22 replies to this topic

[nicklouse]

I got a stainless steal rad from P&L and my car ran beautifully at L2B with standard plastic fan and an 88 degree thermostat. My engine is desperate for a damned good clean but at least the engine runs nice and cool.

will not be stainless steel.

[greenmini1275]

Your right, it's Aluminium.

[wile e coyote]

As a rider to this whilst you're fixing the cooling its very worthwhile replacing  the horrible steel (and doubtless severely furred up / corroded) pipe joiners with brass ones - easily ebay available for a couple of quid and don't rot.....

[nicklouse]

what joiners would those be? all the Rover ones were plastic.

[MRA]

The biggest issue I see on a regular basis is people fitting the plastic fans backwards ! they work if the correct way round but don't work at all if the wrong way round doesn't matter a great deal when driving but as soon as you stop in traffic etc temperature goes up....  they are an aerofoil for a reason and when looking into the engine bay the fan blade ends must be C shaped not backwards C ....  the flow moves from engine bay to left hand wing (LHS as viewed from the fitted drivers seat)

[Pigeonto]

what joiners would those be? all the Rover ones were plastic.

I reckon he's talking about the 5/8" to 1/2" one in the heater pipe. Sadly it is steel on my '92 Studio2 and don't they rust !

[Trissy B]

Decided to splash out on the Minispares 2 core rad (which fits perfectly by the way), new fan, belt, high capacity pump. Had a go at cleaning out the block which doesn't seem bad. Re-spaced the fan so it fits right in the cowling.

 

Only been for a 20min drive so far; no leaks or overheating, BUT, only ever reached half way to normal temp. Is the answer a new hotter thermostat?

[Stu1961]

The hose joiner on my 82 Mayfair was steel and very corroded on removal, changed it for brass. On vinegar, yes it's great for removing rust but I found it does attack cast aluminium quite badly (I use distilled malt vinegar) initially tried the vinegar in the fuel tank, it removed all the rust completely and it seems not to lose it's effectiveness no matter how many times you re use it.