Sprint radiator - options?

[Purplebargeken]

I was having a natter with a friend today and we got onto the topic of radiators. Especially for the Sprint. I seem to recall there being a radiator from a different car that was a good fit/alternative option for a Sprint. Can some kind soul remind me please.

Ta

Ken

[mahony]

I think it was from a saab 9-3 Ken

[Purplebargeken]

Cheers mate, that does ring a bell!

[xvivalve]

But I don't recall it being a 'good fit'!!

[Mad Mart]

I think the best option is the Fiesta rad.. Have a look at this thread...

Fiesta Rad

[sprint95m]

But I don't recall it being a 'good fit'!!

Is your memory failing Alun?
It is a good fit without compromising the top hose but having done both I would state the best way to upgrade a Sprint's
cooling system is to use Evans coolant.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20092
Please be clear on the exact spec of Saab, there are several radiators depending on the application.





Ian.

PS It was a Porsche radiator that didn't fit well but our Antipodean friends have successfully used different Porsche radiators (from a 944),
but you could buy three Saab rads for the same money.

[xvivalve]

I thought someone had ended up cutting away most of the inner front panel to make it fit and left it hanging out the bottom of the outer, also cut away...must have been another rad?

[Mad Mart]

I thought someone had ended up cutting away most of the inner front panel to make it fit and left it hanging out the bottom of the outer, also cut away...must have been another rad?

Probably the Volvo rad on my track Sprint.

[Carledo]

You dont need to cut ANY bodywork away to fit the 9-3 rad though some trimming of the rad plastic flanges is required. On a Sprint or 1850 you have to do something about the second top hose (the O/S one) and fit a decent header bottle high up in the engine bay, I used one from a Volvo 240



I know its a Vauxhall engine but the hose neck and body fittings tally up just the same!
My rad came from a 97 Saab 9-3 2 litre N/A manual trans car.

Steve

[Purplebargeken]

Cheers guys.

[alolympic]

...... having done both I would state the best way to upgrade a Sprint's
cooling system is to use Evans coolant.

Does this stuff actually seem to be worthwhile then?

[Robert 352]

I have retained an open mind about alternative coolants. The important thing for me is the anticorrosion properties of what ever is added rather than the antifreeze properties but then I guess I am lucky for my car is garaged at all times.

This article might help you decide one way or another.

http://www.norosion.com/evanstest.htm.

[gmsclassics]

Photo shows Porsche 944 set up for installation. Brackets are rudimentary but fine. Standard hoses cut and extended. Note inbuild temperature sender ideal for contolling fan on/off.

944 rad.JPG (49.85 KiB) Viewed 2361 times

[sprint95m]

...... having done both I would state the best way to upgrade a Sprint's
cooling system is to use Evans coolant.

Does this stuff actually seem to be worthwhile then?

Yes.
There are different versions of Evans coolant available in Europe....
I used THIS VERSION because of the alloy content of our engines.
(Robert's link is for the standard version as previously sold in North America and Australia (and New Zealand?) for use in trucks
which may be the same as http://www.evanscoolants.co.uk/heavy-duty.html .)


The weakest link of any Dolomite cooling system is the expansion bottle. This is eliminated because EC runs at atmospheric pressure.
In my experience, having spent a bit of time on money experimenting, the best options in order are
1. Replace the expansion bottle (I used a Volvo 850 one, it has a low level warning and can be sited to activate this before the coolant
level drops in the engine).
2. Use Evans Coolant
3. Fit silicone hoses
4. Fit electric fan
5. Replace radiator (I used Saab)


The hot spot within a slant four engine is at the back of the cylinder head. I took the heater input from there and on normal antifreeze/water
the heater performance was greatly improved.
Having converted to EC, the heater doesn't work as well as then, so I am of the opinion that this hot spot is eliminated but obviously proper
testing is required to confirm whether that is actually true.


Tony (Mig Welder) has used a different EC (Classic cool?) and found an increase in the operating temperature. In my case the operating temp has
remained the same. I could probably convert to a 88 degree thermostat?


hope this is informative


Ian.