SteveV8s V8 (Big project in a tiny garage)

[Steve V8]

Need some advice on where to go Lotus shopping and what to put in the basket.

I'm looking to upgrade the cooling system, first thing is radiator, are there any advantages with alloy over standard recore.

Secondly the hoses, I'd like to fit the blue silicone jobbies, but have read @ian29gte 's recent problems, (leak related ones) and would prefer quality over cost and look, advice appreciated. 

This is where I'm at.

I'd like to get the new parts on order on Monday, meanwhile I'll be playing with my fanny.....

[Alex Carter]

Honestly matey kick the old rubbish in the bin . The pipe running through the chassis can be salvaged pirtek do a mobile service and can crimp on the right connection or extend it . And try the guys in cali JAE they have spares and second hand pipes but because they don't have our weather they're pipes come undone without damage . Use spal for your fans and serick motor sport for the rad and oil coolers .

You should pop down to swindon and see my set up

[Chillidoggy]

I'd heard from a few sources that some alloy rads can be prone to cracking in the Esprit, and they're expensive in comparison to a copper rad, hence I stuck to the upgraded latter. I did a lot of research beforehand, and could not justify the extra cost of alloy. Each to his own though, that's just my two-pennyworth.

Roy Ripley the motorsport manager at Serck in Hayes was very good, he really knows his stuff. Serck reused my header tanks, fitted a new high-efficiency core, manufactured a new fan frame, and mounted new Spal fans for me. Serck is a Spal agent, and Setrab importers, so supplied my new oil coolers too.

The whole rad and fan job cost me £630 including the 3 new fans. Oil coolers were £384 (different design on a V8, though?). I have been criticised by some here for not using the fan shroud, but the standard shroud has almost as much hole as plastic, and in reality, I've found no cooling problems either in traffic, or on the move.

I found a couple of photos, these are as supplied:-

 

 

[Barrykearley]

I'd opt for a copper recore. Not sure if it's a two or three row unit in the v8 - but I would make sure it's a three row you replace it with. £200 ish at a rad specialist. And it will come back like new. The frame you need to drill apart to get the rad out though.

i agree with @ian29gte - ditch the fans - they are crap, but do the job. Spal fans are nice - but come with a heavy price tag. I used some generic cheapy kit car ones - think they were £15 each. Light weight, well made and cooled superbly. Don't worry about the brand snobbery - you can't see them. 

[davevr6car]

Like Ian,

when I was rebuilding my S4s......I got the original rad re-cored locally with a triple core for €150, fitted some spal type fans from ebay for £15 each and I've no shroud either.

I fitted the silicone hose kit off ebay.....I think they came from Chine...no issues with leaks.

I haven't had any issues at all......as the output from the spal fans is probably double the original fans.

I used Pirtek  for my oil cooler cross over pipe circa €40.

Most expensive parts are the oil coolers from Setrab at over €220 each and I'm sorry I didn't go aftermarket and got larger coolers for less.

Shop around.......you don't have to spend a fortune on alloy rads etc.....this money will be required more importantly else where on your car.

[Chillidoggy]

My rad frame was completely shot to pieces, rusted right through in places, so I had to have a new one made.

Forgot to say, that the Chinese silicone hose kit I bought has been plagued with coolant leaks. they just don't fit tightly enough over the pipe ends, and hence are difficult to tighten properly. Dave, you got lucky! I'm going back to using the standard rubber hoses from now on.

[davevr6car]

Ian,

I've probably cursed myself now..........although my car hasn't been running since 2012!

[Chillidoggy]

Probably!

I found they leaked even worse when the car was cold. Joints I thought I had sealed just kept weeping.

[Steve V8]

Thanks guys much useful advice there. Three row recore it will be then, the radiator surround although rusty is still pretty solid so a blast and powder coat for that I think. 

[Alex Carter]

Chinese hoses ????? 

 

Seriously 

Expensive hose kit 500 -600 quid . 

Rebuilds £££££££££££s 

I see your logic .

