New / SH radiator - source, cost?

[Sandspider]

Hi all

My 944 has just passed another MOT! Hooray! []

However, the garage did mention a slight seep from the radiator. They say that the only way to fix this is a new radiator. So, is this right? Or is it possible to weld / plug a rad leak somehow? (Is stop-leak type stuff worth a try? Not keen on gumming up my coolant system with some sort of dodgy chemical soup, but if it's worked for anyone else...)

If not, does anyone know where I can get a new or good secondhand radiator from, and what I should expect to pay both for the rad and for fitting? I see a few rads on eBay from £80 S/H to £180 new - is this about right? Finally, would an S2 radiator fit a Lux - I'm guessing not...?

Many thanks.

Giles

 

[ChasR]

I in the past have to tried to melt rad cracks in addition to glue them etc. but IME the cracks simply appear in another weaker part of the rad!

I personally from one car I owned would be hard pushed to recommend products like Radweld/K-Seal, but others seem happy...

FWIW, I would go new on a radiator. Besides being leak free, it is quite surprisning the difference a fresh core can make to the cooling of the car. Even on moderns with not much rubbish at all in the radiators the difference can be noticed .

Another thing. I believe the rads are generally the same for all of the 2.5s. When I bought a new rad for my S2, it was actually a 951 250 item (It had slightly larger tanks, but that was it):

 

[colin944]

Why not get your old rad re cored? less than the price of a new one and just as good.

 

[bmnelsc]

ORIGINAL: colin944

Why not get your old rad re cored? less than the price of a new one and just as good.

+1 - repairs like this by a competent shop give good life and they won't do the work if the rest of the rad is not in good shape.

 

[Sandspider]

Thanks chaps.

A new rad from Porsche is £350+, so I'll see if there is anyone around here who could potentially re-core an ancient radiator instead... Can anyone recommend a good radiator repair company near Bristol? <Heads off to Google in the meantime>

 

[CarreraRSR]

I've just bought this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141012138333?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649. Arrived within 3-4 days, no duty to be paid and slotted in to my modified 924 turbo with 944 Turbo front rad mounting fixtures without issue. Not started it yet as I still have a HG to install.

 

[Sandspider]

Interesting - I'd probably pay £100 for a radiator from China, but not £200 - when you can get one from a UK supplier for not much more. (Though that's for a Lux rad, not a Turbo). Quick shipping though - good luck with it, be interested to hear how it goes when the HG is done...

Cheers.

 

[Eldavo]

I paid just under £200 for a brand new Turbo rad this year from Advanced Radiators.

It came with "PORSCHE" and the 951 part number stamped in it and half-arsedly ground off

 

[CarreraRSR]

ORIGINAL: Sandspider

Interesting - I'd probably pay £100 for a radiator from China, but not £200 - when you can get one from a UK supplier for not much more. (Though that's for a Lux rad, not a Turbo). Quick shipping though - good luck with it, be interested to hear how it goes when the HG is done...

Cheers.

A full ally 944 rad will cost north of £450 hand built in the UK. I priced them up from several sources. Don't assume all things Chinese is shite. Often the factories have EU or USA companies order to their own specs then they over produce and sell surplus direct for more margin. No idea with this one, but we'll see how it goes, looks man enough and well made to those who have given it the once over before fitting. A new OEM stock 951 rad was going to be over £250.

 

[colin944]

Serck marston in Bristol.

http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/serck-marston-bristol

Phone them they will re do your rad for you.

 

[ChasR]

ORIGINAL: colin944

Why not get your old rad re cored? less than the price of a new one and just as good.

Plastic tanks are a potential nightmare for a person to recore (a 20 year old rad may exaggerate this). If the tank(s) split one may be out of pocket and still without a rad. That and the fact that my local recorer in Coventry was awkward about recoring it (and basically wanted the same as a rad from ECP assuming the tanks held up (one of mine had a hole in it from overtightening the top mount)), whilst another respected recorer who has been reasonable in price almost refused to touch it.

 

[Sandspider]

Thanks all

Colin, have you used Serck Marston, or heard good things about them, or...?

Cheers.

 

[944 man]

Subject to it turning out to be durable and well made, then Is be tempted to buy one like Steves. With aluminium end tanks itll be easy to recore too, should it ever need it.

 

[colin944]

Used them a few times always good .

 

[alwigley]

Around £180 brand new delivered by Aaron radiators.... Porsche logos ground off ! Why bother with cheap or second hand at that price

 

[colin944]

ORIGINAL: alwigley

Around £180 brand new delivered by Aaron radiators.... Porsche logos ground off ! Why bother with cheap or second hand at that price

Fair point.

 

[Sandspider]

Sorry, just seen these - not getting e-mail notifications for some reason.

Anyway, food for thought here - will cost up the options and replace when the leak gets bad.

Cheers.