Lancia Beta Forum
March 29, 2024, 12:47:36 AM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: Looking for Lancia Beta parts: www.lanciabetaparts.co.uk
 
   Home   Help Contact Admin Search Calendar Gallery Articles Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
Author Topic: Radiator problem !  (Read 15830 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
3cojones
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 55


Lancia Beta Spider 1981


« on: November 27, 2015, 02:30:32 PM »


Hi All,

My Spider was overheating so took her to my garage who in turn found that the radiator was leaking from a small plug on the bottom tank. Under my instruction they sent it off to a Radiator Specialist (Brighton Radiators) who, a few days later, said that it was unrepairable as it was of plastic construction and not brass.   I previously thought that it had been recored by the previous owner but, in their opinion, it had not been as there was quite a bit of deterioration to the core and they thought it had just been "tarted up", painted etc.  It actually looks like a new rad ... AND I thought that all rads from this era were of plastic construction.

So, I googled a new or reconditioned rad last night and found very little .... well, in fact absolutely nothing.  Suppliers who used to sell them now list them as  discontinued.  Does anyone know of a supplier of either reconditioned or, even better, a new rad .... or does anyone had a very good rad for sale ?  Or, on the off chance, does anyone know of a fix for the leaking plug. That might buy me some time as the leak is quite slow, but ultimately the core letting the side down.

Any help would be really appreciated. 

Regards,

Chris
Logged
Neil-yaj396
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 1885


1979 1300 Coupe


« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2015, 09:16:43 AM »

What type/year is your car? Up to facelift 2 I thought all the rads were alloy?

You won't get a new one, your best bet is ebay, or one coming up on here.

I'm not sure, but surely there must be some sort of glue that will make at lest a temporary repair?
Logged
rossocorsa
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 2373


« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2015, 10:26:50 AM »

plastic? lost me somewhere there,AFAIK I thought the only Beta rads with plastic headers were the ones fitted to late vx/ ie models ( not all just some late examples) which have alluminium cores earlier ones were (i thought) all metal. pretty sure the earlier style can be recored perhaps you should try a different rad specialist?

ah are you just talking about the drain plug itself? i would have thought worst case you could just seal it permanently and drain by removing the  bottom hose instead not ldeal as i believe if i remember correctly the bottom pipe curves up so it wouldn't fully drain but surely it would do for now?  
« Last Edit: November 28, 2015, 11:12:35 AM by rossocorsa » Logged
HFStuart
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 1906



« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2015, 09:19:27 PM »

Some after market rads have plastic headers - mine does - but they must have been NLA years ago.

All the OE ones I've seen have been metal. The odds are very good that if you get one from a scrapper it will be possible to repair / recore it.
Logged
rossocorsa
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 2373


« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2015, 10:26:56 PM »

Agreed all spiders should have metal rads the rads with plastic headers were only fitted in production from late 1983
« Last Edit: November 29, 2015, 10:35:45 AM by rossocorsa » Logged
WestonE
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 1695


« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2015, 09:58:37 AM »

Today solution will be to chose a maker of alloy radiators and drive the car to them and have one made to the car. This is also an excellent opportunity to replace the old tired and dated fan and have the mounts made to suit the replacement. I have found the fans from Car Builder Solutions to be quiet powerful and reliable for my Montecarlo. I only had to add high amp waterproof connectors. Concept Racing near Hereford made my Montecarlo radiator after the group purchase alloy one failed after 12 years of service.

Have a look at the tuned car section on here I think Ian's Beta Coupe race car used a VW Scirroco radiator although I am not certain.

I hope this helps

Eric     
Logged
3cojones
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 55


Lancia Beta Spider 1981


« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2015, 08:27:15 PM »

What type/year is your car? Up to facelift 2 I thought all the rads were alloy?

You won't get a new one, your best bet is ebay, or one coming up on here.

I'm not sure, but surely there must be some sort of glue that will make at lest a temporary repair?

Hi Neil,

Thanks for posting this.  I was quite surprised by this as I would have thought that refurbished rads would be available for the built-in-numbers Beta as opposed to the rarer Montecarlo, which are relatively easy to pick up.  Well that's how it is so I will have to look out for a s/h one and possibly recore that if needed.

