Any views on whether fitting these improves reliability or is it more cosmetic than anything else.
Also views on silicone hoses and cooling fans. I note that some cars are fitted with a sports cooling fan whatever one of those is.
Attempting to improve reliability so have had the usual stuff done - brakes, cooling fan, electronic ignition, fuel pump etc.
Regards
Peter
Aluminium Radiators & Header Tanks
-
stuarthardy
- Posts:488
- Joined:Thu May 14, 2009 8:56 pm
- Location:North Shropshire
Hi Peter
Cooling is marginal on E-types, especially on the earlier models. The best starting point is the addition of a Kenlowe or similar cooling fan to replace the wheezy old wiper motor with a lollipop stick on it found in Series 1 cars.
The first thing to do is to ensure that you have a properly working thermostat of the correct type and temperature rating. There are a lot of people out there selling the wrong type for our cars.
How old is your radiator? These can get blocked with silt and corrosion from the various engine components, especially if people don't use a good quality anti-freeze with inhibitor. Sometimes, just replacing or re-coring the standard radiator is good enough but it is probably better to at least fit a bigger core. There are a few companies making improved radiators, including Northampton Auto Radiators (NAR).
Silicon hoses are without doubt capable of more extreme operation and will last longer as a result. Whether they are necessary is a different question. They can look good on more modern cars but, and this is subjective, perhaps don't look right on 60's classics. I use Kevlar re-inforced hoses and, once you've taken the sticky tape labels off, you can't really tell them from standard. I put a set on my Daimler Sovereign when I got it in 1999 and they still look good and keep the coolant in place.
Why not talk to some of the experts who solve these types of problems every day? Try Ken Jenkins and Derek Watson, they have a wealth of experience and are always happy to point you towards the items they have found to be reliable.
Good luck.
Regards
Stuart
Cooling is marginal on E-types, especially on the earlier models. The best starting point is the addition of a Kenlowe or similar cooling fan to replace the wheezy old wiper motor with a lollipop stick on it found in Series 1 cars.
The first thing to do is to ensure that you have a properly working thermostat of the correct type and temperature rating. There are a lot of people out there selling the wrong type for our cars.
How old is your radiator? These can get blocked with silt and corrosion from the various engine components, especially if people don't use a good quality anti-freeze with inhibitor. Sometimes, just replacing or re-coring the standard radiator is good enough but it is probably better to at least fit a bigger core. There are a few companies making improved radiators, including Northampton Auto Radiators (NAR).
Silicon hoses are without doubt capable of more extreme operation and will last longer as a result. Whether they are necessary is a different question. They can look good on more modern cars but, and this is subjective, perhaps don't look right on 60's classics. I use Kevlar re-inforced hoses and, once you've taken the sticky tape labels off, you can't really tell them from standard. I put a set on my Daimler Sovereign when I got it in 1999 and they still look good and keep the coolant in place.
Why not talk to some of the experts who solve these types of problems every day? Try Ken Jenkins and Derek Watson, they have a wealth of experience and are always happy to point you towards the items they have found to be reliable.
Good luck.
Regards
Stuart
Stuart
1962 E-Type FHC
1969 420 Daimler Sovereign
1994 X300 XJR
1962 E-Type FHC
1969 420 Daimler Sovereign
1994 X300 XJR
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest