Leaking Radiator

[Gerald-TVR]

Hi All

Cant use the search facility as its being maintained but I know there are threads which could help.

My S2 has started to weap where the side tank meets the rad core on the N/S at the bottom.

First question repair or replace?
Second Are the alloy one any good?
Third upgrade to a thicker core or not?
Fourth any other suggestions for upgrading?
Fifth any repair specialists in the west midlands that you can recommend?

[kenpage]

norman are you sure it is leaking there..mine was seemingly doing exactly the same but it turned out to be the bleed valve at the top weeping and running down to the bottom but it was very hard to see it try a little tweek on the bleeder

[Gerald-TVR]

Hi Ken
Could be I've had the bleed valve open refilling the system. Will have alook in daylight tomorrow thanks

[Barkychoc]

Mine is definately shot and the bottom corners are apparently the classic position where they start leaking.
The V8S radiator is a 'sherpa van radiator with an extra core'

I'm not 100% clear what the 'extra core' bit means - whether it means its thicker front to back or what.

Chris

[merky300]

When I had my radiator re-cored I asked about the extra core, it appears that the standard radiator has three tubes running behind each other and the TVR had four. The overall dimensions of the core are identical it just improved the flow through the radiator. The core I had fitted was a three core which had larger tubes which creates the same effect. None of the catalogues we looked at listed a four core replacement in the correct dimensions.

IIRC

If you took the tank of the side the original would look something like this
ooo
ooo
ooo
ooo

The TVR would look like this
oooo
oooo
oooo
oooo

And the enlarged tube re-core like this
OOO
OOO
OOO
OOO

The tubes are spaced to give the same thickness of core.

Tony

[Gerald-TVR]

Tony

Can you tell me where the replacement rad came from?

[merky300]

I think it may be a bit to far away from you, took them two days from dropping off to collecting.
Walkers Radiators Ltd
Unit 3,
Sough Bridge Mill, Colne Rd,
Kelbrook,
Barnoldswick,
Lancashire
BB18 6SZ

Tel: [phone]

Tony

[clarenceboddiger]

I used these years ago to rebuild a non standard rad and they did a great job, they had branches all over the country.

http://www.serckcooling.co.uk/index.php?pname=Auto...

[Gerald-TVR]

Tony/Ken
Thanks for the info, can you give me some indication of costs at the time

[bridgdav]

Quite a few of us have had re-cored, welded, replaced etc rads at WESSEX RADIATORS.

Lowford Bottom
Burlesdon
Southampton
023 8040 2848

Very quick
Cost about £110
Dropped off and pick up service. You'll have to call about Posting.
They are a Old traditional back street set-up who know their stuff.

Good Luck.

[Le TVR]

While you have the rad out its a good idea to check that the mounting frames are really square and the rubber bushes are OK.

Several owners have had rad leaks caused by the rad being twisted and stressed by non-square mounts.

[merky300]

Had mine re-cored about 4-5 months ago, £110 sounds like a good price I think mine was about £190. I would also second what Le TVR said, my radiator frame was out of square and needed some adjustment to the slotted holes to get a good fit. When the two top bolts were tightened it partially lifted one side of the radiator out of the bottom mount, which would have caused some stresses on the radiator in use.

Tony

Edited by merky300 on Wednesday 30th April 11:33

[Gerald-TVR]

Thanks for the help guys.

A shot of Radweld due this PM to get me going for the next few days - I'll let you know how I get on

[grumpytvr]

Hi Norman

I had my radiator re-cored a few years back by a local outfit, it cost around £120 I seem to remember. I took the opportunity of adding a further core on top of the standard TVR arrangement. The temperature since has stayed bang on the line even in traffic jams etc. - its worth thinking about if you're going down the re-core route.

Cheers

Tom

[Barkychoc]

Gerald-TVR said:

Thanks for the help guys.

A shot of Radweld due this PM to get me going for the next few days - I'll let you know how I get on

I considered Radweld - but many of the griff / chim forums speak of the waterways being bunged up with the white radweld gunk afterwards, so I gave it a miss.

[Gerald-TVR]

Thanks for the help - Any suggestions as to the best place for the mounting bushes?