Replacing radiator on a Turbo?

steve 944t · Mar 30, 2004

Has anyone replaced the radiator on a turbo? I have a very minor leak and have had the new radiator sat in the living room for a few weeks now, but keep getting scared off every time I look under the bonnet! Reading the clarks garage site, it looks very straight forward, but they make no mention of the airbox assembly. Presumably this has to come off, but even then there isnt much clearance due to the headlight raising mechanism.
I'm sure that once I get stuck in it wont be that difficult, but if anyone has any pearls of wisdom (apart from get someone else to do it!!!) they would be gratefully received.

Steve

John Sims · Mar 30, 2004

Sorry Steve but, I got some body else to do it.

From what I remember it was a tricky little begger (the job, not the guy who did it) and necessitated the air filter, AFM, intercooler pipes, & distributer cap coming off in order to gain access.

Diver944 · Mar 30, 2004

I've never done the radiator but I have had the airbox off and that was very easy and does make a remarkable amount of room to get at whats underneath. The engine bay is still pretty much packed out in a Turbo though, very small hands required. If you do pluck up the courage we expect plenty of step by step pics and a write up [

] - no pressure

steve 944t · Mar 31, 2004

Thanks guys. I think I have convinced myself to tackle this job. I mean, how hard can it be? [:-]
My mechanic reckons it should be a 3 hour job. So using my usual equation of 1 hour = 1 day, I will wait for a suitable bank holiday weekend and will then set to with note book and digicam to record the definitive guide on how not to do it!
I suppose that it would be sensible to replace all the coolant hoses at the same time, and possibly the thermostat too, although that sounds like a bit of a pig!
Cheers

Steve

danmason · Mar 31, 2004

The thermostat IS a pig to remove unless you have the car up on a ramp. The problem is removing that big circlip - contortionists only need apply!

John Sims · Mar 31, 2004

I suppose that it would be sensible to replace all the coolant hoses at the same time

Check all the metal pipes as well, they tend to corrode under the coolant hose junctions. Either way you will need to give the junction a good clean off to ensure subsequent resealing.

I replaced two of my hard pipes (the one over the top of the exhaust manifold and the one running up to the top of the head - the latter pipe took two months to arrive so I had to re-use the original in the mean time.

John Sims · Mar 31, 2004

I have had the airbox off and that was very easy and does make a remarkable amount of room to get at whats underneath.

I replaced my air box with a home made K&N induction kit:-

This was mainly prompted by seaching for a water leak that I couldn't find because of the air box was in the way. Not having an air box does open up the engine bay a great deal, and means you are less likely to suck water into the engine if you go through a ford.

Kevin Welch · Mar 31, 2004

and means you are less likely to suck water into the engine if you go through a ford.

Does this also apply if you go through a vauxhall?

John Sims · Mar 31, 2004

Does this also apply if you go through a vauxhall?

No, but does with a Morris Marina or a Renault Lagoona

steve 944t · Apr 1, 2004

Thanks all (still chuckling about driving through a ford!) So apart from the radiator, which I have already bought for about £200, I need:
all new coolant hoses
new metal pipes
thermostat
induction kit
rear konis (ok not stricltly connected with the rad but what the heck)

The induction kit is very tempting as I was struggling to replace a couple of the vacuum pipes at the weekend and a bit more space would make things easier in the future. Time to dust off the credit card!

Steve