The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hello all!

Hope you are well. I've been looking into getting a new radiator, however none of them come with the plates to attach the thing to the bodywork? Mine look like they have been welded on. Whats the best way to go about getting hold of these?

Many thanks!

Hi Kyle, the bracket attachments should look like the photo here. There are 4 small bolts on top and 4 underneath which are invariably rusty. I think something like a 3/8 in A.F. socket will get them out with lots of Plus-Gas. The brackets then slide off.I f they have been welded on ( probably brazed ) then the reconditioning place will have to attend to that.
HTH,
Tony.

ah, I understand how they are now. Thanks again Tony!

As Tony said.
The screws (should you need to replace any) are 1/4 UNF so 7/16 AF spanner size.
James

I have only ever removed the set screws from radiators on two early cars,
these had flanged heads which were 3/8"AF.



Ian.

Many thanks for the replies

I will make sure to check them if and when I need any more of the screws. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I will be able to just re-use the old ones though!

You will get about a 30% survival rate on the setscrews...the heads will shear off. You then have to drill them out without
damage to the core...good luck with that.

Jonners

I managed to get all the bolts out ok and in a useable state. The threads on the new radiator were a bit shot though, so I didn't manage to attach the bottom nearside of the radiator to the frame thing? What on earth can you do to replace those radiator threads?! Do you get them helicoiled?!

Depending on how bad they are Kyle,
the threads may clean up enough with a 1/4'UNF tap to be useable.

Failing that I would probably go for a bigger size of set screw thread and tap the holes accordingly.



Ian.

The threads on the new radiator were a bit shot though,

Is it supposed to be a reconditioned radiator?

Many thanks


Yes it is an 'uprated reconditioned radiator', with 25 fins per inch as opposed to 10 apparently? It is doing a marvellous job of keeping the engine cool at least. Just the threads aren't perfect!

I'm wondering if the captive nuts have been changed during the recon; process from 1/4 UNF -28 (O.D. = 0.25 in, pitch 35 thou ) to a metric nearest size of M6 ( dia 6.16mm and 1mm pitch ) . Worth a try if you can get some short M6 set screws.
If the existing captive nuts need tapping or Helicoiling it would have to be done very carefully with short inserts due to the danger of running the drill or the tap through your nice new rad; core.
Tony.

I would point this problem out to whoever supplied the recon. radiator.