Radiator Replacement

[PeterVX2]

My 2002 VX II Equipe has sprung a leak somewhere near the bottom of the radiator. It is the original radiator. Looking on Ebay, there are a few ( Worley Spower etc ) for $85 to $135. The adds say they are for a VX 2002, but when you put your model into the compatibility chart below the add, it comes up "Not Compatible "

Are there two different radiators for a VX II 3.8 Auto ?

Has any member here been through this radiator replacement exercise in recent time ?

I would appreciate any informed comment.


Cheers All

 

[Darcon666]

Dead easy... and you will need coolant + distilled water.

See attached section 3.3...

 

[lout]

buy a genuine
only a couple of hundred
and you know its correct
when we bought my daughters VX previous owner had fitted an aftermarket radiator
pressure tester will not seal to the neck so cannot test the system

 

[PeterVX2]

See attached section 3.3...[/QUOTE]

Dead easy... and you will need coolant + distilled water.

See attached section 3.3...

Thank you for your PDF which shows all things in detail.

I am confused about the special tool to release the transmission fluid hoses. Just beyond these connections, there are flanges that look like they can be just undone with 2 spanners. Can you see an issue with this or must you use the tool as described ?

 

[lout]

standard spanners to undo trans pipes
and good clean water, no need for distilled water unless you plan on removing knock sensors as well, which is a pita
buy concentrate coolant
change radiator, fill with concentrate, when it mixes with the 6 litres of water in the block ends up perfect ratio

 

[NeddyBear]

My advise is to give the ebay ones a miss and buy one from a well know radiator specialist someone that sells the Natrad ones.
I put a Natrad one in ours I think maybe 3 years ago and its going great. Around the same time we also replaced the water pump, thermostat, heater tap, also all the cooling and heating hoses, if the radiator goes then its time to replace everything else heating and cooling related.
Yep standard tools and to prolong the life of the coolant use the distilled water (very cheap from Woolies) we only use the Nulon green concentrate and distilled water.
One tip when replacing the radiator raise the vehicle as high as possible and place on chassis stands cause a full day bent over is a killer on the back.

 

[harrop.senator]

Ran ebay alloy radiators in commodores skylines silvias. Got a 60mm triple for my 355 build. Never had an issue once just never use the rad caps they come with I always use trident.

Dont know anyone running a drift car at the moment without one. Did an sr20 triple core radiator into a mates bluebird with twin twelve inches got 7 months out of a blown head gasket as itd never get warm. Drove it til it got so much coolant in the combustion chambers it wouldn't start and I built him another motor.

 

[harrop.senator]

Also stay away from nulon or tectaloy corrosion inhibitors in my opinion. yoyota long life and factory holdens the best but I've found the penrite to be pretty decent.

 

[ChocolateCharlie]

To raise an old thread...After 215 000 kays the drivers side plastic tank has cracked. To get me out of trouble until the new rad arrives I plugged up the hole with Dynagrip plastic repair and it seems to holding up ok after a quick trip up the parkway to test it. Thanks for the upload Darcon, great description on swapping them out. I used to do radiator repairs in a galaxy far, far away. None of this plastic tank stuff, just pure brass and copper and that lovely smell of flux up your nostrils.

 

[VT&VX]

Faulty adapters stopping us from completing installation of this Worley. (Adapters are supplied by Worley with the radiator)