getting the old girl ready

yeprat1 · Post by **yeprat1** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:22 pm

hi guys gonna strip the wagon soon to paint but first i want do any mods that are needed , (1) its running a 179 so not sure whether the standard fb radiator will cope even with a thermo fan or should i go bigger i'd rather be safe than sorry, (2) im am currently running a smiths heater but the fan is very noisy how good are these heaters as i was thinking of buying a smaller after market heater , the wife likes to stay warm , can the fan be quietened .sorry if i sound like a dummy but i havent had the car registered since i bought it so i dont know how the old girl drives any help would be great. no dought i will have more questions later .thanks troy

Naughty · Post by **Naughty** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:32 am

Hey Troy,

Im in the same boat mate , just that im running a 202...i reckon the old radiators struggle keeping the reds cool but thats just my opinion...The solution is install a HR or HZ (3 core if you intend to work ur red later down the line) radiator.

Mate I run the beehive smiths heater so i know what you mean when you talk about the sound but i dont mind it and unfortunately I cant help you out with a substitute.

Good luck Mate .

Cheers
robbo

p.s. whos painting your car??

FB MAD · Post by **FB MAD** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:04 am

I had an FC wagon in the early 80's running a standard 161 and the original FC radiator which I took the tanks off and cleaned out the cores.Would run OK up to about 50 mph but would get too hot if you had it loaded up or exceeded 50 or so.Tried a cooler thermosat etc but no difference.Tried a higher pressure cap (13 psi I think??) also.Had the standard 3.89 diff but maybe would be a bit better if a 3.55 or 3.36 ratio was fitted.
Tried everything I could think of to fix the problem but I think the standard radiators cooling limit was reached with the 161( and my teenager driving practises

).
It was also fitted with the Smiths beehive heater and it heated very well and yes I know they are noisy but thats what the radio volume knob is for!!

.
I would turn on the heater to help cool the 161 when it was running hot...yes even in summer!!...and it would help to a small extent.

Terry.

Sammy · Post by **Sammy** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:36 pm

get a lh/lx torana radiator, i used to have one of these in my EK and it worked fine for a worked 202, also need to cut the front panel either side of the radiator to enlarge the hole for air to get to it.

Devilrod · Post by **Devilrod** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:44 pm

Yeprat, I'm running a HK radiator (yet to be fired) and had to cut the radiator support panel for clearance.

As for heater... Aftermarket smiths.

In car....

yeprat1 · Post by **yeprat1** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:36 pm

yeh i definitely got to cut the front panels out to fit radiator wasn't shore what cars radiator would fit but i suppose most should, cool looking heater but mine dont look like that mine hangs down from under dash not as low as that one.thanks troy

Nekro63 · Post by **Nekro63** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:38 pm

No one likes a show off brett. Got a red in an ek, dunno what radiator though, if you tell me how to find out I'll let you know...!

fb4655 · Post by **fb4655** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 6:17 pm

Cool looking heater, (and dash) what is the heater and where can i get one and what are they worth.
thanx

Dan

FB MAD · Post by **FB MAD** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:31 pm

Troy you would be talking about the black bakelite Smiths heater if its a Beehive one Yes/no??

Terry.

FB MAD · Post by **FB MAD** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:35 pm

Dan if you are after a heater look on ebay or go to a few swap meets.I've seen a few like Devilrods and other Smiths,Bosch etc.
Price will depend on condition but at swap meets usually anything from $80 to $200 plus for a good near mint one.

Terry.

Devilrod · Post by **Devilrod** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:04 pm

Nekro63 wrote:No one likes a show off brett.

FBMADs right about the price. I was lucky to get mine off a friend of the family for free!