Alloy Radiators

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Thanks Sean - any benefits of 4 row over 3 row? Both claim 30% extra cooling.

Open discussion methinks....all that counts is that the water has enough time to pass through during which to be sufficiently cooled.

3x core :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3CORE-ALL...759887?hash=item464c3cbdcf:g:XkgAAOSwy5ZXDMKL

£168 delivered

Size:

Core Dimension (H x W): 13 5/8 x 23 3/8
Overall Dimension (H x W): 18 1/2 x 27 3/8
Hose Fittings: IN: 1 3/8 - OUT: 1 3/8

4x core :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-per-...543089?hash=item3d29c15cb1:g:GoEAAOSwal5YHClr

£204 delivered

Size :

Core Dimensions (H x W): 13 3/4 x 23 1/4
Overall Dimensions (H x W): 19 3/4 x 27 1/4
Hose Fittings: IN: 1 1/4 - OUT: 1 1/4

Some different dimensions there (inside ventilator fan fitting ?) and to be remembered that 240/260 fixing threaded holes in the chassis are differently placed.

I don't see the point of paying £36 more but....to each their own.
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
They must put the price up for you Sean, those first two show as £122 and £168 respectively here
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
They must put the price up for you Sean, those first two show as £122 and £168 respectively here

Sorry - I added the shipping - is it free then within the UK ?

We get better trade tarrifs when compare to EU:devil::smash:

Yeah, Uncle Donald said to me the other night that he was "going to take special care of the limeys'' ! I guess that'll be positive - yes ?:unsure:
 

datsfun

Club Member
Yeah, Uncle Donald said to me the other night that he was "going to take special care of the limeys'' ! I guess that'll be positive - yes ?:unsure:

Haha as expected you fell for the bait. I knew you would not miss the opportunity to comment on a Brexit related comment. :p:rolleyes::D
 

Farmer42

Club Member
Update:

Finally made the decision to try one of the alloy radiators off E-bay. Chinese built but supplied from UK.

On comparison there is a difference from the ones supplied from the Netherlands in that on those, the bottom outlet pipe seems to be a couple of pieces welded together whereas the one I bought has the right shape pipe in one piece welded to the bottom tank. My view is that the less welds the better as there is less chance of one being dodgy & leaking or letting go. It also is a better fit for the hose as the neck is smoother.

Anyway, got it for £120 and fitted it this morning. One of the differences from the original Rad that was immediately apparent was that the old one had captivated nuts for the bolts to screw into. A minor point and just needed a couple of nuts and washers on the other side of the bracket (see pic). It fitted well with no mods needed, the quality seems ok and looked nice & shiny with no leaks so I am well happy.:thumbs:

It's nice & sunny with very little salt on the roads so time for a test drive I think!!:driving:
 

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Ped

Club Member
Finally made the decision to try one of the alloy radiators off E-bay. Chinese built but supplied from UK.

On comparison there is a difference from the ones supplied from the Netherlands in that on those, the bottom outlet pipe seems to be a couple of pieces welded together whereas the one I bought has the right shape pipe in one piece welded to the bottom tank. My view is that the less welds the better as there is less chance of one being dodgy & leaking or letting go. It also is a better fit for the hose as the neck is smoother.

Anyway, got it for £120 and fitted it this morning. One of the differences from the original Rad that was immediately apparent was that the old one had captivated nuts for the bolts to screw into. A minor point and just needed a couple of nuts and washers on the other side of the bracket (see pic). It fitted well with no mods needed, the quality seems ok and looked nice & shiny with no leaks so I am well happy.:thumbs:
It's nice & sunny with very little salt on the roads so time for a test drive I think!!:driving:

That's a really good price, I got a quote to re-core my stock rad and it was going to be £200, so sounds like a bargain to me.
 

Farmer42

Club Member
That's a really good price, I got a quote to re-core my stock rad and it was going to be £200, so sounds like a bargain to me.

I thought so too. Time will tell on the quality of welds but from what I have seen the weld where the bracket fits to the side of the rad seems to be the weakest point if any. If it only lasts a couple of years, at that price I will have got my money's worth and it gives me some breathing space to save up for a better quality rad.

