Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing changing radiator roadster series 1

Job done! Got the rad out as SimonH proposed. Loosening the right tie rod is mandatory, the left can remain in place. Thorugh cleaning round the drain valve where the leak was, got rid of all black paint to expose the metal. Five minute job with the soldering iron, then filling the rad with water and left it upright overnight. No leak! Put the rad back, connected the hoses with a little help from silicone grease on the tubes. All tightened up. Tried to refill coolant through the expansion chamber, would not enter. Solution: putting my mouth to the opening of the chamber, applying pressure by blowing strongly until first air and then collant escaped through the drain valve. Closed the valve, added coolant utill full; then start up with no problems . Watched the temperature gauge rise, heater functioning properly, engine block warming up slowly. Gauge stable at approx 90 degrees Celsius. Tightened all jubilee clips, no leak. Seems a sucsess!
Watchpoint: the rad has sharp corners and is a tight fit under the cowl. When you introduce the rad from below, take care so the upper corner does not make a dent in the cowl from the inside!

Nice one ! you can't beat proper brass Rads you can repair

Just don't use that modern long life OAT antifreeze

Excuse me for being a little blonde, why not OAT?

The OAT types use Organic Acid Technology which is accused of attacking gaskets & also the lead within solder in traditional radiators

Ethylene Glycol is much safer in the older cars with multiple metals (as Morgans are)

Couple of questions;

It looks like the alloy replacement radiator is longer than standard, therefore do you need a different one to fit a car with Air conditioning? - 2007 Roadster

How do you take to radiator out when you have air conditioning as the radiator for that is below the radiator? Do you have to remove the AirCon unit or is there space to get it out otherwise such as removing the cowl?


Currently have a slow leak on a 2007 Roadster and considering options it’s not a plastic rad so might be able to repair if it comes out easily.

Thanks
Will

I do a "shorty" aluminium radiator, for cars with the underslung AC condenser

I've always removed the AC rad when changing the radiator on these models

Simon @ SiFab.co.uk

sifabtemporary@gmail.com

Thanks for your quick response.

So can the home mechanic remove the Air Conditioning condenser at home or are you tied to get a garage to do it?

Could one do it by removing the cowl is is that too much of a pain?

When my Cu/brass rad started to leak in my 2006 car I whipped it out and had it re-cored. Complete waste of money as it only lasted two years and then I had to buy one of these nice ali rads anyway.

Seeing Simon’s post above offering a “shorty” I ordered one up for my new car (not that I have A/C). Nothing wrong with my current plastic rad other than its reputation for catastrophic failure. Didn’t fancy the risk of a ride home in a tow truck whilst touring….

New rad arrived today along with an improved mounting kit. These rads really are the dogs doodahs

Oh dear Roger, that's a thing of engineering beauty & I now want one too

Glad you like it



Simon @ Sifab.co.uk
sifabtemporary@gmail.com