Regards, Chris
Logged
3cojones
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 55


Lancia Beta Spider 1981


« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2015, 08:38:53 PM »

plastic? lost me somewhere there,AFAIK I thought the only Beta rads with plastic headers were the ones fitted to late vx/ ie models ( not all just some late examples) which have alluminium cores earlier ones were (i thought) all metal. pretty sure the earlier style can be recored perhaps you should try a different rad specialist?

ah are you just talking about the drain plug itself? i would have thought worst case you could just seal it permanently and drain by removing the  bottom hose instead not ldeal as i believe if i remember correctly the bottom pipe curves up so it wouldn't fully drain but surely it would do for now?  

Hi Rosocorsa,

Thanks for your advice on this.  Obviously a late VX/IE plastic header rad has been fitted to my Spider at some point.  I will take a closer look at the core once it's returned and see if it's worth permanently sealing the drain plug. It must be a drain plug - what else could it be ? - as I have not seen it as it was not easy to see fitted to the car in the pi**ing rain, and then the rad company just condemned it !

If it is indeed knackered I will have to find a s/h metal rad to be recored.  To be honest I was not very impressed by the radiator specialist - they were quite negative and defeatist, and passed one or two derogatory comments about Lancia/Fiats of this era ...

Thanks again,

Chris
Logged
3cojones
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 55


Lancia Beta Spider 1981


« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2015, 08:43:27 PM »

Some after market rads have plastic headers - mine does - but they must have been NLA years ago.

All the OE ones I've seen have been metal. The odds are very good that if you get one from a scrapper it will be possible to repair / recore it.

Hi Stuart,

Thanks for posting your advice on how to fix my knackered rad.  Metal is obviously the way to go, and if I get one in decent shape I don't mind getting it re-cored at all.  There is one on eBay right now for £50 but unsure about it's condition ....

Regards, Chris
Logged
3cojones
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 55


Lancia Beta Spider 1981


« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2015, 09:13:09 PM »

Today solution will be to chose a maker of alloy radiators and drive the car to them and have one made to the car. This is also an excellent opportunity to replace the old tired and dated fan and have the mounts made to suit the replacement. I have found the fans from Car Builder Solutions to be quiet powerful and reliable for my Montecarlo. I only had to add high amp waterproof connectors. Concept Racing near Hereford made my Montecarlo radiator after the group purchase alloy one failed after 12 years of service.

Have a look at the tuned car section on here I think Ian's Beta Coupe race car used a VW Scirroco radiator although I am not certain.

I hope this helps

Eric     

Hi Eric,

Thank you your input on this, very much appreciated  Your option is obviously the ultimate way to go - A brand spanking new custom built rad would be great, and a bona fide long term solution. I can get a quote I suppose.  I like the idea of a new quieter smoother fan too.

It's funny you mention a Scirocco radiator as I've heard of it's use on Lancias before somewhere. 

Regards,

Chris
Logged
gengis
Sr. Member
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 147


« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2015, 09:28:19 PM »

When I took my 124 Spider radiator for repair/re-core at  East End Radiators, Glasgow.  I was totally surprised that he guessed it was off a 131, then quickly changed his mind to say Fiat 124.  He said that it was difficult to get the right size core material now, and to leave it with him couple of days.  Went back a couple of days later and it was completly repaired, we then went on to talk about his passion...Vespa's and Lambretta's.

He also guessed my Lancia Coupe petrol tank correctly, went I presented it for repair.

Good old school radiator repair shop.
Logged

1983 - Lancia Beta Coupe
1982 - Fiat 124 Spider
2012 - Alfa Romeo Mito
2011 - Fiat Fiorino
2006 - BMW F800st
rossocorsa
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 2373


« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2015, 11:59:00 PM »

plastic? lost me somewhere there,AFAIK I thought the only Beta rads with plastic headers were the ones fitted to late vx/ ie models ( not all just some late examples) which have alluminium cores earlier ones were (i thought) all metal. pretty sure the earlier style can be recored perhaps you should try a different rad specialist?

ah are you just talking about the drain plug itself? i would have thought worst case you could just seal it permanently and drain by removing the  bottom hose instead not ldeal as i believe if i remember correctly the bottom pipe curves up so it wouldn't fully drain but surely it would do for now?  

Hi Rosocorsa,

Thanks for your advice on this.  Obviously a late VX/IE plastic header rad has been fitted to my Spider at some point.  I will take a closer look at the core once it's returned and see if it's worth permanently sealing the drain plug. It must be a drain plug - what else could it be ? - as I have not seen it as it was not easy to see fitted to the car in the pi**ing rain, and then the rad company just condemned it !

