Radiator trickery

[Nj]

According to vagparts there were less 16v coupes made than s2s. So now I find myself needing a new radiator and the one for my car is specific and hence £220 and vat from the stealers, £160 and vat from vagparts or anywhere from £120 upwards from other people.
Now I don't fancy paying that if I can avoid it so I have a couple of options. I can get a cheaper one the right size but with the thermostat at the other side. Or one slightly shorter in height and extend the mounting brackets down a bit.

So i'm considering this and extending the thermostat across to the other side http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUDI-80-Mk3-Mk...QQcmdZViewItem

Or someone reckoned I could go with the tdi radiator, which is the same setup down one side but just a little shorter in height. I'd need to change the 2 mounts that hold the top of the radiator to the slam panel in this case.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=005

This is the one I really need http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=005

Or I can stick with the Nissens one from GSF at £123 but I've just been warned against that brand.

Any thoughts? The thermostat move looks reasonably simple when I can get the brand new radiator pretty cheaply. Or should I just suck it up and buy a new one? hmmm.

[Cullam3n]

What is the part number?

[spink]

has audibits not got one?id be very surprised he wouldnt.I think the entire B3/b4 population is/was in his backyard

[Cullam3n]

If it is in fact 893.121.253 A I can recommend purchasing it from here. I purchased my v6 rad from them a while back (£140!) and these are of high build quality.

[Nj]

If it is in fact 893.121.253 A I can recommend purchasing it from here. I purchased my v6 rad from them a while back (£140!) and these are of high build quality.

that's the one i'm considering buying but the thermostat is on the opposite side from the hoses. The 16v ACE engine has a radiator specific to it. I've talked to several radiator suppliers who all have the 16v down as using that radiator with the thermostat on the other side. So if that's the common one (and I could get a decent one locally too) I wonder if I could just extend the thermostat over to that side?

Mike Audibits doesn't have one by the way. I found a scrappie after much hunting with a 16v and took the radiator out but it was just crumbling under my fingers so I just left it where it was.

Part numbers:
For the one with thermostat on the other side 893 121 253a - same as you have
The one that's a bit short but has thermostat on same side 893121251
The one that I actually need but don't want to pay for 8A0121251

[Error404]

can't you get it re-cored?

[Nj]

apparently that's about £80 to £100 too

[Error404]

bummer

at least you'd have a rad that fits straight in though

[shortsport]

I've had no problems with Nissen radiators in the past

[Nj]

bummer

at least you'd have a rad that fits straight in though

Yeah, Just be a shame to pay extra if a small mod would do the job. Might end up biting the bullet and just paying for the proper one.

I've had no problems with Nissen radiators in the past

That's good to hear mate. cheers. Might just go with it. hmmm.....

[Fat Audi 80]

Stump up the £100 for a recore and fit and forget if it were me...

Is the car a keeper?

Cheers,

Steve.

[Nj]

Aye it's my pride and joy. and now that i've said that I hang my head in shame. I should just splash for the new one. even at £123 it saves waiting for the recore.

It will only go (the car) when I have the s2 fixed. And then, like trading in the wife for Liz Hurley, i'd miss what I've come to know and love but i'd be too busy having fun to care.

Note to wife: Only joking love. PS - what's for dinner?

[Cullam3n]

If it's £100 for the recore, I personally would spend the extra dosh for a brand new one (that site lists it at £117.12 + p&p). I'm surprised that the rad design for the ACE are radically different just because of air con...

[Nj]

yeah you have to wonder why they'd go to the trouble, rather than using common radiators (and other parts) where possible.

right.. where's the mastercard?

[Nuvo]

Noel, do a search on Nissens to give you an idea of what others think of them.
See here and here for example.

One more for good measure here

Last one honest : here

Finally here a direct quote from Grahams experience with them:

I have changed it that often through various F++k ups, and definitely take Gregs advise, buy a genuine one it will save you so much heart ache. (I have changed mine 5 times, as the nissens one kept on cracking at the bottom mount (VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM, the plate which takes the weight of the whole thing is only 1MM thick Brass), and a new one i bought was cracked where they had over crimped the end tank on.

In the interested of providing an unbiased opinion, here is a quote from Porkkis

Nissens radiators are from Sweden IIRC. They have (or atleast had) two models, one with the aux rad output and one without. In my opinion the quality is just fine and after you compare Nissens' price tag to original the decision should be easy

Cheers.

Still don't do it man mind!