Sumo Radiator Mounting

[Dan]

I have my self a Sierra Diesel Rad (Provided by Pilgrim) - and am after advise as to where this is mounted - I guess I could trial fit the body and make measurements as to where it would best fit then again I could post a query and ask you guys... Considering it's soooo cold in the workshop I much prefer the later idea :+

Am I correct in assuming the pipe conectors are on the Drivers side? I guess a bracket has to be made up to hold the top in place. From a rough guess the bottom of the rad also requires some spacers to hold it away from the chassis - As I have 2 fans on the rear of it...

Any Advise deaply appreaciated

[normanh]

Hi Dan,

Your right about haveing the main inlet outlet pipes on the drivers side, I found you either have to space it off or have it at a slight angle to attach the bottom. If its at an angle I dont see a problem as the breather outlet is still much higher than the rad - engine outlet and the air can still get out!. wheel arch! :7 I used a couple of nuts on long bolts, and can still get the Rad out thru the wheel arch If I need to! :7

Your also correct in making brakets for the top, sinple steel or ali fixed to the top rail of the chassis is the way Pilgrim do it.

The one thing I'll say is important is to cut off the triangular mounts on each side of the rad.....you won't get your front chromey bits )> on otherwise.! They look hard but are made from Plastic! I used angle grinder and filed the edges. Looks Quite tidy!

Hope this helps,

[Paul B]

You might also want to look at the lower chassis rail onto which the radiator mounts. Another Sumo builder recommended making the rail removable as he had enormous difficulty in getting the radiator out once the body had been fitted and he found a leak !!

I made up some side plates drilled through the chassis box sections for long bolts then cut just where the crossmember is welded to the box section. I can now drop the radiator down if necessary.

Also, I found the top nearside corner of the radiator VERY close to i.e. touching, the body when fitted, so if you can drop the radiator down as low as possible at this stage, you could avoid that potential problem.

[normanh]

HI Dan,

The ears are for mounting the threaded rods for the nudge bars as u guessed, and I had both original sieera rad mounts points in the way, so Zoom out with the grinder and hey presto......no more mounts.

The thing that decided which way round the rad went on mine was where the hoses from the engine ended up, in the case of a chevy its drivers side. Rover I'm not sure about. Just see if you can get it all to connect & fit! The good thing about the sierra rad is there is a small out/inlet on each corner, ideal for putting in anyway I'd have thought.

As for the expansion tank, it must be above the highest point in the system, whether thats the top rad hose or the top of the engine inlet. On mine the top hose rises some 3" above the top of the rad and engine and therefore the top ex tank outlet must be above that point to prevent air locks I suppose !:9


Glad you managed to get it in by the looks of it Dan

NuttyNorm

If in doubt give it a clout! or grind! :7

[Kevin W]

Hi Dan,
I've mounted mine on the passengers side. Its actually better to do it the other way round. If you want to see how I've done the plumbimg (although I'm actually re-jigging it at the moment - a pain once the body's on) you're welcome to pop round anytime- I live about 30 minutes from you. email me or phone 01252 678830.

cheers,
Kevin

[Dan]

Spent the afternoon in the workshop - Despite wanting the pipes on drivers side I have found that the Rad fits better with them on passenger side (left from cockpit) - I've secured the bottom of the rad to the last vertical part of the front member as the holes in the Rad lines up perfectly with those pre drilled in the chassis...

One item of slight conern is the 'ears' on the chassis that I guess excepts the rear end of the metal spindle that holds the fron nudge bar on. Well the ear on the left side blocks access to the top hose on the Rad - Luckily I've already decided not to have the Nudge bars so I'll lob those off - And Whilst I'm at it I'll think I'll follow your advise normanh and tidy up those triangle brackets... Am glad some one else has tried it - Will make me feel more comfortable with the grinder

Made a cardboard template for the bracket - which I'll get made up in stainless steel.

One further question - When mounting the expansion tank for the cooling system, I am guessing the the upper inlet has to be higher than the outlet on the Rad - Is this assumption true?

As ever your support greatly appreciated...

Regards

Dan 'Were all these nuts used before' Man
www.coba.kitcar.btinternet.co.uk

[Bob]

Dan
It looks to me from your pics that you could be pushing your radiator to far forward.The body drops away towards the front and you could run into clearance problems when you fit it. As I said before I mounted mine upsidedown, pipes to drivers side it fits no problem . Mount the rad on 4 mini exhaust bobbins it stops vibration. You have to cut he bottom ones away almost to the stud to get the radiator to sit low enough. You also have to trim a bit off he mounting points to drop the rad low enough and slot the holes. The nudge bar mount on the drivers side needs a little trimming to give clearance for the top hose otherwise no probs. I made my top support bracket lay the radiator back towards the engine about 30 mm this helps with clearance on the corners. There are two types of Sierra Diesel rad one with plastic end caps like mine and one with pressed steel end caps this one is better cos the endcaps are rounded at the top and give more body clearance. I also supported my body from the front chassis rail to the hinge mount to stop it sagging and touching the radiator corners.