Club126UK

Fiat 126 Chat => Tuning & Customising 126 Models => Topic started by: mic on August 17, 2009, 09:28:52 PM

Title: Moving radiator to front?
Post by: mic on August 17, 2009, 09:28:52 PM
How hard/easy is it?! i know id need some more tubing to run under the car and have to cut a hole in the front for air, but is there anything already in place to bolt the radiator to or would i have to fabricate mounts for it?

cheers
Title: Re: Moving radiator to front?
Post by: fly on August 17, 2009, 10:32:11 PM
I think you would have to fab mounts, I looked at this recently for a conversion i was doing, I reckon it might be possible to use the existing heater hoses to get the water around.
Title: Re: Moving radiator to front?
Post by: fly on August 18, 2009, 11:14:25 PM
Have a ganders at this, bigger engine swap but has a couple of good photo's showing the radiator and pipes up front - in the for sale section:

http://club126uk.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3850.0
Title: Re: Moving radiator to front?
Post by: mic on August 22, 2009, 09:26:22 PM
i reakon it shouldnt be too hard, i have a 'spare' front end which i could have welded on the inside a couple of standard radiator mounts and run the pipes under the bottom.


If i were to use the heater hoses what would i do in the engine bay? just run hose as it is but without the rad in the middle as it'll go thru the rad at the front?!
Title: Re: Moving radiator to front?
Post by: fightingtorque on September 30, 2009, 12:49:40 PM
It was common with Hillman Imps, I did this conversion to my Imp.  It's a great solution to cooling issues and eliminates the need for power sapping engine driven or electric fans except when in stationary traffic.

I did the job twice, first was a 'quick' attempt using pipes under the car, later I did it properly inside the car, which enabled the use of bigger pipework.  I used a mixture of copper pipe (normal plumbing stuff, with solder joints, elbows etc. to take it under the rear seat) and flexible.

I must point out that having a pair of hot water pipes running along the floor did make a noticeable increase to the in car temperature.

I don't think there is much point though unless you get your 126 making more than about 50 horsepower.