3200 Radiator

[StuartW]

Evening everyone

A lovely afternoon drive today was cut short by some steam coming from the front of the engine and it looks like the radiator sadly.
Having looked through a number of posts on here, the consensus seems to be for a straight replacement rather than a refurb so I wanted to ask, if it does have to be replaced, does anyone have any tips of where I might be able to get a good deal?

Thanks all

 

[Contigo]

They seem to steam quite a bit as they do get hot and water can run from the front onto the pipes. Have you inspected the rad for any corrosion? From what I remember reading they tend to go on the joint from the lower water pipe into the side tank. I know that Mike Roberts does a fully recored rad for £399 plus fitting.

 

[LeeH]

I had mine sorted by Autoshield in Manchester.

They normally have a rebuilt one in stock.

 

[StuartW]

Thanks for that and to be honest, it doesn't look too bad corrosion wise but there are signs of water coming out from the front of a few of the fins on the near side which would I guess then drop down onto the hot pipes below and create the steam. And this starts to happen when the engine is only just getting hot, after just 10 minutes so I guess the writing may be on the wall.
Looking at Eurospares, they have a new one to order for £428
This is all new to me as from the what must be 30+ cars that I have owned, I have never had a rad go on me!

 

[StuartW]

I had mine sorted by Autoshield in Manchester.

They normally have a rebuilt one in stock.

Cheers Lee

 

[Contigo]

Tempted to get mine to a local rad specialist and have the silicone tubes fitted and it remanufactured to a much higher quality that the original one. There must be aftermarket ones out there for the 3200?

 

[SteveM]

Hi there, sounds like mine with exactly the same symptoms - corrosion on the front (smaller) core. Rear larger core protected by front core and in good condition so I just got rad specialist in Bristol to replace front core and while apart replace 3 hoses with silicon pipes which I supplied. If I recall cost was about £160 a year ago.

 

[StuartW]

Thanks Steve but the brass section on mine where both the top & bottom hoses connect also look poor so I'm going to go for a replacement I think. After all, this one has lasted 12 years assuming it was the original so that's pretty good. I have a full set of silicone hoses and stainless clips here so I'm ready to go, I just need to find the time to get the car trailered to the garage to get the work done.