radiator options

[chrisdurham]

Hi Guys,

i think my radiator is knackered or not working anywhere near as efficiently as it should. It looks like quite poor condition too.

So what are my options.

Re-core? how much as who does them?
Replacement new one?
Or any other units that people fit instead of the std to help cooling?

Cheers

[pbaker43]

Same problem some time ago front radiator had no cooling fins, road salt and time had seen to that.

I would love a new shinny alu rad but £400 notes or there about’s different ball park for me, I found that the original radiator is the same as the early 3.5 Range Rover, bottom fixing the same, side fixing the same (after trimming 2mm off the bracket, but this could be my car) in/outlets in the same location, the only difference is that you have two small bore pipes at the top right (looking from the rear) you could cut them off and solder a copper plate in their place, I tapped and screwed a small bolt into the each pipe, slide some rubber hose over with a jubilee clip never had a problem over the last two years and I have been in temperatures of 40°C plus over the last few weeks here in France. It’s up to you mate.

[peaktorque]

I had mine re-cored by a bloke that does nothing other than that - operating from a shed in a field.

It cost me about £180. It looked like it had been repainted by a two year old though (which has subsequently burnt off anyway - I've had to re-do it). It's water tight though so that's all that matters

In hindsight I wish I'd gone for a new Ali rad, just because they look better.

[TVR Beaver]

A few good pointers here:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[dc400]

hi.chris.try contacting paul the r.o for the north east tvr car club, he had a contact for someone ,i think near the metro center, who fixed and made new ali rads.think he had work done on his tuscan.

[quattrophenia]

Some people on here have said that ali rads are less than £300 if you know where to look. I went down the re-core route (Land Rover triple core I think) with a local radiator specialist. Took about a week to do, cost £160 and I'm very pleased with it.
If you are re-coring make sure they weld it back together so that the 2 locating pins on the bottom are exactly the width apart that they were originally (take a marked piece of string with you if it helps them to weld it back correctly). If the rad is welded back together and is a few millimeters wider it wont locate back in to the holes in the tub (you'll see them when you remove it). Also whilst the system is drained you may as well spend £20 on a new otter switch as they can breakdown overtime and cause over heating/irratic fan cut in.

Edited by quattrophenia on Saturday 1st September 21:34