[Barrykearley]

Trouble is all stuff is Chinese if you look back hard enough

[Steve V8]

3 hours ago, Alex Carter said:

Chinese hoses ????? 

 

Seriously 

Expensive hose kit 500 -600 quid . 

Rebuilds £££££££££££s 

I see your logic .

Do you mean the Roose mototsport hose sets for V8 on eBay,  I'd hope for good quality at those prices. The ad says manufactured in the UK. 

[Alex Carter]

Yes 

[Chillidoggy]

It's wasn't the quality of the material on the Chinese silicone pipes that was a problem (they're unlikely to burst), it was the sizing of them where they fitted over the solid pipework . Ironically, some of them fitted and sealed, some of them didn't. But for £59 for a set (almost the cost of just one moulded rubber hose) I figured I'd take a punt.

As an aside, the photo above shows why I keep banging on about checking your coolant level - count the hoses and multiply it by two. That's how many potential points for leaks there are on an Esprit (V8, that is.)

[Steve V8]

Not sure if this was what the wife meant...... She told me to go and get in the bath and give my bits a good scrub........

[Chillidoggy]

What on earth's wrong with you, Steve? Those fan blades would easily have fitted in the dishwasher.

[silverfrost]

Great work Steve,  love to see shots of how lotus parts make it into the household ,As Ian has said plenty of folks have put engine bits etc in the dishwasher before 

[Steve V8]

16 hours ago, ian29gte said:

What on earth's wrong with you, Steve? Those fan blades would easily have fitted in the dishwasher.

You're spot on Ian and Dan, for the record, Dove, Carex ,Treseme, absolutely kin useless for removing oil, the dishwasher however......

You'll notice a fan is missing, broke it taking it apart, new one on its way, fleabay 1996 Ford Fiesta Mk3. £30

[swindon_alan]

I despair Steve. You didn't try anything with Jojoba?!?!?! No idea about hair treatments, honestly...

Good to see you sticking with original coolant fans though. I get so much shit for that but originality, y'know?

[Steve V8]

Agreed Alan, didn't have any overheating problems with the original setup, but for peace of mind have upgraded the rad from 2 to 3 rows.

[swindon_alan]

I went with an alloy rad. Yep, also controversial 

[Steve V8]

Controversial but nice...a rad rad,  I very nearly pressed the buy it now button for one of those. My heart said yes, but the wallet said ffs divorce pending. I've already spent a grand and haven't even stated doing what I set out to do, so a nice shiny heavy black, but refurbed original will have to suffice for the present.

Couldn't find any air-con condensers from Germany, but managed to pick up a pair from my radiator guy for £75 each though, which I didn't think was too bad.

[Barrykearley]

You won't regret that 3 row upgrade...... and it's really not that much more to do so.

keep the pictures coming 

[Chillidoggy]

9 hours ago, Steve V8 said:

You're spot on Ian and Dan, for the record, Dove, Carex ,Treseme, absolutely kin useless for removing oil, the dishwasher however......

You'll notice a fan is missing, broke it taking it apart, new one on its way, fleabay 1996 Ford Fiesta Mk3. £30

 

The wife will be hugely impressed you remembered that plastic has to go in the top drawer of the dishwasher.

[Steve V8]

This is just like being a kid at Christmas, boxes have been arriving through the post this week, full set of red Roose Motorsport silicon hoses with stainless clips, new fan to replace the one I broke, picked up the condensers and 3 row specially upgraded recored radiator from Advanced Autocooling Bristol  today. 

Dropped off the cooling duct stays, brackets and radiator surround to my mate for refurb and powder coating. Then off to the south west restoration show tomorrow to try to pick up some Chassis paints POR15 or similar and some shiny new stainless nuts and bolts to tidy everything up before it goes back together.

One thing I'm having trouble with is, knowing where to draw the line, I'm not made of money, and the air-con and radiator wasn't going to be done this year, but while under the front end keep looking at other things that need sorting, brake lines, power steering lines steering rack, suspension components, theese are all jobs that can wait until next year, but it's so difficult not to pull it all out and sink more cash into it, when the engine work and fuel tanks need to be a priority.