S3 Radiator

[Andy Lynch]

Does anyone have a Radiator for an S3 for sale?

Ideally one that doesn't leak, but leaks can be fixed.

Does anyone know if leaky Aluminium radiators can be fixed?

Andy

[v8s4me]

Andy Lynch said:

......Does anyone know if leaky Aluminium radiators can be fixed?...Andy

I think it depends where the leak is and how clever your local welder is.

What you're after is a Sherpa van core. THIS might be the right size but the outlets are the wrong way around. Maybe your local rad man could put new plates on and reverse them so that the mounting brackets are on top with the top hose outlet top right as you look at the back of the rad?

[Andy Lynch]

Thanks Joe

Andy

[phillpot]

v8s4me said:

What you're after is a Sherpa van core.

I thought the S rad was based on a Sherpa rad but had a thicker (more tubes) core?


This could be sorted if you had a scrap yard rad rebuilt



Is it a Subaru rad one or two have fitted, new ones can be found on Ebay very (comparatively) Cheap?

Edited by phillpot on Sunday 9th July 07:54

[mentall]

Here's mine

Fits a treat, with a minimum of re-engineering.

[Andy Lynch]

Thanks John

Could well be the solution, how much re-engineering is needed?

Andy

[mentall]

Overall size: a good fit (on an S3). Slightly wider; no problem refitting fan, in front of rad on this car.

Hose sizes and positions perfect. Drain plug a bonus. I used plumbing fittings on the little top RH spigot, to use it as an air bleed (pic 4)

BUT see pic 1: the mounting pegs on the new rad were a little too close together for the holes in the chassis gusset plate.
I "moved" the holes about 18mm outward and a little to the rear, using a carbide holesaw I bought for the job, resulting in overlapping 'figure-eight' holes. The existing rubber grommets still fit, and I can refit the old rad (when recored) in the future if necessary. Note the spacers (stainless washers) to avoid the 'flange' of the bottom of the rad resting on the chassis. You'd have to carefully measure on your car: I expect they're all different!

AND one (only one!) of the top mountings (pic 3) had to move sideways about 12mm: I fashioned a sort of eccentric assembly of plumbing parts.

It all fits, looks OK, and is reversible. The car's not on the road yet for other reasons, but it's been up to operating temperature about ten times, and the fan only cuts in for a short time so subjectively, cooling capacity is good (as it should be: the rad is a considerable uprate in terms of fin area).

The ali fins are very fragile: handle with care. The only downside so far!

Let me know (or PM) if I can help any more.

Good luck, Andy!

[Andy Lynch]

Thanks for the guide.

Is the link to the correct rad?

If so I will get one on order

Thanks again

Andy

[mentall]

Here's what I bought on Ebay on 18/10/2016 (from my invoice):

BRAND NEW ALUMINIUM/ALLOY RADIATOR SUBARU IMPREZA 1993 TO 2000/LEGACY 2.0 TURBO
Item Number 282119709527 £124.50 GBP 1 £124.50 GBP

John

[Andy Lynch]

Brilliant, thanks

Andy