Should I drain the coolant?

[Fetta GTV]

My Sprint is sitting at the moment without a radiator
Should I drain all the coolant or should I try to keep as much coolant in as possible?
It could be sitting for a while while I track down a replacement radiator and I am wondering what is best for the water pump seals etc
Any advice appreciated

Cheers
David

[Cool Jesus]

Vehicle Storage: squirt some oil in the cylinders and crank over without sparkplugs, keep all fluids in it (better if you replace/renew them) and remove/disconnect the battery. Depends on how old the coolant is too, if its more than about 2yo top it up with fresh coolant for seals and anti corrosion properties.  I've also heard about filling the fuel tank up too.

[Fetta GTV]

Thanks for the info
I'm not storing the vehicle, The radiator is out and I thought with the pipes open and a fair bit of the water already out if I should drain it all

[116gtv]

Not that I know much about boxers, but is there any coolant left if you,ve taken out the rad? Does it have a drain plug in the block? I personally wouldn't worry..

[colcol]

Problem is with cooling systems is that when you drain them, any rusty coolant will dry out into flakes, and when you put it all back together the flakes can go through the radiator and block the tubes, better if you put a cleaner through the system before you lay it up to get rid of all the sludge and rust, then you can drain all the water out along with all the rust, don't you just love Alfa boxer motors, a drain plug on each bank, undo left bolt, drain the block on the left, then undo right drain bolt, drain that side, then switch on heater tap if so equiped and it all runs through the block, then bottom raditor hose removed and cooling system completely drained, good stuff Rudi!, Colin.

[Fetta GTV]

With the radiator out the engine still has all its coolant in it, so I have just angled the radiator hoses upwards, topped up the pipes with coolant and covered them over. The search continues for a radiator.
Thanks for the advice

David

[colcol]

I have been down the road of searching for radiators, after various second hand ones that required flushing by a radiator specialist, i bit the bullet and purchased a genuine Valeo off ebay for about $300, this is why, older euro cars have very marginal cooling systems for hot Australian conditions, let us look at the Alfasud, released in 1972 with 60 horsepower tipping the scales at around 800 kilos, fast forward to Sprints and 33's, SAME radiator, but now the cars weight is over 900 kilos and now they have 95 - 130 hoursepower, up to 50% more power that means more heat and 15% heavier, the cooling system will struggle, as for airconditioning, forget it, and as radiators age they become less effective, i think radiators are so cheap now compared to stuffing about with second hand ones, if you are like me and have spent time at the side of the road with a boiling radiator, theres only one choice, Colin.

[Fetta GTV]

Hi Colin

Yes I think your spot on, Why take the chance with a second hand one. I am hoping to do some supersprint in the sprint so it will need good cooling.
I noticed a lot of Subaru radiators on ebay for about 1/2 the price, not sure if one would fit without a lot of modification.

David

[colcol]

If the Subaru radiator is too big, it won't fit the opening, if it is too small then you will be giving away vital cooling, then you have issues with mounts and retainers and where the outlet, inlet pipes are and the thermo switch and crossflow and downflow problems, then you will have to modify things to make it work, not to mention mounting the electric fan, by this time after nearly 40 years production, the radiator tooling is well and truly paid for, they won't get any cheaper, just buy one and get on with driving a true masterpiece and thanking Rudi everytime it brings a smile to your face, Colin.

[Fetta GTV]

Hi Colin

Point taken, thanks for your input, much appreciated

Cheers
David

[Fetta GTV]

New radiator ordered and on its way