Update: Source for Sierra radiators in SA - FOUND!!

[Moph]

UPDATE TO THIS THREAD:


Holden Hill Radiator Repairs, north of Adelaide
645 North East Road, Gilles Plains
8261 6173

$260 for a new aftermarket radiator

Finally! Was about the 20th radiator place I rang, and the first who could get hold of them. Had two separate suppliers for them (one at $260, the other at $286).

Still a bit on the expensive side, but it is at least realistic vs the $700 I was originally quoted.

















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Took my radiator into a major (supposedly reputable) Adelaide radiator workshop to have a flush and clean. Four weeks (!) later having had no call from them, I phoned them today to be told that the plastic top tank fractured during removal and that:

1) they cannot source a new top tank,
2) they've never seen a radiator that small,
3) none of their suppliers even list a Suzuki Sierra (they tried telling me it must be fully imported!) and,
4) basically I'm left with no radiator and on my own to find a new one, unless I want to pony up for a custom copper core and bronze (?) tanks.

Anyone know where I can source either a new top tank or new radiator? Would prefer not sourcing from a wrecker if I can avoid it as it would likely be in similar poor condition to my own.

Cheers,
Tim

[fool_injected]

Had the same problem and could not be bothered to chase a supplier
Instead I got a 90s Feroza radiator from the wreckers for $20 and made it fit.

[nicbeer]

coventrys

NAtrad

etc.

heaps over here

[Moph]

Thanks for the tip fool_injected.

How much work is required to make a 90s Feroza radiator fit, and is it similar size or slightly bigger? I do a fair bit of sand work, so I certainly don't want to go smaller....

I have family in Perth nicbeer so your tips might come in handy. There are a couple of Natrad distributors in SA too so I'll give one of them a call today. The workshop I've gone through isn't a Natrad distributor.

[fool_injected]

The Feroza radiator is about 25% larger, my guage don't get off 1/8th
You need to trim both side mounts off as they are dog legged to make it sit back or it will hit the fan
The radiator sits slightly to the right to clear steering box, this is done using the two 'spacers' and using a drivers side mounting post on the passengers side in the pic
The top hose is on the opposite side so you will need to swap goosenecks so it point straight ahead.
Radiator hose is from a front wheel drive Corolla cut down, the offcut was used on the lower hose.
It is also a squeeze for height so use the top edge as reference

it's not as hard as it sounds,
time: 2hrs
cost: <$50

[Nev]

Wow, I didn't know there was a problem getting them. I got a brand newy 2 years ago and just rang around for prices which every shop I phoned could give me. Cheapest I found locally (Brisbane) at the time was $195 but have since heard cheaper prices again. Was cheaper for brand spanker than repair (crack around spout on top tank). I'd just ring around more...it shouldn't be a prob getting a new one and it'll bolt straight up and works perfectly...my temp guage sits on 1/4 and the highest its ever got is 1/2 with lots of revving in the hot qld summer.

[mrw82]

shouldn't be too hard to track one down (here in brissy it isn't a problem anyway).
but if not than get a 1.3 radiator its a little taller but same width, same hose positions. just need to modify the mounts a bit (cant remember how i done mine but it wasn't hard at all, just cut, drill bolt up).

bigger radiator, easy to fit, still suzuki.

[fool_injected]

New ones are out there but they want $600

[Moph]

Mine is a 1.3L, mrw82. And yes they are available, but at the tune of $700 in Adelaide!

Feroza or similar radiator looks the go thanx fool_injected. Will start looking around I *really* like the sound of a larger radiator for beach work as I often tow my sailing dingy which with 9" rims and cheese cutters currently on there is a bit like towing another zook :( Way too much time and effort needed to wack bigger rims and tyres on though (clearance / track issues).

[Moph]

bump - see update at top of thread

[lay80n]

The Feroza radiator is about 25% larger, my guage don't get off 1/8th
You need to trim both side mounts off as they are dog legged to make it sit back or it will hit the fan
The radiator sits slightly to the right to clear steering box, this is done using the two 'spacers' and using a drivers side mounting post on the passengers side in the pic
The top hose is on the opposite side so you will need to swap goosenecks so it point straight ahead.
Radiator hose is from a front wheel drive Corolla cut down, the offcut was used on the lower hose.
It is also a squeeze for height so use the top edge as reference

it's not as hard as it sounds,
time: 2hrs
cost: <$50

Put a shroud on it Wayne ya lazy bugger. The larger core will offset it a bit, but a shroud will make the air get pulled through the core, and help keep it cool during slow speed work where the motor is relying on the fan to pull the air throught the core.

Layto....