8 replies to this topic

[Shylos]

I've been on quite an adventure trying to get this radiator in, but to cut a long story short I'll just explain tonight's work...

I bolted the radiator to the cowl, and attached the bottom hose then put the whole thing in. I figured I would try that first instead of separately as it would be easiest if it worked, and there was space.

The bottom host to water pump was a nightmare, but got it in the end.

The problem came when I went to put the top bracket on and realized the rad felt a little loose at the bottom. Cue checking the diagrams and realizing I had missed two rubber grommets and a piece in the bottom bracket to keep it snug.

Somehow, don't ask me how... I got those in without removing everything, but now when the radiator is in place the fan scrapes the bottom of the cowl.

I can't figure out what I can do to fix this, as there is no play in anything to lower the cowl at all. The cowl, fan and radiator are all replacements, but it is the standard one piece cowl, fan and Mini Spares two core radiator.

I changed the water pump and pulley too, is there any chance the replacements set the fan too low?



Thanks for any advice, I thought I was so close to getting this in and finished!

EDIT: I should have said, it's a 1990 Mini City

Edited by Shylos, 01 May 2024 - 04:08 AM.

[andyapanel]

Did you replace the fan spacer?

[KTS]

if you fit the cowl without the radiator you can get to the two bolts that hold the bottom support bracket to the engine mount and get some movement/adjustment from there (open up the holes in the support bracket if you need to)

 

the radiator can then be fitted to the cowl (personally, i find it easier to do it this way)

[Shylos]

Did you replace the fan spacer?

 

I don't have a spacer in there as the fan already looks well positioned horizontally within the cowl/

 

if you fit the cowl without the radiator you can get to the two bolts that hold the bottom support bracket to the engine mount and get some movement/adjustment from there (open up the holes in the support bracket if you need to)

 

the radiator can then be fitted to the cowl (personally, i find it easier to do it this way)

 

Are those bolts on this diagram? I looked at 14 and 23 but couldn't see how they would provide any vertical movement for the cowl.

[KTS]

the ones at 23 

 

you'll see from your photo above that the support bracket attaches to a sloped section of the engine mount bracket, so if you open up the holes so the bracket can move away from the engine, it will also move down

 

my cowl didn't fit very well either so i ended welding up and redrilling the holes in the bracket

 

[Cooperman]

Just to add, whatever you do don't be tempted to cut a few mm off the fan blades. That reduces the amount of air the fan can shift ad can lead to overheating. I recall someone cutting 1/4" off his fan blades and that made it run a bit hot.

I'm sure you wouldn't do this, but it's just advice for anyone who might consider it.

[Shylos]

So that's the bolts that go in the two holes here, correct?

 

Should loosening them allow me some movement by design, or by open up the holes do you mean I will need to enlarge them myself to allow the bracket to slide a little to get the movement?

 

Thanks for the help

[KTS]

yep - that's them.

 

loosening off the bolts should allow some movement, but if that doesn't solve the problem then, yes, you'll need to think about enlarging one of both holes to get the movement you need

[Shylos]

Ok, sounds like it's time to pull everything back out! Thanks for the advice, I'll see how it goes. Not sure I have what I need to enlarge the holes but I might be able to get some help with that if needed.