Newish member saying hello.

Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 3:13 pm

Greetings everyone.I have been a long time lurker and now a first time poster. I joined this forum relatively recently and look in each day after work to see what's going on in the hobby here in the United States of England.
I am in Guildford, Surrey and i have an '88 GTA which is undergoing the KR surgery. Right now the old love is having welding done as it failed it's MOT last month. I need help from any member here who can enlighten me as to where i can obtain a radiator for my car. Recently it blew the cap and part of the neck clean off the expansion tank. I have replaced the tank but when i tried to refill the system i found that the water was just escaping from somewhere underneath the centre of the rad.
The car is fitted with twin electric fans but as it's so low and i don't have a trolley jack it's hard to say for sure where the leak is. My best guess is the rad.
Anyone who can answer my call for help will become my hero for 2013. I would prefer a brand new unit if possible.

Many thanks to anyone who can help. I am willing to travel to collect if need be.

Thank you again.

Chris.

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 6:58 pm

Hi,
you could try American technique in Watford, he breaks these cars a lot: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

then theres the usual parts places for new stuff
Us automotive [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Ultimate spares of america [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

or you could try ebay?
hope this helps

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 7:02 pm

I just checked [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
for an 88 5.7L £55 plus £85 shipping to here. I have no idea if £140 for a rad is cheap or expensive.

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 7:09 pm

maybe one of these from ebay, not sure on quality thou:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
seems to be same part for 5L

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 7:18 pm

Thank you for the reply, Warlord. Cost isn't an issue for me so long as i can get the part i need. My car is a 305 but i doubt that'll make much of a difference. I'll go through those links you posted and see what i can sort out.

Thank you for making the effort, buddy. I much appreciate it.

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 7:42 pm

That one listed on ebay, i bought one of them for my car, mines a 5.0 GTA but theres no difference with the radiators. I wasnt sure at first but they are made by Nissens who are actually pretty good.

I havnt fitted it yet though, just something else to fit after i drop the new engine in.

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 7:47 pm

I can't do Ebay as i don't have an account and since i'm both old and old fashioned i would rather go into a place and pay cash for one...no waiting around on shipping. If you have the correct rad and it's new i'd happily buy it off you if you fancy selling it Very Happy

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 8:07 pm

lol, i need to hang onto it for my car mate sorry. You might want to get yourself sorted with ebay then, having one of these cars and being put off about online buying dont really go together Laughing

Lots of parts ive got for my car have been sourced through ebay

Scott

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 8:20 pm

I wish i wasn't such a coward.

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 9:06 pm

Hey matey. Nice to make your acquaintance! Smile

I've managed to source so much stuff for our KITT build from ebay and other online places you should really try not to be scared of it!

Robin at Autopontiac in Hounslow isn't that far from you. He does all sorts of repairs on these old cars and is very knowledgeable about how they all work and where to get parts etc. Also, I'm in Staines so just around the corner if you ever needed some help and advice.

James

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 9:37 pm

Thanks, James. It would be great to hook up for a drink sometime. I've dropped well over £5k on this car in the last couple of months and i still havn't driven it. I booked it in with a specialist fairly local to me with the instruction to "Do whatever it needs" to get me roadworthy.
Unfortunately it seems to be money wasted. Right now it needs welding in a couple of places for MOT. I have new bushes and shocks to go on but just the other day was when my cooling problem appeared, so now it is another setback to go on a long list of setbacks.

I post over on The Foundation but i would feel less isolated if i got to know a few of the UK owners/members, so that i can learn and see first hand how to go about doing stuff.

Let me know when you have a day free...drinks are on me Very Happy

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 9:38 pm

Buckinghamshire? James, i used to work in a garage in Chesham!

Small world.

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 9:57 pm

I find rock auto really good,shipping is fedex and usually within 4 days,customs duty is calculated at checkout so no letter from parcelforce demanding a ransom lol

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 10:20 pm

Cheers, Stue. I'll have to man up and take the plunge sooner or later. I've been online for over 10 years but never bought a thing until this year, and those items were from people i know on the Foundation. I don't know why i worry so much about ordering online. It's just the way i am i suppose.
I'll work on it.

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 10:45 pm

no worries,you do also have the paypal option with them so no need to be entering your card details all over the shop if that's a concern Smile

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 10:53 pm

Second that with Rock Auto, ive bought tons of stuff from them and never once had a problem with payment or delivery, its very secure and like Stu says they use fedex so it comes straight to your door with no extra charges to pay Smile

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 10:55 pm

and usually a free fridge magnet,thats the clincher for me lol

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 11:22 pm

Hey. Yes I live in Loudwater near Wycombe so not far from Chesham at all. Having the car resprayed in Chalfont soon. Smile

Car is in Staines though. Own it with another guy who lives local to my folks in Staines. So the car lives in Staines and I pop over there to work on it from time to time. Progress is slow, and full of setbacks also. You will get to the point where the progress exceeds the setbacks though! Just stick at it and chip away at your work list a little bit at a time.

Drinks sound good! Think Stue is in Reading so close as well. Perhaps we should organise a meet up somewhere in the cars for a cuppa and chat? Smile

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Mon May 06, 2013 11:53 pm

Cuppa and a chat works for me, so long as my cuppa is a can of fizz, preferably Coke of the full fat manly variety. Any weekend is good for me.
Set something up and i'll be over in a flash. (Flash here having the meaning of 'Nissan Micra'), cos my car is without MOT and sections of sill.

Looking forward to meeting you all.

Re: Newish member saying hello. · Tue May 07, 2013 7:07 pm

Magnums Moustache wrote:Thank you for the reply, Warlord. Cost isn't an issue for me so long as i can get the part i need. My car is a 305 but i doubt that'll make much of a difference. I'll go through those links you posted and see what i can sort out.

Thank you for making the effort, buddy. I much appreciate it.

glad to be of help.

Re: Newish member saying hello.