Replacing radiator?

[Rallye James]

I've heard different views on this. Some people say you have to remove the bumper, lights and slam panel, some say it will just slot it in. Anyone got any ideas?

I'm not the best person with anything even slightly mechanical, but I'm going to try to replace mine at the weekend on my own :o Is it fairly straight forward to do?

[mikey_b]

dont know about fitting, i had an alloy one fitted and it deffo makes it cooler!

useless post over!

[Rallye James]

That's what I got, a nice shiny Nissens from 106parts :D I'll have to post some pics of my old one after to show you all how shagged it is - still does it's job though remarkably! :eek:

[mikey_b]

mine was nice and shiney but its had oil spat all over it now! ill clean it up once i get the problem sorted.

[Freedo]

their's a risk you will damage the new rad and slice your hands by slideing it in. imo, do it the proper way and clean every thing when your doing it.

[Rallye James]

Cheers Freedo, I'll do that, I don't think it's too much extra to take those bits off. Even I should manage it ;)

[Fuzzy Orange]

James I dont have time to find the pics but nose around on www.fuzzy-orange.com/gallery/ for pics

I'll write a guide up when I get chance if you want it

You can slide it in but it gets very close to exhaust manifold and its nearly impossible to get to the pipes to undo them - it only took me an hour to fit removing the entire slam panel :)

[Steve Saunders]

I have just ordered one of these too, so this thread will be of interest... :D

Guess i'll be removing the front end also then.... :)

[Fuzzy Orange]

Remove this shit

http://www.fuzzy-orange.com//wp-gallery/My%20Car/Nissens%20Alloy%20Radiator%20(Aug%202006)/radiator_1.jpg

To end up with this

http://www.fuzzy-orange.com//wp-gallery/My%20Car/Nissens%20Alloy%20Radiator%20(Aug%202006)/radiator_2.jpg

Fit one of these sexy things

http://www.fuzzy-orange.com//wp-gallery/My%20Car/Nissens%20Alloy%20Radiator%20(Aug%202006)/radiator_3.jpg

Then re-assemble it all and end up with this

http://www.fuzzy-orange.com//wp-gallery/My%20Car/Nissens%20Alloy%20Radiator%20(Aug%202006)/radiator_4.jpg

Easy peasy :D

[Steve Saunders]

Best get cracking then.... Cheers Phil... :D

[Rallye James]

OK - I'm stuck at the first hurdle :( :rolleyes:

Do I need to get the wheels off to take the front bumper off?

[Fuzzy Orange]

Its easier mate if you do

[Rallye James]

Damn it! :(

I cant get the wheels off because my new jack wont fit under the car :mad: I see the little flaps in the arch where the bolt should be but I can see/feel anything in there :confused:

Thanks though :) I'll have to do it some other time I suppose

[Fuzzy Orange]

If you put the wheels on full lock so you can get your hand in there it is doable with the wheels on - feel for the flat metal plate and roughly in the middle is a 10mm bolt going sideways into the bumper :)

[Rallye James]

Update! :D

Tried to get the bumper off but even with the wheels on full lock I couldn't get to the bolts, so.....

I decided the bumper and all that had to stay on. So I undid everything attached to the old rad, slid that out. Then, just slid the new one in - I was very surprised it was piss easy! :eek: Even I managed it :p

So this came out..

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l251/sitlo/S6001119.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l251/sitlo/S6001120.jpg

...and this went in :D

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l251/sitlo/S6001121.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l251/sitlo/S6001122.jpg

[Rallye James]

Here's a pic of it looking sexy ;)

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l251/sitlo/S6001123.jpg

Now though there are problems :( Number 1, when putting the fan back on the front, this screw broke :(

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l251/sitlo/S6001125.jpg

Which is mean to go in there

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l251/sitlo/S6001124.jpg

...and I cant get this poxy clip back in the right place

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l251/sitlo/S6001126.jpg

and here's another sexy pic

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l251/sitlo/S6001128.jpg

[James.G]

those bolts arnt hard to replace, but run down B&Q or summet.

looks good tho, cant wait to get mine.

[Rallye James]

I don't car about that little bolt, car will run without that

However, I don't know what to do about that hose :( I can't get the clip on. I've only got one pair of hands and there's no room to work there :mad:

I don't suppose I should fill the radiator back up and run the car if that hose isn't 100% tight

[Fuzzy Orange]

No that needs to be PERFECTLY tight or water will piss out everywhere

Thats the main reason why I removed my bumper LOL

I would suggest getting some mole grips (is that what they are called) and clamping them on so it holds the clip open then moving it across towards the radiator - then releasing them

Thats how I did mine :)

[Rallye James]

Yeah, thanks, I did try that, but with the bumper on there way no room to get the clip on :( However, easy solution, I'm going to buy a jubilee clip in the morning and stick that on instead ;)

[danvilla2]

Yeah i wouldnt bother taking wheels and bumpers off!

How come you do all that fuzz? not to damage the rad??

[Rallye James]

I think it just makes it easier to get at all the fiddly bits probably

but with the bumper on there way no room to get the clip on

I just realised that makes little sense, lol :p

[Fuzzy Orange]

Its about a billion times easier to fit without it

Couple of big reasons though

1) I had a cat in the manifold - so the room to slide the rad in was VERY VERY tight and I didn't wanna knacker a £90 rad

and

2) My front bumper is only held on with 2 bolts, I have no inner arch linings. To get the bumper, lights and slam panel off took less than 10mins :D

Oh yeah and James your rad is just as f*cked as mine was! You'll notice a hell of a difference. My nissens rad dropped the engine temp by a quarter on a normal drive! :D

[Rallye James]

Thing is my engine temp always only ever sat on half way anyway :confused: I have no idea how, but that old thing actually worked :eek: I just had to get a new one because that one did look screwed