radiator woes

[GRIFFONMARK]

I'm going to get my radiator back recored this weekend, but the reconditioner says I'll need a seal for the fan switch. Anybody know where I can get one asap?

Regards

Mark

[chedder]

plumbers merchants.....3/4 fibre washer off a tap connector works a treat!

[rev-erend]

Quite frankly - I've have the seal it up - as it's in a very awkward place (for replacement) and have it re-fitted in the swan neck.

Many have done this..

Believe me - you will thank me when it come to re-assembly.

FYI - Act sell new stainless top pipes if your old one is not worth using :

http://www.actproducts.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_p...

Edited by rev-erend on Thursday 16th October 21:39

[GRIFFONMARK]

I'm not sure if we're talking about the same part here. I can't see how you could replace it with a fibre washer. It is a thick (5mm?) seal and it isn't near any swan neck but is in the side of the radiator. My reconditioner says that the radiator I have is an original Range Rover unit that has been obtained secondhand and modified to fit a Tasmin. Regards

Mark

[jmorgan]

On one of my re cores the chap at serck (sp) just pulled a new one out of his spares shelf. But then I had the hole sealed and fitted a revotek in line jobby.

[rev-erend]

Mark

All the Wedge V8's use the same rad - it's a Freight Rover item or Range Rover. The power steering inputs are sealed and not used.

The sender when looked at from the engine bay is passenger side top left
and the top hose goes back to the engine. THe silver item in the foreground is a Revotech adjustable rad fan controller - you set the temp it comes on at.

[GRIFFONMARK]

Thanks for the photo rev-erend. I can just see the clip for the sender under the hose. Unfortunately, the seal had perished and fell apart on removal at the rad specialist so I need another. I've been told they are the same on a rover 200/400/800 so I'll see if I can get one tomorrow. The adjustable temp thingy looks interesting though. I had something similar on my Griffon which I bought for about £40. That had the advantage of being unintrusive, it was a temp probe that slid into a hose at a hose clip, and then had a 2m long wire that I put inside the car so I could adjust the temp from under the dash. It kept the temp precisely at whatever I wanted. I might get another if I could remember where I got it from!

In the meantime, I have had my rad recored with tubes 8mm as opposed to the original 12mm apart so cooling should be much improved. When I did this on my Griffon it made a big difference in temperature (it ran cold!) so hopefully I should get similar benefits.

Regards, Mark

[GRIFFONMARK]

Fitted the new radiator today and the engine runs cooler under stress than it did before. It always went towards the red when being hammered but now stays at a more respectable 90 deg.

I solved the problem of the fan switch seal with a seal from an old Rover 600TD rad which had a wider rebate as it was designed for a plastic rad. To be safe, I smeared it with high temp clear sealant (up to 260 deg) when fitting it in the rad.

Replacing the radiator wasn't as complicated as I had expected, but TVR could have made it so much easier by cutting away a lot of the superfluous bodywork. A lot of weight could be saved too, the brackets holding the rad weigh a ton.

Many thanks to all those who have offered their help (including one member who offered to give me a lift putting it back together). It's great to know that if you start a job you're a bit unsuere about that there is always someone out there to offer advice.

Regards

Mark