Swirl Pot Design Differences in Later Cars?
Discussion
Hi all,
I was hoping to replace the rather unserviceable swirlpot on my S3 with one I got from a breakers. Curiously the one I got, described as from an S3C is different. (who knew!) For a start it doesnt have the medium sized pipe half way up that is connected (I think) to the flow from the water pump that bypasses the thermostat. This is pipe 31 in the TVR parts manual for the cooling system. The top hose connection is angled rather than straight.
I dont think all S3Cs are like this. When I look on the gallery pictures of Tvrgits car for example he seems to have a conventional swirlpot on his S3C just like the original one on my S3??
This is probably a silly question but is anyone familiar with this alternative swirlpot design? I wonder if the pipe bypassing the thermostat is somehow connected back to the engine bottom hose without going through the swirlpot and radiator, (This has been suggested on here in the past as a mod)or whether it connects to the Swirlpot still but in a different way?
Any ideas 'cos I'm a bit puzzled?
I was hoping to replace the rather unserviceable swirlpot on my S3 with one I got from a breakers. Curiously the one I got, described as from an S3C is different. (who knew!) For a start it doesnt have the medium sized pipe half way up that is connected (I think) to the flow from the water pump that bypasses the thermostat. This is pipe 31 in the TVR parts manual for the cooling system. The top hose connection is angled rather than straight.
I dont think all S3Cs are like this. When I look on the gallery pictures of Tvrgits car for example he seems to have a conventional swirlpot on his S3C just like the original one on my S3??
This is probably a silly question but is anyone familiar with this alternative swirlpot design? I wonder if the pipe bypassing the thermostat is somehow connected back to the engine bottom hose without going through the swirlpot and radiator, (This has been suggested on here in the past as a mod)or whether it connects to the Swirlpot still but in a different way?
Any ideas 'cos I'm a bit puzzled?
Good call Kevin. Looks like possibly a V8 one with the top hose pipe chopped down. I,ve been making these for about 20 years now and basically there are 3 types:- 2.8 V6, 2.9 V6 and V8. It is alledged that there are 2 variations on the 2.8 but only ever seen or supplied 1 type. It may be an illusion because of photo but it also looks not as tall as a standard one ?? home made!!
Ah! Thank-You for your help.
I see what you mean gentlemen. So it may well have come off an S3C but whoever had put in on the car in the first place had put something completely odd on there (!)
Perhaps, as the gamekeeper suggests, they had got hold of a swirl pot from a V8S and chopped the long top pipe a bit shorter, and remade the beading on the shortened end?
That will teach me to study the ebay photo a bit more closely! I guess they would have had to make some other mods to the cooling system in the car it was from as it has one less pipe going into it than the original. How annoying.
I see what you mean gentlemen. So it may well have come off an S3C but whoever had put in on the car in the first place had put something completely odd on there (!)
Perhaps, as the gamekeeper suggests, they had got hold of a swirl pot from a V8S and chopped the long top pipe a bit shorter, and remade the beading on the shortened end?
That will teach me to study the ebay photo a bit more closely! I guess they would have had to make some other mods to the cooling system in the car it was from as it has one less pipe going into it than the original. How annoying.
thegamekeeper said:
Barky, that jubilee clip under the pressure cap bothers me. Try replacing it with a petrol mini hose clip. Eliminates the possibility of interfering with the cap.
Yes good call - I'll change it - it doesn't interfere with the cap but it would be good to swap it anyway, I just hadn't figured how to do it 
The little black box of tricks is a 100 amp relay - its for the electric power steering pump - the big brown power feed wire is straight off the back of the alternator with a 60A fuse. The pump is on the front crossmember.
Rack is off a chimaera - thats the hard part to find.
Edited by Barkychoc on Wednesday 11th May 19:50
Yes, thanks for all your friendly help
I think these pictures help a lot. LastS4's swirlpot is just the same as my original one so my idea that later V6 cars had something different is obviously not right.
Looking at Barkychoc's V8S Swirlpot it does seem that what I bought was a V8S swirlpot with the long upper tube shortened.
The Gamekeepers witty advice is of course correct, I am a doubly bonkers of course. If I had one old S3 swirlpot and bought another old S3 one, at least I might stand a chance of selling or giving it away to someone else. However can't think of a reason anyone would want a V8S one with a bit missing!
(Unless anyone here knows different......)
I think these pictures help a lot. LastS4's swirlpot is just the same as my original one so my idea that later V6 cars had something different is obviously not right.
Looking at Barkychoc's V8S Swirlpot it does seem that what I bought was a V8S swirlpot with the long upper tube shortened.
The Gamekeepers witty advice is of course correct, I am a doubly bonkers of course. If I had one old S3 swirlpot and bought another old S3 one, at least I might stand a chance of selling or giving it away to someone else. However can't think of a reason anyone would want a V8S one with a bit missing!
(Unless anyone here knows different......)
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