Anyone Else Fitted a Coolex Radiator to A Car With A/C?

[Simon_P]

Or rather tried to?

It won't fit past the pipe to allow the spigot to go into the hole at the top.

The drain boss is in the wrong place. I asked their customer service why they had moved it and apparently it is to commonise it with the US radiator.

Trying to fit it now -The boss wont go past the a/c pipe, so the spigot won't go in the hole, the radiator therefore won't go up in order for the top hose to miss the a/c pipe.

Difficult to take a photo with the radiator in my hands.hi

[davy3c]

Sorry to hear you are struggling. I can't offer any advice, but thank you for sharing this. I was planning on doing exactly the same thing! I'll keep watching this thread to see if you can find a solution. Good luck!

Davy

[Coolexperts]

Hello Everyone,
I am Steve from Coolex Heat Transfer Ltd, some know me better as Mr Cool The original radiator fitted to the M100 had 2 x Renault 5 plastic top tanks fitted to a bespoke core. A company in Lincoln UK started to produce an all aluminium radiator many years ago. This company ceased trading and I was requested to copy the radiator he had been manufacturing. I did so but was then informed that the mounting pins were too small. I rectified this and had no more problems until the radiator was requested in the USA. It seemed that the Federal version with aircon and the different bumpers could not use the rest of the world fittings and actualy hangs on metal rods at the front of the car. The radiator was modied so that the unit fits the Federal perfectly. We have in the past had questions about the air bleed in the top of the radiator. I believed that this was in the same position as the original plastic tanks. Most owners do not use this airbleed as it was originall placed there for the Renault 5 that had bad air locking problems. I have sold hundred of the radiators to members over the years with good feedback received. I would be happy to receive any comments on the drain bung to see if there is a bug fix. Reading postings it would seem to be federal cars fitted with aircon that occasionaly comment? Please let me know on the site or directly to me at steve@coolexperts.co.uk

[Coolexperts]

Hello again,

It would seem that the radiator fits Federal USA models with aircon no problems and it fits rest of the world cars without aircon no problems, but rest of the world cars with aircon could have issues.I am awaiying feedback.

Steve

[Simon_P]

Hi Steve
One easy and very helpful modification would be to put a good chamfer on the top pins. They have to go into a grommet in a blind hole, and without the chamfer you just push the grommet into a void from where it must be retrieved and start again. With the chamfer and some Vaseline it slides in easily.

The front end of the USA "Air Bag" cars is substantially different, with the radiator and A/C mounted at an angle - the set-up is completely different to the rest of the world and there is plenty of room. http://www.lotuselancentral.com/repair/coolant.htm

I have fitted one of your earlier radiators with the drain in the correct place and all was well.

- With the RoW car the radiator can be hinged forward at the bottom and dropped downwards, but with the RoW A/C equipped cars there is minimal clearance with the evaporator mounted directly in front of the radiator.
- One of the Y brackets needs to be removed to clear the inlet spigot before the radiator can be dropped vertically.
- In order to get the radiator into position the N/S (UK) tank needs to slot behind the A/C pipe in order for the O/S (UK) tank to clear the AC pipework at the other end- it has to go in one end first.
- with the new radiator it couldn't go up enough for the inlet spigot to clear the A/C pipe at the top or across enough to clear the pipe at the side
- Once the pipework has been navigated the radiator will fit the space - It is the getting it into the space that's the problem.
- The A/C evaporator has to be fitted first so removing it to get the radiator in isn't an option - At one point I did consider it!

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Unfortunately the drain is now too high and inaccessible. Removing the bottom hose requires the car in the air and undoing a clamp which is hard to get to and difficult to tighten worse still with the A/C pipe.

owners do not use this airbleed

Not sure you mean that? The top 2 inches of the radiator are above the inlet - It is essential to use the bleed screw.

I eventually got my by then second hand looking new radiator in by abusing the A/C pipework.
O/S (UK) end first then lift the N/S end up until the only option is to pull on the A/C pipes at either end. Then ease it across until the top pins go in (what a beech of a job). If you haven't chamfered the top pins you will push the grommets through as you can't see them and it's done entirely by feel.

[HJ2]

Yes, the camfer is a good addition indeed!
For the rest the fit is perfect after correcting the space between the top fixtures. I placed 3 of them (radiators), all a good fit without problems.
I would love to have a good drain valve at a handy location, as ripping of the lower coolant hose means almost always a fresh set of clothes...

[Neil D.]

Dear al,

More coolex experience.
Had to replace original Valeo Radiator as plastic top bleed thread is damaged and leaking. Will now repair this radiator as it is on the bench.


Original Lotus Valeo reference is
https://www.flickr.com/photos/195781657 ... ateposted/

Coolex
https://www.flickr.com/photos/195781657 ... ateposted/

Lotus
https://www.flickr.com/photos/195781657 ... ateposted/

I will transfer this onfo to Lotus Clssic parts, who sold me the radiator

Good week end

Neil