Radiator Beautification

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sat May 10, 2025 6:07 pm

93_Clubman wrote:No probs - the heater pipes exiting the firewall into the engine bay are copper, but very thin metal at least on the NA, and so can be easily damaged if not careful when removing and replacing the old rubber heater pipes.

On the NB the heater pipes are aluminium.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Wed May 14, 2025 9:18 pm

Radiator and hoses have all arrived from Sydney - total cost + 412. ($220. + $141. + Shipping $48.)
MX5 booked in to have them fitted in a fortnight. Fingers crossed everything fits.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Tue May 27, 2025 4:09 pm

Well, not quite as smooth as I would have hoped.
Car went in to the Garage this AM but job cannot be completed as I obtained only 5 hoses from the supplier, not the 9 that are apparantly required.
I kind of wonder why the supplier would only stock 5 of the 9 hoses required and not mention that 9 were required. Now on order from another source.
Radiator Cap not provided with Radiator. Who knew? Not me! Now on order from supplier.
Thermostat also required for this job. I didn't know this. (they will flush the block too which is good.)
Meantime, the MX5 will be at my Repairer for a week as new radiator cannot be fitted until all the hoses are to hand.
Great living up here in the sticks. Everything comes from Melbourne or Sydney.

I know why people just take it to the Dealer and let them sort it out. I am saving $1400. but it is all a PITA.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri May 30, 2025 11:13 am

Yeah, these days with some jobs you've got to research the hell out of them to ensure that all bases are covered, as packages that you would think would be complete aren't always so.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Fri May 30, 2025 3:52 pm

And then when you turn up to Repco and they offer a part which does not it. Back online to do more research and buy from the internutz. You then hope that part fits.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Fri May 30, 2025 6:51 pm

Look, I take full responsibility for the stuff up.
I did not apply myself to the task as thoroughly as I would have 20 years ago. I should have thought about it more and asked the obvious questions :
What about the other 4 hoses? Why don't you have them? I don't see a cap on the radiator - why? Do I need anything else?
The bottom line is that there are a lot of on-line parts suppliers these days but they are staffed by kids on computers who don't know the first thing about mechanics. In the old days, the Repco Parts Interpreter was a "career job" and he would say "You need 9 hoses!" - "What about a radiator cap?" - "have you got a new thermostat? because you are going to need one". It is a lesson learned.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sat May 31, 2025 12:25 am

Rocky wrote:saving $1400. but it is all a PITA.

Convenience costs! :mrgreen:

Don't be too hard on yourself Rocky - to some extent your boss mech is being very thorough as you indicated earlier he usually is, which has exacerbated the gaps in what may be supplied these days. Talking of Repco, attended the local one mid last year for some parts for the old man's Commodore. Amongst other things, needed an idler pulley & they tried to sell me an alternator pulley as that's what their computer advised them was an idler pulley. Advised them they were wrong as I'd already inspected & familiarised myself with what I needed - the pulleys are very different sizes & the alternator one is ribbed whereas the idler pulley is smooth. The shop assistant didn't believe me, but I advised him their computer was wrong & they could either listen or ignore me - I don't care - just sell me the parts I've identified from personally eye-balling the issue. I got the parts I knew I required & completed the job myself without issue.

Craig · Postby **Craig** » Sun Jun 01, 2025 6:26 pm

Rocky wrote:I am saving $1400. but it is all a PITA.

And free entertainment for us too! :lol:

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Mon Jun 02, 2025 8:27 pm

That's what I'm here for, Craig.
Well, all done. Picked the MX5 up this arvo from my Mechanic. He said the radiator was definitely ready to be replaced.
Because of my stuff-up with the hoses/thermostat I saved $1200. not $1400. Whole job cost $1200.
Workshop Boss said the smaller hoses were a bit of a pain, particularly one that went on to the block somewhere near the Injection gear ??? Said he thought he was going to have to remove it to fit the hose. Anyhow his description of the job sounded very thorough and I am very happy with 4 hours for Labour. They are always very careful with the car and this is a big comfort for me.
So it has now had all new belts at 90K plus Fuel Pump, Water Pump, Cam & Crank Sensors and all new hoses at 95K plus new thermostat.
That leaves brakes, exhaust, alternator, injectors that are still original. Fingers crossed.

Craig · Postby **Craig** » Tue Jun 03, 2025 10:00 am

Good to hear all is resolved, hope you have many more years of "cool" motoring!

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Tue Jun 03, 2025 9:24 pm

Thanks Craig!
Hey enlighten me Guys. I was cleaning the car this arvo after taking it for a run and I noticed that the crappy-looking "radiator core" that first got my attention several week ago was still there. The new radiator is in place BEHIND this. I thought I was looking at the radiator from looking into the power-mouth from the front. What am I actually looking at?

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Tue Jun 03, 2025 9:53 pm

Aircon condenser ...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Tue Jun 03, 2025 9:58 pm

Rocky wrote:Thanks Craig!
Hey enlighten me Guys. ... . What am I actually looking at? ]

Air conditioning condenser. Another radiator IOW, but if this one blows up you just lose air con ... :lol:

These don't fail like the coolant ones, but do sometimes start leaking, or just get choked up - looks like yours could do with some TLC Rocky, I thought you looked after your cars

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Wed Jun 04, 2025 9:45 am

Well there you go - never heard of such a thing.
Yes, GM, it is looking a bit sad - that is why my INITIAL query in this thread was whether I could spray it with something - WD40 - to clean it up a bit.
Trouble with oil-based stuff is that it attracts dust.
All the "graze" under the front lip was done by the FWIT original owner - a "businesswoman" who scraped/bumped just about everything she could (wheels, bib, number plate etc) in the short time she owned it before I bought it off her. I figured the plastic front would eventually be covered in stone chips (it is) and decided to just leave it as it was and maybe treat the front to a respray a long way down the track.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Jun 04, 2025 1:28 pm

Rocky wrote:That leaves brakes, exhaust, alternator, injectors that are still original. Fingers crossed.

If NB is anything like the NA, in due course it will be the rear brake calipers as the handbrake mechanism within the caliper corrodes. If this happens the rear brakes should continue to operate ok, however the handbrake mechanism within the caliper can freeze locking on the handbrake when applied. Usually easy enough to carefully lever the brake pads open with the thin end of your wheel brace, but you then risk it happening every time you apply the handbrake, so handbrake effectively becomes inoperable.