I would recommend getting the top & bottom tanks checked thoroughly before re-coring as they were the problem on mine not the core. They apparently corrode from the inside due to the antifreeze mixtures over the years which makes the metal thin & weak. Re-coring would have been an expensive waste of money and the tanks could not be repaired. Easier to buy new.
 

Ped

Club Member
I thought so too. Time will tell on the quality of welds but from what I have seen the weld where the bracket fits to the side of the rad seems to be the weakest point if any. If it only lasts a couple of years, at that price I will have got my money's worth and it gives me some breathing space to save up for a better quality rad.

I would recommend getting the top & bottom tanks checked thoroughly before re-coring as they were the problem on mine not the core. They apparently corrode from the inside due to the antifreeze mixtures over the years which makes the metal thin & weak. Re-coring would have been an expensive waste of money and the tanks could not be repaired. Easier to buy new.

I ended up buying an aftermarket rad from the USA, at the time exchange rate was good so it cost around £150'ish shipped from memory. Still have my old stock rad, the core of which is clogged. There was a large cold spot right in the middle, hence the replacement. I will get the tanks checked if I ever decide to recore, but at the low cost of your one there is no point really.
 

Jimbo

1978 260z in yellow
Club Member
just found this thread as im thinking of buying a new radiator but because my 260z is 1978 will that require a different radiator?
my current rad doesn't have the up swept lower outlet just like a 280s rad.
to be fair theres nothing wrong with my old rad but would a new alloy one be better?
or is it better to get the old one recored as i would quite like to keep the car looking origenal if i can.
any recomendations would be greatly appreciated as the ones linked to so far all seem to be for cars up to 1975
regards
james
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Standard ones are perfectly adequate IMO. I have changed mine to a 4 row alloy one, but because I'm paranoid - I had no cooling problems on the stock one with > 200 bhp.
If yours is working fine and you want to keep it, keep it. the alloy ones don't look as good for sure.
 

Jimbo

1978 260z in yellow
Club Member
cheers Jon thats made up my mind.:thumbs:
i will stick with the old one
im also changing over to evans waterless coolant too:)
managed to get a load cheap in the eurocarparts sale last weekend
just goin through the task of drying the system out ready for the prep fluid and then hopefully when finished i shouldnt have to mess with it again:driving:
 
Last edited by a moderator:

toopy

Club Member
just found this thread as im thinking of buying a new radiator but because my 260z is 1978 will that require a different radiator?
my current rad doesn't have the up swept lower outlet just like a 280s rad.

Thats normal, i believe only 240 and early 260 had the up turned rad exit, later cars it comes straight out, the later rads are also taller because the lower rad support cross member is cranked down at either end.

I have a standard rad on mine and it works perfectly, saying that i run an electric fan, but it only ever comes on in stationary traffic and the temp never go's above a tad over half way :)
 

Jimbo

1978 260z in yellow
Club Member
Thanks toopy, that's good to know
I did wonder why there isn't much info on later 260 rads


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Farmer42

Club Member
My stock rad worked perfectly fine until it sprung a leak.

I only changed to an alloy rad out of necessity & price - couldn't get hold of a stock rad quickly enough and the price of a new one was too steep for my pocket. Couldn't get mine re-cored because it was the top tank that had died.

Alloy rads are ok but the stock ones look better IMO.
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Jimbo, I'm watching your progress on that with interest. I was looking to use the same stuff but the thing about running 7-10 degrees higher made me think twice.
 

johnymd

Club Member
Bought a new 240z rad from ebay and I'm very happy with the quality. It arrived very well packaged so no damage. The welds are all nice and I can highly recommend asi performance int. Delivery was a couple of days and it came from Portsmouth.
 

Mr Ex Jnr

Club Member
Bought a new 240z rad from ebay and I'm very happy with the quality. It arrived very well packaged so no damage. The welds are all nice and I can highly recommend asi performance int. Delivery was a couple of days and it came from Portsmouth.


Could you upload the link to eBay that you used please John
 
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