Hi, after watching biker build off on sky yesterday where they did a water cooled bike, does anyone know where you can buy just the core for an aluminium radiator to add your own ends? Cant find anywhere on google, just thinking it might be a good way to get a perfect fitting radiator if they were cheap enough. Got to make the tig set pay for itself

PACE PRODUCTS they do oil coolers, rads, pumps, tanks etc.

I've used them and found them very good.

You can buy cores commercially, most decent rad builders will also be able to supply as they remove the plastic ends from old rads and reuse.

I think you would struggle to TIG an end on though, these things have claws that grip the header and rubber gaskets, the ali is very thin, most likely to just burn big holes when you start.

Regards Mark

[Edited on 15/8/07 by mark chandler]

quote:

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Originally posted by mark chandler
I think you would struggle to TIG an end on though, these things have claws that grip the header and rubber gaskets, the ali is very thin, most likely to just burn big holes when you start.

Regards Mark

[Edited on 15/8/07 by mark chandler]

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I got a polo core off ebay and used the ends and rad and fan and 3 way switch off a golf gti rad .. see pic in archive..

do radtec supply cores or do they get them from pace?

HI radtec supply thier own parts inc cores.

Radtec link.

cheers matt

Have a look at this pic:

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/photos.php?action=showphoto&photo=2007_07310066.JPG

It's my intercooler, made from two Ren 5 GT T intercoolers with plastic bit removed and 4mm ally used to join all bits. I made the outer ends etc and welded the whole lot up. The intercooler cores were very thin, so using a thicker material for rest made welding easier afaic.

Try it on very cheap 2nd hand core to start with. Get it media blasted first.

ATB

Simon

Thanks, Radtec dont seem to advertise the prices for just the cores unless ive missed it, but theyll both be worth a call when im ready to take the plunge if i do. Where were your cores from simon? Did you weld them yourself? I guess an intercooler would run nearly as much pressure as the radiator wouldnt it.

Just bought an IC core from Pace, it's nice, easier to weld to and much lighter than the Mini one I was going to use and was only ~£100. I guess rad cores are similar cort of cost. They also do tapered and curved cores for a premium.
jk

quote:

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Originally posted by andrew-theasby
Where were your cores from simon? Did you weld them yourself? I guess an intercooler would run nearly as much pressure as the radiator wouldnt it.

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As easy as that only kidding, well worth the effort, must have saved you a fortune. Ive got an old radiator somewhere, i might have a try welding some bits of plate onto that and see how it goes before spending any money, im still fairly new to ally welding so i wouldnt want to kill a £100 core (didnt realise theyd be that much), but id like to try.

I switched to a bespoke core for a couple of reasons. The main one being the CooperS core I was using appears to be brazed together, the heat from the TIG was blowing the braze material out and I feared unreliability problems.

Apart from that it's lighter and smaller (fits better).

The Pace core has a meaty (~1.5mm thick) flange to weld to, just practice but welding a few pieces of thin sheet, get everything squeaky clean then get stuck in. I did mine tonight and it was pretty easy. This is the first major piece of alloy welding I've attempted.

jk