1446 replies to this topic

[The Matt]

Also, good stuff, a man who gets his hands dirty. Now stop falling over in the dirt and get it running


Two core rad all the way

Going back in the garage tonight to finish off the bottom half of the engine (sort out the timing cover, VR pickup mount etc.).

Just about to order a two core with a set of decent hoses from Minispares (woohoo for discounts) and I need some decent fuel hose too (Goodridge 200 series). Only other thing I need to sort out now (buying wise) is a fuel pump inertia switch. Weird thing is that I thought I had one somewhere off an Escort!!

Cheers for all the comments guys!

Oh yeah 'flange' is one of my favourites too Dog!

[vtec matt]

Looking good.

Have you looked into the alloy rads ?

[The Matt]

Looking good.

Have you looked into the alloy rads ?

Cheers,

Yeah, I did contemplate an alloy one, but I thought it would be a bit too expensive to be honest. I am just gonna try this 2 core one from Minispares. From what everyone else has said, it will be more than capable of cooling the FReaK.

[Dog]

Matt - I'll soon tell you at the weekend - I'm completely overhalling my cooling system, new pump etc, etc etc... most of all a 2 core rad from Minispares - if its solves my overheating problem, then you'll be fine

[The Matt]

Matt - I'll soon tell you at the weekend - I'm completely overhalling my cooling system, new pump etc, etc etc... most of all a 2 core rad from Minispares - if its solves my overheating problem, then you'll be fine

Coolies

[Sprocket]

No worries on 100bhp with the 2 core, no sign of over heating, I know people wih 140bhp that run one

[Dog]

well to let you know Matt...

I've fitted a new waterpump, new fan, new 2 core tad, 15lb rad cap, and I can now say, the overheating is SORTED

[The Matt]

well to let you know Matt...

I've fitted a new waterpump, new fan, new 2 core tad, 15lb rad cap, and I can now say, the overheating is SORTED

Cool

Well, mine should be waiting for me at work tomorrow! Along with some other spangly bits to go in there.

Gonna have a day at it on Saturday, I want to get the brakes and suspension fitted really amongst other things!

[Bean]

Oooh want piccys of all these sparkly bits that are gonna go on, matt!!

[The Matt]

Oooh want piccys of all these sparkly bits that are gonna go on, matt!!

Okies!

[The Matt]

Hmm, Some of the shiney bits aint turned up yet!

But here's my most recent order from Minispares.

Supercool 2 core rad and a set of silly hoses!
Also got a thermostat blanking sleeve and also some spare brake pad retaining pins and retaining plates for the 4 pots.

Nicked some stainless steel hose clips from the workshop too!

[The Matt]

Okies, well, that lot above is now on! The radiator cowl bottom bracket is scarily close to the trigger wheel though. I have had to adapt it to make it easier to get the rad in and out. With the SC pickup kit for the Megajolt, I have to remove the bottom radiator bracket to get the fan belt on and off!

When I flip-front the car I am gonna make a new radiator bottom mount which will make the rad sit about 10mm further away from the engine, I'll then have to modify the cowl to make up for the gap! Bloomin minis!

[Sprocket]

Ha Ha, sorry dude, i should have mentioned that, i had the same problem, but when i had the rad out I massaged the mounting bracket on the cowl for more clearance

It does fit with little room to spare

another thing you may want to consider doing as i had to do, is grind back the first couple of threads on the Minispares special bolt. This prevents it bottoming in the crank threads, which would other wise result in clamping force being reduced if any atall wich is what i found. Also use some thread locker on the threads or it WILL come loose, with out fail it will come loose.

[The Matt]

Yeah, I basically opened out the holes through the lower rad mount where it bolts to the engine mount (opened them to 7/16") then fitted the two bolts with a more substantial washer, just to give me some more adjustment. The two bolt holes that face toward the pulley (radiator cowl-radiator bracket) are now slotted, so the rad can be dropped in from the top with the bolts already in place, meaning it only takes a couple of spanner turns to tighten them up. I will threadlock the bottom pulley bolt, but I need to get a proper tool for it, it's a 1/2" Allen bit, but I 'modified' a 14mm sump plug one to fit (angle grinder). Note to self, bottom pulley bolt needs removing and tightening/threadlocking!!! The other thing with the SC kit is that the pickup mount bracket only has a tiny amount of clearance for the fan belt. Changing the belt is now a mammoth task, so I need to pop a new one on there (gonna place ANOTHER likkle order with Minispares today).

The only other thing that is a PITA is the fanbelt fitment, there's no way I'll be able to fit one without totally removing the existing radiator mount bracket. The fiddliness of fitting the radiator, working around the bottom pulley and also the timing cover has convinced me that a flip front is definitely on the cards when the engine is finished off and has been run in. I am tempted to do a steel flip front, but am as yet undecided. Whichever way I do it, it will be mounted so that it hinges forward, but has QR hinges, so it can be taken off in seconds rather than minutes. I have some amphenol multiplugs (thanks work ) that I can use for the lights etc. so it's all quite an easy mod really (apart from painting the front end).

Anyway, pics:
Fitting radiator/hoses


Marking out breather hoses for later fitment of catch tank


As Westwood would say 'Dat is TITE'


Marking out the CF bonnet for bonnet pin holes etc.


@Mini93, yes, the piccies are off my camera phone! Look at their bluriness!

[mini93]