took some time as access is a nightmare - easist method is to take the horn off and access the inner wing from underneath - pair of small hands, thin arms is useful here), washer bottle out, expansion tank out, radiator out (again, as already said it is very heavy and awkward to get out). Try new rad and drill holes for side mounting bolts (I had the rad in and out about 10 times making sure the side brackets were the right size to get it in and not trimming them to small that I couldn't bolt it in), reconnect all pipes, and reverse of the above. It is worth it but not easy on your own as you will need 2 pairs of hands for some parts.
Good luck.
FFG
As has already been said the side mounting brackets are too wide so you'll have to trim them. It's a basket of a job and it took me about 10 hours. Remove bonnet, drain system (carefully), disconnect electric to fans, remove alarm siren and bracket (the bracket took some time as access is a nightmare - easist method is to take the horn off and access the inner wing from underneath - pair of small hands, thin arms is useful here), washer bottle out, expansion tank out, radiator out (again, as already said it is very heavy and awkward to get out). Try new rad and drill holes for side mounting bolts (I had the rad in and out about 10 times making sure the side brackets were the right size to get it in and not trimming them to small that I couldn't bolt it in), reconnect all pipes, and reverse of the above. It is worth it but not easy on your own as you will need 2 pairs of hands for some parts.
Good luck.
FFG
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