Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey all i just finished putting in a bigger radiator and i hope it works.
all i need now is a few more hose clamps and i can take it for a test drive.
just wondering if anyone thinks that it may leak where the metal pipe is connected to the radiator hose. the radiator hose it just slipped over and then tightened with a clamp

I think it may last for a quick test, but will leak at some stage, or blow off under pressure.

A mate of mine welds a small ridge all the way round the pipes, to stop it slipping off.

You may be able to use the sierra 1.3 bottom pipe to join them, already has the non slip fitting?

I'm just educated guessing, best to talk to a cooling pro.

you may be able to get the pipe ends pressed into shape, at a rad shop, or even buy a proper pipe joiner?

christover

what was the radiator out off?
have read somewhere that vitara rads fit.

i have fitted an fj4o radiator in mine with a 14: thermo. Good fit never overheats and there cheap as chips.

OK thats cool .. but why are you fitting a bigger rad ?
If your cooling system is in good nick there is no reason whatsoever to fit a larger radiator (in my experiance)
I had a mildly warmed 1.6 with a stock 1.3 radiator that only ever looked like getting warm when the rad was soooo blocked up with mud that you would not see daylight through it at all (like it looked after my avatar pic)

mine has been getting hot but I don't want to change radiators any suggestions?

Rhett wrote:mine has been getting hot but I don't want to change radiators any suggestions?

thermo?

mine was getting hot on real hot days while out wheeling
dosent now just turn the thermo on for a couple of mins and back down cool

Rhett wrote:mine has been getting hot but I don't want to change radiators any suggestions?

Backflush the radiator and engine block. Leaks aside, if it worked well before and has only slowly been losing it effectivness there is no need to change it just clean it inside and out.

Other possibility is a water pump that is getting a bit corroded.

i got it out of a datsun not sure what model for free at a car dump where i used to live
the other reason i went through some water and the fan smashed the original and i thought bigger would be better. would a bigger one keep it much cooler.

thermo's are great. get one of a wreck, should be cheapest, but they are not all that expensive new.
I've got a comondoor one in mine and it thunders, great for beach work
and takes a bit of drag off a 1.3, which is noticable, esp when just revving car up and down while not in gear.

can be turned off for water. and they don't start pumping air until up to temp. so if your keen on warming motor up b4 driving then it helps speed that process up. so does drive flat out for 2 mins.

system flush helps, and so does getting mud out of fins,
also being able to see through your radiator naturally helps as it means air can get through. not being all folded over and stuff.

taking you bonnet off can help get air through! been their done that in a rangie.

have fun
ashley

Mine has gotten hot ever since I put power steer on.

did you put the cooler in front of the radiator?
if you have one.

not saying it would generally get hot, but would be interesting if that was the cause, because I have one in front of my rad, and it hasn't heated mine up yet.

enjoy ashley

I do have a cooler in front of the radiator but it got warm before then. is it best to have a thermo pusing or pulling?

In the second pic it appears as if the hose that joins to the thermostat housing is starting to kink. It appears so anyway.

If it is be sure to get a rubber bend to replace it. When the hose heats it will kink more and restrict flow.

Whats the radiator out of?

hey rhett the best way o chek it is to turn ur fan on and grab a bit of paper and slap it in front of ur rad if ur fan is behind, if it stays there ur good if not ya either got to reverse the polarity or the blade , which is wat ya do with the davies craig fans.

go to Super Cheap auto and go look at there radiator section.....They have a thermostat cover that will fit the sierra 1.3 with minor filing of the holes that actually points straight out towards the front of the engine.

Cost about $16 and eliminates the sharp bend that you have now....

James

you may find that a larger radiator isn't always the best option as an engine does require some degree of heat in it and if you cool it too much it won't function at its best. Also have to then look at if your water pump will be upto the increased water volume. Sierras seem to be designed an d built at an optimum setting, everything is just right for what they are and adding bigger bits anywhere in the equation usually has a follow on effect elsewhere

Strange how these threads pop up just when you need them. Here are a couple of pics of my radiator after a couple of water crossings taken at speed, I have crap A/Ts on the Zook and run out of traction. I guess that the water pushed the stocko fan into the radiator. Thinking of slowing down a bit crossing deep water in future and going shopping for an el cheapo Commodore Thermo! And buying a new radiator as this one is farked.

thats what my old radiator looks like but i think i went too deep not too fast. up to the bonet. just need a thermo fan now. whats a good brand?

I havent got a thermo at the moment I was just woundering how they perform best pushing or pulling

they work both way usually. but I've got mine pulling. it was an easier install.

although now I have got the normal fan back in and the radiator moved back about 35mm. this was to fit a high mount in without loosing any approach angle. near perfect 90 degrees
as the fan with a shortened spacer takes less room than a thermo.

so I now have a high mount with a 6hp motor to pull the zook up hills at a rapid pace.

but thermo's are still cool. and I hope that the high mount won't restrict air flow too much

enjoy ashley

Does anyone know anything about a clutch pack to fit Zooks? 1.3. Just speaking to a mate about them and got thinking. Would one from the Vit fit, can't imagine Suzuki would use a wide variety if one size could fit all.

germo wrote:. and I hope that the high mount won't restrict air flow too much

enjoy ashley

I have a high mount, and power steer with a stock 1.3 radiator cooling my 1.6, and have never had a temp problem, ever.
Peter.

In my experience thermos worf better pulling not pushing, and that what the radiator repair guys recomend to.
My zook has been running a little warm, 1.3 extractors, webber, thermo fan the only engine mods. I read somewhere on hear pinging can make it run warmer and I noticed mine was pinging. After I checked the timing it was still there so I gave it a tank of premium and the pingin disapeared and the temp went down a bit to.
Nik

SIERRA BANDIT wrote:i got it out of a datsun not sure what model for free at a car dump where i used to live
the other reason i went through some water and the fan smashed the original and i thought bigger would be better. would a bigger one keep it much cooler.

You used to live at a car dump? Cool. Where do you live now?
LM

Luigi Malone wrote:

SIERRA BANDIT wrote:i got it out of a datsun not sure what model for free at a car dump where i used to live
the other reason i went through some water and the fan smashed the original and i thought bigger would be better. would a bigger one keep it much cooler.

You used to live at a car dump? Cool. Where do you live now?
LM

lol i didnt realise i wrote it like that

I have a 3-core radiator I pulled out of a Sierra I wrecked out. It had the hose fittings in the factory positions, so there was no need to do any bodgy hose extensions, etc.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure what it was out of, but it kept it cool as a cucumber, even when revving the nuts out of it, etc.

I'll see if I can find out what its from for you.

Adam