Thread: Radiator advice

Originally Posted by buzz66

Aluminium should be cheaper and will have a shorter life span than a Brass/copper one.
If you intend on keeping the vehicle for 10 years or more don't buy an alloy one.

I second that. Top plastic tank on my mate's (well maintained) KH Laser split, it cost him a bomb for a replacement radiator at Natra.

2 core alloy rad in my boss' Ford Falcon was clogged, fine round town but it boiled every time it went up hills. Rad man said they were crap, he fitted a copper/brass 3 core taxi one instead.

Brother's Ford Probe had a leak in the top tank seal ring, no repair kits sold here. New rad (same as MX6) was worth a fortune, so we put some Bar's leaks in and sold the POS.

Alloy tank ones shouldn't crack, but how the hell do you ever clean the cores out when they corrode?

Give me copper anyday.

Originally Posted by Disco95

That is a good price, I was actually quoted for a brand new radiator.
The plumbing on mine looks different though, does anyone know if the 300tdi rad is the same as the V8?

Sean the 300TDi rad. is about a foot narrower than the V8 rad, I recently had my 300TDi rad recored (new core) for $400 at Batemans Bay rads., if the fins are ok then you may get away with a core rodding, there should be a Radiator specialist or 2 around Nowra that would do the same, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Disco95

$1700 from Rover

Where did $1700 come from?
List for ESR3688 is only $423.47 so that seems like a very big mark up, even for a dealer .

Remeber the 3.9 has a cooler in each end if auto . Have you got a quote for an alloy as I believe they are much more expensive with the coolers and they will not supply the correct stubs.

I had a NATRAD core put on my tanks 10 years ago and still going strong, but I use Nulon Longlife coolant and distilled water changed about every 2-3 years.

This is the cheapest solution and more efficient than Rover rads IMHO and teh advice of a NATRAD engineer who advised +20% for the 3 core over the Rover 4 core.

Regards Philip A

Scott, that price was given to me by LVS as what the dealers would charge. As for EVERYWHERE else I've tried, $700 - $1000. I haven't actually asked a dealer, they're usually too expensive. I remember being quoted $800 or so for a clutch kit, I paid $320, or there abouts.
Frank, I had it rodded almost two years ago before a trip to QLD, the guy at the time told me it was on its way, maybe 12 months more use. That same guy has just quoted me $600, going through his best mate. When I phoned he said $780.
With the exchange rate I can get one from UK for about $370, but I need to find out what postage would be.
By the way, these are all supply only prices.

Hi Sean, the price I quoted is dealer list. Retail should be around 10-15% on top of that, inc GST.
Would you like me to get you a definite price on Monday?

Originally Posted by Disco95

Scott, that price was given to me by LVS as what the dealers would charge. As for EVERYWHERE else I've tried, $700 - $1000. I haven't actually asked a dealer, they're usually too expensive. I remember being quoted $800 or so for a clutch kit, I paid $320, or there abouts.
Frank, I had it rodded almost two years ago before a trip to QLD, the guy at the time told me it was on its way, maybe 12 months more use. That same guy has just quoted me $600, going through his best mate. When I phoned he said $780.
With the exchange rate I can get one from UK for about $370, but I need to find out what postage would be.
By the way, these are all supply only prices.

Postage from the UK is ridiculous, I was going to get an alternator from Paddocks in UK, frieght cost for a $186 alternator was $150+, Regards Frank.

Have you tried Karcraft out at Silverwater?

My S1 V8 radiator popped last year and while I can't remember the exact price I let my fingers do the walking and their new radiators were the chapest I found and also cheaper than the quotes I got for a recore...

Cheers

Steve