If it is indeed knackered I will have to find a s/h metal rad to be recored.  To be honest I was not very impressed by the radiator specialist - they were quite negative and defeatist, and passed one or two derogatory comments about Lancia/Fiats of this era ...

Thanks again,

Chris

not sure if your rad will be a late one, the position and radiator style on late cars is a bit different even the hoses differ 
Logged
peteracs
Administrator
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 3822


Peter Stokes


« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2015, 09:52:26 AM »


not sure if your rad will be a late one, the position and radiator style on late cars is a bit different even the hoses differ 

I thought all Spyders in the UK were of the non IE/VX type engine and hence had the early style radiators?

Chris, on the VX/IE header, are you talking about the expansion tank?

Peter
Logged

Beta Spyder S2 pre F/L 1600
Beta HPE S2 pre F/L 1600
lukasdeopalenica
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Australia Australia

Posts: 497



« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2015, 11:44:31 AM »

Both mine IEs have fully metal radiators (early and late model).
Logged

Lancia Beta HPE 2000i.e. '82 rosso corsa
SAAB 900i 16V Aero, '93 solid black
Subaru Outback 3.0R
Honda CB125 K6 '76 electric blue
Specialized Epic & Stumpjumper
3cojones
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 55


Lancia Beta Spider 1981


« Reply #14 on: December 02, 2015, 02:13:51 PM »

What type/year is your car? Up to facelift 2 I thought all the rads were alloy?

You won't get a new one, your best bet is ebay, or one coming up on here.

I'm not sure, but surely there must be some sort of glue that will make at lest a temporary repair?

Hi Neil. In answer to your original question my Spider is a 1981 facelift model.  The previous owner (targa2000) fortunately fitted a stainless steel expansion tank, renewed most of the hoses & jubilee clips and tested the thermostat (amongst a great deal of other new parts/improvements), so this rad leak is just unfortunate.

Regards, Chris

Logged
rossocorsa
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 2373


« Reply #15 on: December 02, 2015, 09:20:10 PM »

Both mine IEs have fully metal radiators (early and late model).


plastic/alloy rad is from about autumn 83 build date so approx last 12 months of production
Logged
3cojones
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 55


Lancia Beta Spider 1981


« Reply #16 on: January 25, 2016, 02:00:57 AM »


Hi,

Wonder if you could help me - I've just bought a recored radiator for my Spider and the mounting brackets for the fan assembly are different to the ones on the old rad (I missed this fact when I compared pics before ordering, oops).  Each of the brackets has two smaller holes to take a couple of bolts, whereas my original has larger single holes.  I've attached a pic of the new rad (if it works ..)

Any ideas would be very welcome.

Thanks, Chris


* 2346831_.jpg (135.87 KB, 695x530 - viewed 1044 times.)
Logged
JohnFol
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 344



« Reply #17 on: February 10, 2024, 02:27:01 PM »

I know this is an old thread, but I'm in need of a radiator. The plug that connects a pipe to expansion tank snapped off.

'79 carb spider and open to ideas..




* PXL_20240210_130247932~2.jpg (824.98 KB, 1651x2262 - viewed 137 times.)
« Last Edit: February 10, 2024, 03:11:53 PM by JohnFol » Logged
peteracs
Administrator
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 3822


Peter Stokes


« Reply #18 on: February 10, 2024, 06:19:42 PM »

Hi John

I wonder if as temp fix you could bond in a brass or similar tube to get you going?

As you have probably found original ones are not available new (from what has been listed before) and so either find a second hand plastic tank one or if possible an old metal tank one and have it recored.

I also think there may be more than one thread on here about alternatives.

Peter
Logged

Beta Spyder S2 pre F/L 1600
Beta HPE S2 pre F/L 1600
JohnFol
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 344



« Reply #19 on: March 06, 2024, 01:42:21 PM »

Tapped and glued a hollow M6 bolt to get me running again and then spotted top edge had a leak. Taken the plunge and have aluminum radiator on order. Now I need to work out if I need OAT, HOAT, G48, Paraflu 11, ethylhexanoate  or good old distilled water for the coolant


* BoltComp.jpg (386.65 KB, 2557x2165 - viewed 71 times.)

* LeakComp.jpg (580.21 KB, 4080x3072 - viewed 69 times.)
Logged
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
SMFAds for Free Forums
Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!