Right guys I'm going to be fitting an alloy rad to my classic tomorrow and just looking for some advice.
The installing of it won't be a problem but just need to clarify a couple of things.

- do I drain the system hot or cold ?

- best place to re-fill ? Read a post saying to re-fill via the small hose that goes down towards the turbo, is that correct ?

- do I set the heaters to hot with the fans blowing flat out after filling ?

- does coolant type matter ? Bought some 'advanced' coolant/anti freeze from Halfords. It's red (if that means anything) and says its safe to use on alloy engines.


Thanks guys.

 

Anyone...

 

Just drain from cold, I used to fill it at the header tank which was hit and miss for bad air locks but the last time I filled it through the hose to the turbo and it was spot on, no air locks at all.

 

Nice one buddy.
I've been and purchased a tiny funnel so I'll re-fill via that hose.

Obviously just fill from there slowly until the header tank is full right ?

 

Yes mate and just run it up with the heater on hot, fan speed shouldn't matter and just check you got a good heat coming out and that the cooling fans cut in and keep an eye on the level

 

Well got it done but what a complete ball ache !!

Firstly the rad was much bigger than the standered one, so the fans and fan housing had to be modified hugely to fit. With alot of cutting, grinding and making of new brackets we got it on.
Filled the system through the small hose, and left to tick over with heaters on and cap off. All was fine, until I noticed a small pin hole in the 3rd bar down. Jetting coolant everywhere !!!!
NOT HAPPY. Teaches me for buying 2nd hand I suppose.

Drained the system again and removed rad. Hole was tiny so used my soldering gun and covered the hole in solder. Then re-fitted everything and filled back up with coolant along with a new rad weld product.
All good so far, but we shall see.

As I'm sure you can imagine, I was absolutely savage yesterday.

 

me too buddy ,