I have just received my Polo radiator in the post and am trying to figure out how to get the thing attached to my Indy chassis -

Firstly, how exactly do I attach brackets to the mounting holes? I assumed they went all the way through the unit and I could just bolt through but actually they are only about 10-12mm deep on either side.

Secondly, where can I get hold of a temperature sensor that will screw into the hole in the rad (pictures in my archive). Does anyone know the thread? i haven't had a chance to measure it yet.

Also, has anyone fitted one of these to an Indy before (I'm assuming someone must have!). I did a quick trial of where it would sit and it seems that the lower outlet is very close to the front chassis rail, how have people managed to avoid this? I've seen some photos with what looks like a very tight radius on the pipe, maybe that's the only way to do it

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Pete


(P.S. Photos of the rad and the bits I mentioned above are in my archive)

[Edited on 18/3/04 by scoobyis2cool]

I used a couple of Simco bends fitted together to form a "dog leg" shape to get round the bottom chassis rail. It does look close but it will fit.

Woo that was spooky, I was just looking in your archive as you replied! I can see how you did it, how much space would you say there was between the end of the bottom connector and the chassis rail before you fitted the pipes?

Pete

[Edited on 18/3/04 by scoobyis2cool]

Scooby,

Sierra temp switch fits apparently. I haven't tried it myself as I have Micra rad (built in switch) but others have said it's the right thread.

HTH,

James

Ah ok thanks for that, looks like i'll be making a trip into my loft to search for the sierra rad from my donor!

Anyone got any suggestions for my other questions?

Pete

If your Sierra didn't have an electric fan it won't have a switch but they are a common fitting on most continental cars, my Clio used the same one, so they should be easily available. 28mm copper pipe solder ring fittings make good joining pieces for sierra size rad piping,availabe from plumbers merchants

scooby,

er, dunno, would be good to take a look at a polo and see how vdub fix 'em in.

it doesn't look like you can drill through and stick a bolt through.

I can only imagine you bolt through from chassis side and into the plastic - dont particularly like the idea of that though, doesnt seem very secure.

got a question for you though...

could you measure the distance vertically and horizontally between the mount points (I'm assuming there are four and they're set in a square!)

cheers.

I fitted a piece of channel on two arms fixed to the chassis which the bottom of the rad sits in, Once you get this right the top mounts just hold the rad at the correct angle and stop it moving so the plastic rad lugs take very little weight. The channel is a piece of old double glazing window guide, being hard ali it is light and easily cut, loads of uses also for making up small brackets etc.

A long time since I saw one but dosen't it sit two plastic grommets at the bottom.

The rad temperature switch should be available from http://www.eurocarparts.com
The usually cost just under 15 pounds for most VW.

Thanks for all the help guys.

GO - I will have a look for you and let you know the dimensions.

Zetec (or anyone else that can help) - I am trying to figure out how to connect the rad to the engine, where does the small breather at the top go to?

Thanks,

Pete

I used the small outlet on the top of the rad as a bleed point, and seal it with a small screw. It is not the top of my system so only usable to bleed rad, if it is the top you could connect it to your header tank (suspect it will not be).

Thanks for the help Zetec, so you basically just use the two large outlet pipes and block up the small breather? I was wondering how I was going to fit a pipe on that, it's very close to my nosecone!

Is your cooling system set up sort of like this then? This is a new subject for me so sorry for so many questions!

Pete
Rescued attachment radiatorhoses.jpg