Foam strips, Griff rad ?

[CLN1]

I'm in the process of replacing the rad in my Griff and I'm not sure where to glue the foam strips. When I took the old rad out they were lying at the bottom of the recess in the front panel.

There's 5 pieces off foam and the lenghts are such that they appear to be cut to fit along the top and bottom rails (with a gap along the top for the fan wires to pass through) and along the edge of both end tanks.

Does anybody know if this is correct or perhaps they should be glued onto the fibre glass for the rad to rest upon ?

Colin.

[Big Al.]

IIRC they are expanding tape that is sticky on one side they fill the gap around to rad to direct airflow.

It you have a double glazing installers around where you live, they normally have these rolls of varying sizes of expanding foam, they may be able to sell you some.

[Seasider]

Try some plumbers type pipe insulation squashed flat or cut for smaller gaps

[spend]

I found some of the gaps on the Chim were much too big to be filled with strips, since it really needs to be firmly held by compression. I just sliced up some pipe lagging (B&Q etc) to wedge into the gaps, finished it off with aluminium tape on the inside to give a nice seal.

Not original, but its a choice of authenticity or getting all the air possible thru the rad

Dave

[Simon.b]

You should have foam all round the front of the radiator to get the best seal against the body as possible to prevent air moving around the sides of the radiator. It’s arguable whether this is really necessary as the fans pull the air through the matrix but it also helps stop it rattling around and its not difficult to do. So it should be glued to the radiator around area in contact with the body being careful not to obstruct the matrix. In some areas it wont touch the body, but just apply unbroken lengths all round.

Normally there are three thin strips on back (engine side) on the matrix along the vertical edges of the fan shrouds. If you have new matrix, trial fit the shrouds first and check that they will not have direct contact with the matrix tubes, the thin vanes will just crush locally, this is not a problem. However if the shrouds touch the tubes it is, so file away the shroud edges such that it doesn’t. Then use thin strips of foam to fill these gaps. If there are any gaps along the top and bottom edges of the shrouds these should also be filled with foam. Don’t use too much just a thin strips no more than 10mm wide. The reason for all this is that if the shrouds touch the tubes after time with the small vibrations the edges wear away at the tubes and you’ll have another leak (I know from experience). Even if your matrix isn’t new I’d still check for this.

I wouldn’t re use the old foam, I use the soft 15mm copper pipe insulation from B&Q. for the front cut the tube into quadrants, glue one flat side to the radiator with the other flat edge towards the matrix. It cuts easily with a sharp knife or scissors, so just cut off some strips for the back. To glue it on I use evo-stick and once the radiators all mounted back in place it isn’t moving. Don’t bother cutting slots for the fan wires just remember pull them through before you fasten it down.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Sam Gamgee]

You cam get em at B&Q!

Dave.

[dnb]

I found that the self adhesive closed cell foam strips from Woolies trim worked the best. It's available in all sorts of sizes.

[Seasider]

Seasider said:

Try some plumbers type pipe insulation squashed flat or cut for smaller gaps

spend said:

I just sliced up some pipe lagging

Simon.b said:

I use the soft 15mm copper pipe insulation from B&Q.

.............

[MisterT]

Is this is what you are looking for?

https://www.europaspares.com/TRIM/TRIM_MATERIALS/C...

If the link wont work just go to www.europaspares.com and search for chassis sponge!

[CLN1]

MisterT said:

Is this is what you are looking for?

https://www.europaspares.com/TRIM/TRIM_MATERIALS/C...

If the link wont work just go to www.europaspares.com and search for chassis sponge!

That's the stuff ! Thanks for that Michael and thanks everyone for your replies.

Colin.

[Zumbruk]

Simon.b said:

You should have foam all round the front of the radiator

Mine blew out and burned on the exhaust manifolds about a week after I bought the car, 4 years ago, and I never bothered replacing it.

I've never had any problems with cooling.