Plastic Radiator Recore

[111Robin]

Is it possible to have a tank with plastic header tank recored ?. It's not for a Mini and impossible to find a replacement radiator hence the query.

[Peter Laidler]

Just from the practical point of view David, I'd say that it is the header (and plastic bottom?) that are the the non available parts. Given that, I'm sure that if the core can be carefully separated then with modern adhesives the end tanks will fit and seal to a replacement core.

Afterwards, run the vehicle with wxtxrxexs* coolant and there's be no - or very little - pressure to upset the seals. But a GOOD thought provoking question. The sort that you'd throw open to a group of bright engineering students last thing on a Friday afternoon!!

Looking at it closely, it looks like a VW-AUDI part. No replacements?

* word hidden to avoid upsetting sensitive ears!

[Polarsilver]

Possible to get a replacement full alloy Radiator made to your supplied pattern.. had this done for my RS2 a few years ago .. if nothing local to you there is a company down here who does this work along with their normal life making race car radiators .. not cheap & you join the waiting list..i was very pleased that it fitted a treat & lined up on its mountings etc just as the original, you can see the fabrication welding on the header tanks but that was very professional to look at .. if of interest i will look see if they are still trading?

[Spider]

I've found the plastic headed get quite brittle. It appears to me that these were never intended to be repaired, but tossed and replaced wholesale.

If it were me and if it's a car that's intended to be kept for some time, I'd have a new one made in the appropriate material.

[111Robin]

Possible to get a replacement full alloy Radiator made to your supplied pattern.. had this done for my RS2 a few years ago .. if nothing local to you there is a company down here who does this work along with their normal life making race car radiators .. not cheap & you join the waiting list..i was very pleased that it fitted a treat & lined up on its mountings etc just as the original, you can see the fabrication welding on the header tanks but that was very professional to look at .. if of interest i will look see if they are still trading?

Thanks. It was my late dads car and is completely original so I want to keep it that way if at all possible but this may be an option if all else fails.

[roger mcnab]

hi
it should be possible to have the top and bottom tanks made in alloy then fittedto a new core the alloy would last better than plastic just a thought
cheers roger

[Costafortune]

The looks like a Mark 1 Golf/Jetta radiator, 1100/1300.

I can't believe you can't find one. I wouldn't bother with that one tbh.

[Costafortune]

Here you go:

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/aks-dasis/171 ... e-radiator

[111Robin]

Here you go:

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/aks-dasis/171 ... e-radiator

Different mounting locations on the bottom (further outboard than the original). It could be made to fit but I don't want to drill the cross member. I've been offered this type by the usual VW classic suppliers. If all else fails it's an option. The top fill radiators (ie. no expansion tank) of the correct type are impossible to find. I've left it with a radiator specialist who is looking for a suitable core.

[Costafortune]

What actual car is it? Golf, Polo, Jetta?

I restored a 1974 Golf 1100N quite a while ago and recall that the 1100/1300 with the 'lean forward' crossflow EA111 engine always had the rad cap on the radiator. 1500-1800 EA827's always had the expansion bottle.

[111Robin]

It's a 1981 Golf CL 1.3. The radiator is definitely the original. The first owner took it to my dads garage for servicing from new and my dad bought it from her in 1989 and used it until around 1998 and it has sat since then. I'm recommissioning it and trying to keep it as original as possible.

[Polarsilver]

Understand why you want an original rad; looks a nice car .. Could try VW Tradition ( Germany ) the Genuine VW classic parts shop .. chances are this will be a waist of time as in my experiences the company VW Audi they do not give a toss about their old models parts & availability beyond 7 years from new .. yet VW still use shots of the mk1 Golf in their new cars current advertising.
Best of luck with the search.

[111Robin]

Understand why you want an original rad; looks a nice car .. Could try VW Tradition ( Germany ) the Genuine VW classic parts shop .. chances are this will be a waist of time as in my experiences the company VW Audi they do not give a toss about their old models parts & availability beyond 7 years from new .. yet VW still use shots of the mk1 Golf in their new cars current advertising.
Best of luck with the search.

Yes I have tried there or rather VW Heritage checked with them when I enquired, no luck. There must be a nos one sitting somewhere, I'll keep digging incase the recore doesn't work out.