Radiator replacement

[esprit s2]

Anyone removed and re installed their radiator?

What a pain in the arse!!!!

Took me ages to get the bloody thing out and now I'm struggling to get the thing back in again.

Any hints or tips would be most helpful!

[Mystery Machine]

After removing one the other day I have decided to replace it with one that's slightly narrower. I haven't had chance to offer it up yet, but I have a new rad from an MX5 which I am going to try out to see if it fits better.

I don't think it's the radiator width that's the real issue but the upper brackets which can't be removed yet are so wide there is only one way to lift the rad out which involves removing the pipes to the oil cooler and various other bits first.

Good luck getting it back in - I'll be posting back once I've found an easier to fit solution for mine (although that may be some time!)

[frommerstop]

I'm currently looking for a radiator replacement, as the end cap on mine broke off! Because of the remote location you need a radiator made to use a remote resevior & cap. I fear the cap on a Mazda radiator will get in your way. I was thinking about mounting an after market all aluminium (mid 80s) VW Golf replacement - looks like it should fit, and improve cooling over the stock Lotus rad. Unfortunatly it will require considerable hose rearrangement, both hose fittings are on the right. But the VW uses side tanks & a remote resevior, and a boss for a fan switch. "Performance" aftermarket radiators are pretty cheap for a Golf, and a used set of VW fans souldn't be too much. Has anyone here had success with anything else?

Cliff

[basalte]

I`m going to get my Elite 2.2 rad replaced as its sprung a leak . If anyone has any more tips on removal / refitting , all welcome .

Thanks

Dan

[esprit s2]

I'm still struggling to get mine back in without damaging it!

[pbharcourt]

I have the front bumper off mine and the radiator just goes in through the front, the radiator hole in the body can be made bigger than the hole in the bumper.

[basalte]

Much Respect to all you DIYers with this job which Ashleigh Motors in Muswell Hill have just done for me...they are good value, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the car (and old cars generally) and already look after the Europa of someone else down the road.

I don`t know if I am being a pernickety fussbudget but the rad from Lotus Bits needed modifying...the casing is thicker than the original for a start. They did say the brackets needed keeping from the old rad but did not mention that new, wider mounting plates were needed to be welded on, too...

[LOTUSPOINT]

After taking out the engine and gearbox from engine bay, and after separating the body from chassis --- it was a really easy job....

Peter

[mat grant]

Hi,

I got my single fan radiator out of the eclat reasonably easily - I'm replacing it with an excel radiator with twin fans, and a V8 in the engine bay - might not be so easy

With the fans off and the front bumper off it can be put in through the gap in the front of the car. But how you'd get the fan shroud one would be interesting! I will update when I've instaled it. Long term I want to get an even larger capacity aluminium radiator made for it, but the excel one will do for now, it is much thicker than the eclat one.

Cheers, Mat.

[Jorge E]

Done radiator removal this weekend on my Eclat.

 

No front exit available because A/C condenser...

 

The most difficult part is to take the radiator out of the place because there are two mounting brackets on top of the radiator wich make it wider than the gap... you need to simultaneously turn and tilt the radiator to begin the removal...

[soldave]

Done radiator removal this weekend on my Eclat.

 

No front exit available because A/C condenser...

 

The most difficult part is to take the radiator out of the place because there are two mounting brackets on top of the radiator wich make it wider than the gap... you need to simultaneously turn and tilt the radiator to begin the removal...

Thanks for those comments. Gives me an idea of what will be involved in bringing it out of the engine bay.

 

With the radiator out, can the A/C condenser be pulled out, engine bay-side?

[Jorge E]

Thanks for those comments. Gives me an idea of what will be involved in bringing it out of the engine bay.

 

With the radiator out, can the A/C condenser be pulled out, engine bay-side?

 

 

 

Hello, Dave!

 

The A/C condenser seems accessible as soon as the radiator has been removed. There are again two bolts on the bottom and two more brackets bolted at the top, Those are deeper  but the space to work is wider (the condenser is not as narrowed fitted as the radiator).

 

I will do a look and maybe pictures at it next weekend, If I notice some potential interference I will post here to your knowledge.

[Jorge E]

Dave,

Looked again al the thing. Once removed the engine radiator the A/C condenser remains bolted only at the bottom. The bracket on top are now free, because they are bolted to the engine radiator itself.

The size is pretty the same for both elements so with a little tilting and persuasion, it is possible to removal via the engine bay.

Best regards,

[89esprit]

I just got a new winner racing radiator for my 77 503. Had to do some work on the mounts but all is well. When I pulled the old one out I did it from the top, as it didn't matter if I damaged it because it was already leaking. Putting in the brand new one was a different story. I put mine in from the bottom through the slot  above the air dam. Remove the air dam, remove the wire grill, horns, and ac condensor bolts. Once the condenser is loose there is enough room to feed the rad through the slot. Actually a lot easier than I thought it would be.

 

[makepeace]

Out of interest sake, it seems that the BMW 17117558480 rad is a really good fit. Just needs some modifications for mounting and fan mounting if you were to use the original fans. Previous owner bodged a repair on the original radiator in my Elite and it's cracked. Unfortunately very expensive to get a reconditioned, winner-racing or custom built one in South Africa, so in the meantime I needed to find something to work while getting it registered and roadworthy. Found one of these for ~£40 at a second hand store.