Pre Lit radiator questions!

[darrellhuth]

I am wondering if anyone might know what radiator would fit best in my 1985 pre-lit Westy.  The one in it now ( I have no idea where it came from ) is not a good fit at all.

I have searched the internet in vain looking for some pics that might help or at least give me a clue but without success.

Thanks, Darrell / California

[Captain Colonial]

Not sure about pre-lits, but the VW Polo rads are a firm favourite for efficiency, and they come in a few different sizes.  There's a sticky thread on it at the top of the Tech Talk section, and you can also do a search in here as it's been discussed many times.

[mhc]

Hi Darrel.

A 1985 prelit is a very early westfield .

I have one myself with a chassis no of --22 ( -- are the welders initials) .

Can I ask your chassis number, less the initials?

Regards Mick.

[darrellhuth]

Mine is number 50-something ( 58 if I remember ) ...Where do I find the number on the chassis?

What I would LOVE is to see some pic's of your radiator area to see how I might do mine.....Possible?

Thanks, Darrell

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

LOL - MHC's prelit  

See here

I think Ford Cortina rads were originally used but most adapt the VW Polo rad as stated above

[darrellhuth]

Mick:  

    I was wrong, My chassis is # 52KL.

Are "pre-lit" Westfields very different from most of the newer ones?

[Meakin]

Out of interest Darrel is yours on a slope like mine

Not sure what mine is, but it got a bit warm in the summer. Having now changed engine it now seems to run cooler so don't know if it will be a problem or not.

Paul

[darrellhuth]

Paul:

    Yes, mine was on a bit of a slope but it is much smaller than yours. My car is quite different than yours though and I am not sure if our frames are the same. Thanks for taking the time to post a pic! Any other pre-lit owners who might have a pic or two of your radiator area?

[darrellhuth]

Another interesting thing I just noticed! In looking at pictures of other Sevens on the internet it looks as if most don't have front sway bars.......Mine does.

The sway bar makes mounting the rad much more difficult and limits my choices for mounting a electric fan.

Would my handling suffer if I removed it ? I don't really like how it is mounted, Whoever installed it did not do the greatest job anyway.

What do you think?

Darrell

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

I wouldnt remove it if I was you. Most people move the radiator forward on extension brackets and run the fan either in front or behind the radiator which is in front of the anti roll bar (thats what we call a sway bar   )

This is from when I ran a copper rad. I now run a VW Polo one with the fan behind it

[darrellhuth]

John:

    Thanks for the picture. I am wondering how to post my own pictures here ?

My problem is that my sway bar runs across the middle of where my rad is . If I mount my rad in front of the sway bar I have no room left for the electric fan. Won't fit in the rear either as it would be too far away to do much good. I am assuming this sway bar did not come stock with the car. Is there a sway bar that mounts under the frame instead of the middle?