Rod1883 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Spotted a leak/drip from the right hand side (offside) of the radiator today. It needs a bit more investigation, but it looks like it is coming from the edge of the core on that side. The radiator is a repro unit (SC Parts I think) - fitted when the car was rebuilt ~8 years ago. I've already had to have the thing out to have the neck reinforced after it leaked there as soon as the car was back on the road (and it looks like it may be starting to weep at the base of the neck again). I'm looking for thoughts on the best way forward; 1. Get this one repaired again, or 2. See if I still have the old one that was in the car before rebuild* and get that one re-cored/rebuilt, or 3. Just buy another new one (* or if I haven't still got the previous radiator, buy an old one for refurb). I would welcome views, and if the course of action is to buy a new one - who produces the best? Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Hi Rod. I would take it out & find out exactly where it is leaking before making any decisions. Repair may be the best way if you can see why it might have failed. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 This works: https://www.kseal.com/uk/products/k-seal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tonyloz Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 The sc parts rad is very thinly built and the neck is very delicate If you can recore your original Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
classic225 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Hey Rod, Use the original if you can. I had the original that came with my car re-cored, lost the crank hole and had brackets welded on the side for the extra electric fan. So I ended up with a brand new radiator for about 250 CAD, around 150Sterling I think. Original material is always better then going the aluminum( Aluminium..) route. Since then I never had to put the electric fan on, the cooling is just great. Yves Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 (edited) I have an old unit TR2/3/3A/3B unit sat in the garage if you want an unit to recore at Guildford radiators - Charge is about GB £ 300. Peter W http://carradiatorsguildford.com/ Edited April 17, 2018 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rod1883 Posted April 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 Thanks for the replies everyone. Yes,with hindsight I should have had the/an original re-cored during the rebuild rather than the repo unit (which is flimsy as you say Tony). Peter - thanks for the offer of the old unit. I need to check what I have, and I'll be in touch. Rod Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 Hi Rod re-core the original every time. I think I paid £260 3 years ago. Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 Rod I have swapped my rad in a 3a this spring due to weeping long neck and other issues. I opted for no crank hole as I run elec fan anyway. It is a refurbed original with 4 row element. Outright buy. From here http://stores.ebay.co.uk/johns-radiator-shop Who are Hereford radiators http://www.herefordradiators.com Less than £300 delivered on an offer. Very pleased with it and coped well with the last castle Combe track day where I did 70+ fast pace reasonably high rev (despite the wet !!) track miles Happy customer H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TS27004 Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 Re-core your old Coventry Radiators rad if you can, their 60 year old build quality is still unsurpassed... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rod1883 Posted April 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 Thanks for the further replies. The Ebay supplier doesn't seem to have an early TR radiator at the moment, although I haven't contacted them to ask yet. I have two old radiators amongst the bits and bobs I've acquired - one may be that taken out of the car during rebuild, I must admit I'm not sure. I will take them both to Guildford radiators to see if either are re-corable (if that's a word). Depending on what they say, I may need to talk about yours Peter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 FWIW, I used the top from one rad and the bottom from another when I had mine rebuilt. Cost about £200 about 5 years ago. Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rod1883 Posted April 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2018 I think that's what will happen with mine Ian. I took the two to Guildford radiators this morning and they are confident they can make a good one from the two. Cost estimate - £250 plus the dreaded VAT. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rod1883 Posted May 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 More advice needed please. The good folks at Guildford Radiators have made me a nice new unit from one of my old ones, without starter handle hole and up to date core. £300 inc VAT, and he gave me £25 for the second old scruffy unit. I've taken the old radiator out this morning, and this is what I need advice on now: I have a Kenlowe suction fan fitted and it seems that to get it off the old radiator will destroy the pull through fixings. I've looked on the Moss website and they don't seem to do Kenlowe any more - now Revotec. Are the fixings the same (as they do a kit for the Revotec), or should I seek a specific make/design? I also need the pull through fitting that the temperature probe goes into - again any guidance on where that might be sourced would be welcome. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Go direct to Kenlowe they will supply what you need as I have found them very approachable.http://www.kenlowe.com/ Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rem18 Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Actually there was a thread regards fans and I stated In Italy I have never had a fan even in traffic. Thinking about this I have a recore which at the time I thought was pricey but thats probably one of the reasons I dont need a fan in my 5 even here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Hi Rod, if you have no luck with Kenlowe give Revington a call. They do the pull through plastic ties. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
classic225 Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Hi, Do you mean those plastic things that hold the fan ( like zips). If so.....I don't think you should use those anyway, weld 4 little brackets on the side of the radiator to connect the fan. Looks pretty amateur to have parts fixed with plastic zips on a TR. Yves Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 When in place they are almost unnoticeable. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rod1883 Posted May 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Thanks Stuart, Roger - I've sent an enquiry to Kenlowe (and Moss), will follow up with Revington if necessary. Rod Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 I didn't bother with the thermostat switch which came with my Kenlowe fan, I used a steel tube with a union for a thermostat switch instead of the basic TR one which is just a straight (well slightly bent) length of tube. A much more elegant solution in my view. Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rem18 Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Brian Really? This works: https://www.kseal.com/uk/products/k-seal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Yes, it really does work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rem18 Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 (edited) Without causing any probs like reduced cooling efficiency? Might be a good thing to keep for emergencies thats all. I have a peugot 205 with 430,000kms on the clock that has quite a lot of mayonnaise, might be worth a go to see if it settles that. Yes, it really does work. Edited May 15, 2018 by Rem18 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 I used K-Seal on my high mileage daily driver (Skoda Felicia) as an emergency fix for a bad leak in the core. Only needed 1/3 bottle and no further problems for the remaining 5 years or so that I had the car. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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