Adam H Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 I drained, flushed and refilled my radiator at the weekend, at the same time fitting a new fan switch. The reason for this job was that I'd discovered a very slight leak coming from where the fan switch screwed into the top of the rad (or so I thought ❗). After re-filling the system with new fan switch firmly screwed in I was still getting the same leak. After much frustration, the rad came off for closer inspection only to find that the leak wasn't coming from the mating faces between the rad and fan switch washer, but from just below the fan switch and from the top tank of the rad itself. Not really wanting to shell out 180 odd quid for a new rad from CC, I took the rad along to a local radiator specialist this morning. I was told that a repair would cost in the region of £25 but that the guy would also cost up and quote for re-coring the rad at the same time to improve cooling. I'm waiting for a phone call with the quote as we speak but just thought I'd ask whether anyone else has any experience of this and whether it is worth doing? Basically, should I have it re-cored which I'm told will give better cooling but will involve re-using the repaired top tank, or should I just bite the bullet and pay CC what I think is over the odds for a new rad? Any ideas/opinions greatly appreciated. Adam 1400ss 6sp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrigsby Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Alternatively you could get one from Radtec that will probably work better than the CC one and it'll be a lot less money! Rob G www.SpeedySeven.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam H Posted January 23, 2006 Author Share Posted January 23, 2006 I looked on the Radtec website and they were even more expensive than CC. They want £200 plus VAT and postage for a ali rad for their RC7 model. I can only assume it worked out much cheaper when purchased through bulk buy. Adam 1400ss 6sp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrigsby Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Ah how much do CC want? I thought it was quite a bit more than that. FWIW I had one of my original copper Xflow rads recored and it was fine. Rob G www.SpeedySeven.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Rob, You are confusing the Std and triple pass rads... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishmaninwales Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 I had mine re-cored about 2 years ago, cost about £90 (Serck services). However, a header tank seam keeps spliting each track day i do, and they keep resoldering it for free.....got fed up and bought a new standard one from CC for £156 + VAT. Aluminium core, but nasty crimped on plastic headers. Malcolm Edited by - Englishmaninwales on 23 Jan 2006 12:37:13 Edited by - Englishmaninwales on 23 Jan 2006 12:37:41 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Anyone got any feed back on how long the ali jobbies actually last? Hants (north) / Berkshire club here Area meeting pics here My Racing here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanP Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 You could try contacting someone like Hyperion. They sold me an almost new ali road rad a couple of years ago for much less than CC. It was one from a new race car that they had upgraded to a triple bypass rad. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Walker Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 If its CC triple pass about 6 months in my experience. Radtec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterg Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 there's an alloy rad in the for sale section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 I'm told one from a Fiat Punto/Polo or similar fits, and they only cost about 45 notes brand new. Of course you'll have to make brackets etc so it's not *THAT* easy, but it is cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 I thought the recent steel rads *were* Polo rads... I also STR that the ali one is standard now. If anyone is interested, I've got a slightly-damaged (but not leaking) ali jobby for sale. here for pics. If I didn't already have a Radtec waiting to fit, I'd straighten this out and refit it myself. Dunno what it's worth. Project Scope-Creep is live... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted January 24, 2006 Share Posted January 24, 2006 Give it time Myles... 😬 Hants (north) / Berkshire club here Area meeting pics here My Racing here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Riches Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 No such thing as a steel engine cooling radiator, copper and brass, or copper and plastic, or ali and plastic, any way, back to the original question, does your engine get to very high temps? are you concerned that over heating may be a problem, or is the radiator shop bloke playing "here's a sucker, I'll give him the this'll improve your cooling" trick, 25 notes to resolder leaking top tank, on an otherwise serviceable radiator, against a new core, how much folding stuff for that, for what benefit? Personally I'd stick with a repaired top tank until such time it's obvious that a new core is required. regards Nigel. 1982. 5 speed, clamshells. B.R.G / Ali. The True Colours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambo Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 My Ali rad has lasted 2years no problems. I also have my old brass one for sale if you are interested. RED 2.0 HPC now on throttle bodies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam H Posted January 25, 2006 Author Share Posted January 25, 2006 I decided to have the rad re-cored at the same time as the top tank was being repaired. It cost me £95 all in. Going to put it all back together tonight and hope for no other leaks. Just out of interest, what sort of coolant concentration does everybody use? I notice in the CC handbook that it should be 30% whereas on the coolant bottle it quotes all the tech spac based on 60% concentration. Probably a numpty question but which should I go for? Cheers Adam 1400ss 6sp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 Buy it ready mixed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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