Replacement Pinto Rad

[Guest G4VVU]

Hi all. First day out in the car this year and disaster struck! The cooling fan managed to chew threw the rad and spewed all the coolant all over the floor.

 

Long story short a new rad is needed. I have read that the polo radiator is a common replacement but the inlet and outlet are both on yhe same side where as the original pinto are on opposite sides.

 

Do people normally just replace the hose with a longer one to solve this problem or am I looking at the wrong ones?

 

Cheers

[jaimo]

Yeah thats the one just extend the pipes or replace they are a good upgrade if changing to electric fan worth while then get polo fan sender as also goes in rad

[Guest G4VVU]

Just thinking.. I'm gonna need a radiator with a pressure filler cap like what is already in there as I don't have an expansion bottle on me car.

 

Any other suggestions?

[jaimo]

Put one in just t bottom of bottle into bottom hose and top of bottle to overflow outlet on side of rad

[theduck]

Civic alloy rads on eBay for about £80 with fab and shroud are pretty good.

[Guest G4VVU]

Great minds... I'm just looking at the civic ones at the minute.

Just need to double check measurements on the car tomorrow to make sure they aren't to high

[theduck]

Probably need to put it in at an angle but they work well. Run one on mine and xouokenothwra are running them too.

[speedtripledan]

I have a brand new coolex alloy 42mm polo style rad for sale complete with spal fan £180

Edited April 2, 2018 by DanE

[Chrisruck]

I've just installed an aluminium civic radiator on an angle in mine. Not tested yet though

[Guest G4VVU]

Thanks for the offer Dan but that's more than I was looking to pay.

 

Yeah I think I will be going for the civic jist need to check on the car there isn't anything silly stopping it from fitting.

 

Did you use the electric fan or still using the viscous?

[Chrisruck]

Electric fan for me. But I'm running a v6 so no room for a viscous. Also I doubt the original fan would make any difference to cooling given the civic radiator is much further away from the engine.

Edited April 2, 2018 by chrisruck

[theduck]

Using the electric fan on mine

[RevKev]

Hi. Let me echo the above. i'm in the middle of a 2B + build with an old 2l Pinto. Picked up a Polo rad off eBay for £40 brand new. Yes the inlet outlet are on the same side of the rad and a bit of a pain to plumb in but job done with some hoses from ASH. Kept the rad angled back to improve surface area expose to the air flow. Seems OK so far.

 

 

I think this is the article that helped me work out rad size.

 

What size radiator do I need for my car? | Super 7th Heaven

 

Kevin

[Guest G4VVU]

Right so I've sourced a rad and fan, next question..

 

What temperature do I need the fan to kick in, 90 degrees and off at 80? I think my car normally runs around 89/90 and sticks about there pretty consistently unless stuck in traffic which hopefully the electric fan will resolve.

 

Thanks for all the help chaps

[Guest G4VVU]

Another quick question lads.. fitted new rad and fan just need to wire uo thermo switch. Using the wiring diagram by NW however my thermostat only has one spade connection so that will have to be connected to the relay. Is the second spade which goes to the ignition on his diagram just an earth so as long as I earth the joiner pipe it will work as needed?

 

Thanks