Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Radiator

IMHO it's simply not worth even attempting to fix the plastic side tank radiators used on the later Classics as per OP. They all seem to leak eventually and you would be simply putting good money after bad.

I had heard of the more efficient cooling of all aluminium rads causing issue on lower power 4/4's, ironically overheating due to increased hysteresis effect on thermostat. Simply cured I believe with lower opening temperature one. A small price to pay for a radiator that stays water tight.

Richard,

You may well be very right on the viability of the repairing the plastic ones, however a good radiator manufacturer could use the rad template to make a replacement. I certainly known a few of the aluminium replacements to have problems/weaknesses. I believe it was Heinz that may have highlighted the hysteresis effect re 4/4. My Roadster ran much cooler and had an much extended warm up period, which a different radiator open temp may have cured. I wasn't into experimenting, I'd just preferred the same spec of rad operation that the engine management system was geared for, as other than the broken pipe junction, the original rad worked well and within the operating window expected. Never too sure what long term impact of introduced changes can have on quite sophisticated management systems, which may finish up with you chasing you own tail, when faults arise.

It's amazing in all my decades of many cars ownership, the only one I have ever had to change the rad on was a Morgan and its a continuing common problem on them.

I have no idea about these rads, however at that price e it is worth investigating

https://ebay.us/m/rEgRwo

Haven't bought a Morgan one, but have bought two Chinese rads fora couple of Honda GL1000's I had - good quality and fitted well.

I can understand some owners not wanting to change the Morgan radiator spec from OE but in the 2014 on Classic series (and likely earlier) I wonder if they were aware the same plastic side tank rad was used on all three models from 4/4 to 3.7 Roadster despite the wide range of power outputs. I can only speak for the latter but can confirm that mine always sat at exactly the same temperature on gauge summer or winter once warmed up, which took little more than three miles or so.

After fitting my SiFab radiator it behaved exactly the same regarding gauge and warm up time. The difference was in radiator fan rarely coming on even in summer and then only at low speed. Previously the fan came on virtually every time I stopped to open the garage door. Another 3.7 Roadster owner found similar when he had a Mulfab aluminium radiator fitted, speaking volumes for the versatility of the engine cooling design of this model.

For radiator repairs I have used Wolverhampton Radiators WV2 2QJ, 01902 870369 who built me a traditional brass radiator after the original ally one in my 4/4 packed up after 9 years. That was in 2011 and no trouble since. I've also had the +8 radiator patched a few times. G.A.T. Radiators in Dudley DY5 3QF are also good. You know your onto a winner when you put the radiator on the counter and they tell you straight away what vehicle it's from!