VN - VP Radiator

[TVR-190]

I have a large crack in the side of my radiator spurting out lots of coolant. Ive tried many a thing to fix it including commercial products designed for fixing radiator cracks to super glue...

Anyone have a good method or should i start looking for a new radiator

[Chirpstr]

chocolate egg.

[TVR-190]

Didn't work to well for jeremy doubt it'll help me

[Chirpstr]

LOL bahahahharaughhhh

[DavoVP]

Might be a good time to visit the wreckers man. A "egg" will only work for a pinhole, ( mythbusters ) good show that.

But a chocollate egg ? now thatd be cool if it works

[NORTI]

Its a common problem with them, the end tanks crack. You can replace just the end tank, but for the cost of that you might as well just get whole new one.

Where abouts are you?? I have VNII-VP radiator here you can have.

[TVR-190]

Sydney, bit too far away unfortunetly

[vn calais manual]

get a new one.

[Cheap6]

New radiator: $160-170 + coolant = ~$45 for the right stuff.

Budget fix - buy one of the radiator repair kits that include fibreglass cloth and use that = ~$20. The side tank needs to be spotlessly clean, drained of coolant (just the tank - if you lift the radiator out of its mounts and angle it a split towards the top of the tank can be repaired without draining the whole system) and scuffed with emery paper where the patch needs to bond on to.

Bear in mind that if the tank has split once it is likely to be brittle and will eventually fail at another point.

Avoiding leaning on the radiator fan while working in the engine bay will help avoid a recurrence.

[Morton]

Once it's cracked, don't bother. New radiator.

If you shop around, you can find a good VS V8 radiator (same design, much thicker core) for $230, which will outperform all your cooling needs.

[Gudgeon]

Remove the bonnet and go air cooled.. j/k

[TVR-190]

ill just through on some crack sealant and sell it

buy a new vp

[centy]

Mate easy to fix.
Buy a new side tank and oring, yes they have an oring under them.
you also need vice grig screwdriver and some gasket goo.
CAREFULLY go around the tank with the srcewdriver and pry up the tags so they are not quiet straight. Do this by leavering of the next tab inline, if you do it of the tank you will spread the whole frame and thats a pain.
Once you have gotten the bent up enough to pull the tank out remove it and oring.
Now is the perfect time to blast the bottom 5 or so cores as they gum up.
Now it is all clean and you are amazed how much crap came out of the radiator, dry out the oring groove a bit.
test fit the new tank to make sure it will go past the tags (if you take the foam out of the guts of the new tank it will suck in and be a real pain to fit)
goo around the oring seat and push it in then goo the underside of the tank and fit it.
with the vice grip go around and bend the tags in in a sort of hooked motion to push them in a bit. Just a few scattered around to hold it first,and NOT TO TIGHT.
Then go around and do the rest.
Now set the vice grips so it grabs the tabs on the otherside of the radiator (just to get the correct size) now go around about 3 time to makesure all are even, if not happy that it is tight enought then maybe a little more.
reassembele and bleed collant system.
Then run car till hot and radiator car releasing pressure and look for leak.

Cost me $55 for the tank and oring in country QLD so you will get it cheaper.
3RD one i have done and no problems so far.
I'm told that you can only do this once or maybe twice as the alloy tags weaken and you are allowed to break a couple but not near each other.
I have not broken any.
if you have a damaged radiator laying around you can use it's tank to replace the leaking one.

[TVR-190]

not quite sure its side tank, ill get a picture of the crack and post it

[centy]

if it is in the black plastic you can fix it.
If it is in the alloy core then you need a new radiator.
Do a search and you can get them for about $110 plus $18 postage.

[Holdfast]

Need a quick repair to a leaking fuel tank or radiatior?

[h0Ld3n`VN]

morton is it really that easy to fit a v8 radiator on?? i guess u gotta modify it to fit with a different thermo fan??

[joeallen]

I fixed a similar problem several years ago. Cost $75 at an Altona rad shop. Lasted for several years until the rad developed a hole in the metal core. Bought a new rad in Melb. for $120 delivered to Melton by courier.

[Fatvl308]

just get it recoed natrad cheap as

[TVR-190]

Thanks but no longer a problem as i have bought a new car, a VP Calais.

Was thinking about what Morton said about getting a VS V8 radiator

would that be a simple swapover or would it be a tough job?