Archie Procter Posted June 22, 2004 Share Posted June 22, 2004 Having never done anything like this before (and having no instruction book) I was pleased to see that the radiator only had a couple of hoses and a few screws. Looks remarkably straightforward. However the new one has 3 holes, 2 obviously for the hoses and another one with a thread in it. I'm guessing that's a bleed/drain screw hole? Anyway, the new rad didn't come with one in its box. On fitting the new rad, I was just planning to flush it and run water through the new rad until I was happy any air was out of it. But having read lots of posts on here about air in the system etc, I'm now a bit concerned I could be getting into something I don't want to mess with. So my questions are... 1. Is the third hole some kind of drain function? 2. If so, where can I get the stopper/screw-in thing? 3. Is it as easy as I think to change it/flush/refill it? The car is a 1991 2.0VX by the way. Thanks Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silaxe Posted June 22, 2004 Share Posted June 22, 2004 The third hole is for the fan switch to thread in. Silaxe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Procter Posted June 22, 2004 Author Share Posted June 22, 2004 but I don't have one now... does this mean I've got the wrong radiator? Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted June 22, 2004 Share Posted June 22, 2004 No, it means you'd better buy one 😳 Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Procter Posted June 22, 2004 Author Share Posted June 22, 2004 OK so I'm confused, I currently have a radiator with only 2 holes for the hoses. The new one has 3 holes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted June 22, 2004 Share Posted June 22, 2004 Coyote, The fan switch goes in the threaded hole on top of the rad. If you've got the fan switch there will be additionally one (or sometimes two) threaded holes at the top and bottom. Both are bleed/drain screws. Paul Edited by - Paul McKenzie on 22 Jun 2004 21:00:44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F355GTS Posted June 22, 2004 Share Posted June 22, 2004 Paul i've got a spare fan switch which i think wil do the job, if you want you can bring the car over and we can do the job here Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted June 22, 2004 Share Posted June 22, 2004 Mark - do you mean Andrew??!! 😬 'My First Race - SPA' pictures here 60,000miles in 3years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Procter Posted June 22, 2004 Author Share Posted June 22, 2004 Angus Strange you should reply, I was looking at your very impressive radtec on your website earlier on today (to see if it had a third hole)... 😬 If you remember my radiator dropped some water on the cadence braking exercise at Heyford just after I'd bought it, it dumped a load at Brands and we traced it to a radiator leak that day. It's now temporarily fixed with radweld but from various advice on here that won't last long or do the engine much good... ☹️ Hence the new rad. My car has come on a fair bit since you saw it at Heyford, my girlfriend and I spent an eon getting rid of all those awful stickers, and it's now (as of today) got a raceco exhaust system and various sets of wheels and tyres, plus lots of tools to make my life easier such as a cordless impact wrench for the wheel nuts, trolley jack, socket set etc. And all brand new and for a song from ebay too! By the way, love your website, I'm trying to arrange dates for my 'proper' holidays in the USA so that I can go to Spa in September. And how the hell did you ever learn the Nurburgring - I've been re-reading James Hunt's biography following looking at your pics and the idea of going round there in a 1970s F1 car in wet/dry conditions is frightening! Kind regards Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted June 22, 2004 Share Posted June 22, 2004 Glad to hear you are getting more and more into the car! Is it on the road/trailor? If so, come up to Marks one evening and we can fit radiator and any other little jobs that need doing, and catch up on the other stuff! I have just got back from Mark's place this evening - we took out my diff and replaced it with my 'new' LSD - all in about 1.5 hours! We have another car to look at at the end of the week, then he is looking for the next job (he gets board!) so come on up (Mark is just south of Reading) - you met Mark at the Heyford day - apologies if you already knew that!! Get to Spa - its a fantastic circuit 😬 'My First Race - SPA' pictures here 60,000miles in 3years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F355GTS Posted June 23, 2004 Share Posted June 23, 2004 Oops! yes I did mean Andrew! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted June 23, 2004 Leadership Team Share Posted June 23, 2004 Andrew, Unless I've missed it I don't think you mentioned where the 3rd hole is? If it's on the top, it's for fitting a switch for the fan. You could fit a blank instead? If it's at the bottom, it's a drain hole. Some Caterham ali rads have a drain hole on the bottom inside face, fitted with a plastic drain screw - not the most confidence inspring set-up, and IMO best replaced with an ali blanking plug. Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Procter Posted June 23, 2004 Author Share Posted June 23, 2004 Mark, Angus That's very kind of you, I'd love to bring it over. It's on a trailer and I live probably not too far away on the Hants/Berks border. When is good for you guys? Drop me a note at andrew.smith@house.co.uk or I'll give you a ring if you leave me a number? Stu - I suspect it is the fan switch hole, although I haven't got the rad infront of me now and from what I remember from yesterday the top and bottom look very similar... 😳 It's about the same size as the hose holes though it doesn't protrude and I'd expect a drain hole to be smaller?? Also it's got a couple of drain screws (with screws in them) as well and this hole didn't come with any screwing mechanism, plastic or otherwise. I haven't been out to look again since I posted this but I had a good look round at the time and didn't see any connection which would have been to a third hole (such as a fan switch) on what I've got now. My car is an ex-Caterham series racer from the mid-90s so would it ever have had a fan switch? Logic being that it would never need a fan as it would be both air and water cooled by going round a track... Would that make any sense??? Regards Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Procter Posted June 25, 2004 Author Share Posted June 25, 2004 OK I've now been out an had a good look in the light of the above advice. There is a third hole at the top (presumably for the fan switch) on the old radiator but it's been cunningly blocked up, and pretty well hidden. Hence why I didn't spot it before. The fan has some cabling coming out of it which goes back into the engine area. Looks remarkably like the picture on Angus's website! Mark, if your offer of help still stands I'd be delighted to take you up on it. Any further thoughts? Thanks Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F355GTS Posted June 25, 2004 Share Posted June 25, 2004 Andrew Yes of course, I've been struck down with some bug so will get back to you hopefully tomorrow Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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