Radiator Replacement

[Just Trouble]

Morning fella's
Unfortunately my 400 Griff has sprung a leak in the radiator which I believe is the original radiator after 97,000 miles. Can anyone advise me as to which make and model the radiator was donated from i.e. Ford Sierra or Vauxhall Caviler etc or is it bespoke to TVR?
Don't want to spend £440 on an alloy replacement. If I can't purchase one off the shelf then I will have to have it re-cored. Thanks for your time. Cheers.

JT

[rigga]

Think its a landrover part originally,could be wrong though,for the money id just have a recore done as long as the side tanks are in good condition,had to have mine done last year,albeit an aluminium core and was £125

[Just Trouble]

Thanks Rigga.There is a local firm that offers a re-coring service so I will give them a call tomorrow. Cheers.

JT

[moorcroft]

Im not sure if the 500 have the same radiator as yours, but i have just replaced my radiator with an radtec alloy one. There is nothing wrong with the old rad, looks clean internally as well. If your interested in it im looking to sell. Thanks.

[Veg]

The radiator "in and out" bits are bespoke so re-core is the cheapest option. Watch the paintwork on the way out as the gap is tight

[HRG]

And get the number of a good osteopath for your back....

[Barreti]

I've been following Rob Brookbanks guide on The Griffith Pages showing how to lift the body. His article gives perfect instructions on how to remove the radiator. I'd also recommend getting a friend round when you do it or you will need the osteopath HRG mentioned.
robs body lift article

ETA. Don't even think about dropping the water out in the garage. It drops onto the body and drips everywhere so there's no way you can catch it all, no matter how big a tray or how many buckets you've got

Edited by Barreti on Sunday 15th February 18:53

[Just Trouble]

Hello fella's
Thanks for all your advice and help, very much appreciated. Cheers.

JT

[Roy E6]

who pays £440 for an alloy rad? i paid £230 ish from serkes autos in southall. Gave them my old one for a pattern. what a difference its made to the cooling as well. A worth while mod,having a cooloing system that...well cools. They supplied my oil cooler as well for not a lot.

[Ballistic Banana]

I last had mine re-cored in 2002 for £73 ( A few bodges where found from a previous fix and fixed too). I run silicone coolant hoses and have two speed fans ( one fan comes on at one temp and then the other if and when it gets hotter forget the exact temps to mind but can find out if your interetsed) Anyhow one fan keeps car cool enough most of the time and then in heavy traffic/real hot days the second fan comes on.
Also use Steve Heaths fine CoolTester leak tester to find any leaks/weak points.

Anyhow my point is that if your Cooling System is looked after the you shouldnt really have any cooling issues at all.

BB

[Johno]

Ballistic Banana said:

I last had mine re-cored in 2002 for £73 ( A few bodges where found from a previous fix and fixed too). I run silicone coolant hoses and have two speed fans ( one fan comes on at one temp and then the other if and when it gets hotter forget the exact temps to mind but can find out if your interetsed) Anyhow one fan keeps car cool enough most of the time and then in heavy traffic/real hot days the second fan comes on.
Also use Steve Heaths fine CoolTester leak tester to find any leaks/weak points.

Anyhow my point is that if your Cooling System is looked after the you shouldnt really have any cooling issues at all.

BB

Hear hear . . . Both our cars are running 300 ponies and both cars in the heat of the South of France and plenty of high speed driving last year proved to have no issues at all.

The basic system is perfectly adequate to maintain the temp of the car as long as it is maintained.

We both run 74 degree stat's - lower than the normal 82 degree std. If Simon's kept with same setting as mine . .

Fan 1 On at 88, off at 80
Fan 2 On at 92, off at 84

As highlighted one fan is often enough to keep the temps within normal operating temps. 2nd fan only needed when hot, obviously

Aftermarket ECU's of course . . . However I highlight that before the ECU chage both fans came on via the otter switch on a 74 degree stat without any issues even in traffic queues at Le Mans in mid 30's heat for 2.5hrs etc . . .

[Just Trouble]

Thanks again for your help. I have been quoted £200 to have the radiator re-cored and it will take no longer than two days to be sent away and returned. The Griff has double fans too which prove to be very effective at keeping the engine running cool in hot weather or stationary traffic.Cheers.

JT

[grm500]

Any know where I can get standard griff 500 rad recored as ally - I'm in SE LOndon/Kent area, or can you mail it off to elsewhere - if so recommendations from those who have had done please.

Simon, what does the two speed fan mod entail?

Graham

Edited by grm500 on Wednesday 11th March 13:21