Murena radiator removal - hints and tips?

[macaroni]

Hi,
I need to remove the radiator from my Murena, to either repair or replace it.
Can anyone give me some hints as to the best way to do this?

Can it come out from underneath? Or is it a nose-cone off job.

Any help gratefully received.

Cheers,

Antony

[hwpaints]

it is the best and easyd from above take out the front boot gfk, lift upthe front of car so high that top of radiator is higher than the engine take out the radiator keep the big hose close whit a clasp [i hop that is the right word for it] replace the new one and fill it bevore you put back the hose, also fill the hose and close it complete, now you have not many air in it and it gives not much problems to take the last air out of the system

[Anders Dinsen]

I wouldn't worry much about air in the water system as you want to go through the procedure to get it out anyway to be sure. And the rad is probably the most common place for air to be stuck.

But that said, hwpaints seems to be talking out of experience. I don't have any experience to share, but I hav checked the manual and had a look myself, and I'm sure it's not that difficult to do from the underside - without removing any panels. There's a metal piece under the rad, that has to come off first, of course, but other than that there's nothing special.

- Anders

[macaroni]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I will chuck a bottle of Radweld in tonight and if that doesn't help, it will have to come out.

[Anders Dinsen]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I will chuck a bottle of Radweld in tonight and if that doesn't help, it will have to come out.

Just one word of warning - the most common failure of Murena radiators seems to be leaks around where the tanks on the sides are fixed to the radiator itself, so if you have a leak from the rad, I'd replace it as the tank fixings can't be sealed with anything.

A new rad is cheaper than a new cylinder head or engine, and that could turn out to be a very good argument when you are explaining to the wife why you need to spend on the car AGAIN!

[Titus]

As it happens, I,ve just put a new rad into my car. I say I, but really I should say Mr.Gillard. Roy has been working on my car over the months and the last thing he did was the cooling system, including the radiator. He managed to do this from underneath. I aided him (if only a third hand, eh Roy).
I think if you don't know the car as well as Roy it would be easier to take out the fiber glass panel by drilling out the rivets and working from above.
My original rad had corroded so much that the bottom bracket which holds the base of the fan was not there. And yes, if working from below, there is a bottom sheild that needs to be removed, as Anders says.

[macaroni]

Well after using some Radweld, I did 50, very fast, miles today and it hasn't leaked, so it will do for a while till I get the rad sorted.

[Anders Dinsen]

Well after using some Radweld, I did 50, very fast, miles today and it hasn't leaked, so it will do for a while till I get the rad sorted.

Good to hear. I hope you got a chance to enjoy the miles without too much distraction from the temp gauge

[macaroni]

Unsurprisingly, the Radweld didn't hold for very long and the rad sprung a leak again.
The rad is going to have to come off, so I will try and do it from underneath.

Wish me luck!

[Anders Dinsen]

Wish me luck!

I will: Good luck!

[macaroni]

Well, thats the rad out! I had all 4 bolts and the bottom hose off, but the top hose was solid. So, I whipped out my drill, had it away with the rivets and out came the front boot and then the rad.

It looks a bit rusty, so I don't hold out much hope, but I'll take it to my radiator man later and see what he says.

Cheers,

Antony

[Anders Dinsen]

Well, thats the rad out!

Hooray! Well done. Will be interesting to hear what your rad man has to say.

- Anders

[macaroni]

Rad man says £110 for a refurb. including a new, bespoke core, with a 2 day turnaround. It would have been cheaper if he could use another, similar core but nothing else was suitable. A Porsche one was closest, but too thin.

He claims it will be as good as new and if so, is quite a bit cheaper than the £170+ Will wants for a new one.

Just need to get a pop rivet gun now, to refit my front boot!

[Oetker]

As far as I know, you can put in a radiator from a Ciroen Visa/C15 with som small adjustments for the vent.

[macaroni]

Really? That would have been good to know.
Still, I won't incur the wrath of MichalTalbot if I have my original one fixed up...!

Plus, gsf list one for a C15 van at £84 + VAT + delivery. So no saving to be made there.