Discussion
What ever was lying around the yard! 
Has you seen the 'alternative rad' thread? Worth a gander.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15...
Has you seen the 'alternative rad' thread? Worth a gander.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15...
Thanks both.
I do recall that other thread but that one was fitted to the nose cone whereas mine fits vertically in the engine bay.
I do recall that other thread but that one was fitted to the nose cone whereas mine fits vertically in the engine bay.
mrzigazaga said:
.....The V6 had one from a Ford Granada mk2.....there must be an alternative...
I'm sure there is. It will just be a matter of finding one with the outlets in the correct position to avoid some additional plumbing. Radiators - what I know and what I suspect !!
The rad in the early wedges (i.e. not in nosecone, vertically mounted) is a cut down Ford Granada Mk2 2.8 (the square body style).
Wedge DEFINITELY has Ford top and bottom tanks. It is shortened by chopping a strip off the rad core, and resoldering tank.
Wdge also appears to use original side pieces, also shortened.
A full Granny rad does not fit (tried that) because it is too tall, and it fouls on the steering rack. I compared the wedge rad to 2.8 Granny rad to prove this is true.
Now - the unproven stuff.....according to rumours...may be right, may be wrong...
Early Granada 2.3 cars had a shorter rad, but this seems to have been dropped and the 2.8 size became standard in all [V6] models.
So it could be Wedge rad was based on the 2.3. Don't know about the 2.0 OHC - suspect outlets will be in wrong place.
2.3 Cortina had a narrower rad about same height as the wedge one (so quite a bit smaller than original Granny 2.8), but you may be able to use this in a pinch - may be a bit small for a 2.8.
Not a lot of use for UK, but I did try out a Holden Commodore radiator here in NZ, which was only a little bit too wide, but right height - it went in and would fit if those vertical bars are changed - I add this to say that probably a few rads will fit if you are up to making/modding brackets/adaptors, and fiddle with rad hoses (done this a few times for kit cars !!) - who knows maybe one of the Opel/Vauxhalls use the same rad as the Holden !!
I thought all the nose cone mounted ones were Range Rover, even the V6 ones - but I'm sure one of the V8 guys here can confirm that.
The rad in the early wedges (i.e. not in nosecone, vertically mounted) is a cut down Ford Granada Mk2 2.8 (the square body style).
Wedge DEFINITELY has Ford top and bottom tanks. It is shortened by chopping a strip off the rad core, and resoldering tank.
Wdge also appears to use original side pieces, also shortened.
A full Granny rad does not fit (tried that) because it is too tall, and it fouls on the steering rack. I compared the wedge rad to 2.8 Granny rad to prove this is true.
Now - the unproven stuff.....according to rumours...may be right, may be wrong...
Early Granada 2.3 cars had a shorter rad, but this seems to have been dropped and the 2.8 size became standard in all [V6] models.
So it could be Wedge rad was based on the 2.3. Don't know about the 2.0 OHC - suspect outlets will be in wrong place.
2.3 Cortina had a narrower rad about same height as the wedge one (so quite a bit smaller than original Granny 2.8), but you may be able to use this in a pinch - may be a bit small for a 2.8.
Not a lot of use for UK, but I did try out a Holden Commodore radiator here in NZ, which was only a little bit too wide, but right height - it went in and would fit if those vertical bars are changed - I add this to say that probably a few rads will fit if you are up to making/modding brackets/adaptors, and fiddle with rad hoses (done this a few times for kit cars !!) - who knows maybe one of the Opel/Vauxhalls use the same rad as the Holden !!
I thought all the nose cone mounted ones were Range Rover, even the V6 ones - but I'm sure one of the V8 guys here can confirm that.
Edited by RCK974X on Friday 22 September 21:29
Very helpful; thank you.
I've spoken to the guy who re-cored my V8S rad last year. He said he could make me a copper and brass one from scratch to any dimensions I wanted for about £220. Not as cheap as picking up a second hand one and modifying but only if the S/H one doesn't need a re-core.
If it does, then a made to measure one sounds quite reasonable to me. I could have a proper neck for a rad-cap incorporated plus a bleed valve, fan support brackets and an otter switch boss. Then maybe I could do away with the pressurised expansion tank?
I've spoken to the guy who re-cored my V8S rad last year. He said he could make me a copper and brass one from scratch to any dimensions I wanted for about £220. Not as cheap as picking up a second hand one and modifying but only if the S/H one doesn't need a re-core.
If it does, then a made to measure one sounds quite reasonable to me. I could have a proper neck for a rad-cap incorporated plus a bleed valve, fan support brackets and an otter switch boss. Then maybe I could do away with the pressurised expansion tank?
Edited by v8s4me on Friday 22 September 23:12
v8s4me said:
If it does, then a made to measure one sounds quite reasonable to me. I could have a proper neck for a rad-cap incorporated plus a bleed valve, fan support brackets and an otter switch boss. Then maybe I could do away with the pressurised expansion tank?
You'd still need it for bleeding at the highest point in the system. Otter switch better in the swan neck.Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff