[mike]

i have an auto 76 280. the other day while i was driving, the car was running really hot, about 3/4 up the temp gauge, it usually hangs at around 1/3 [email protected] 70-80.anyway, i checked the coolant and it was one gallon low. so i took it to my local radiaitor shop.the guy told me that i have fin rot, which i believe, the thing looks like utter ****. anyway the question is he said that i should have him recore it because most aftermarket radiators are junk. he said $250-$270 for the recore and all labor with a five year guarantee. i looked and the motorsport 4 core radiatoris 250. has anyone put in a motorsport 4 core, and how well did it hold up. i would appreciate any info.

 

[Unknown User]

I put the motorsport rad in my 83nt as a
precautionary measure because when I bought the
car the old rad was missing fins all along the
bottom. I've been driving the car around for
four months no with no problems, the car
has been exposed to temperatures @ 90 degrees.
It stays cool all the time, with a summer
thermostat, it always runs around 150 degrees.
That's about 1/5 of my teperature guage.

> i have an auto 76 280. the other day while i
> was driving, the car was running really hot,
> about 3/4 up the temp gauge, it usually
> hangs at around 1/3 [email protected] 70-80.anyway,
> i checked the coolant and it was one gallon
> low. so i took it to my local radiaitor
> shop.the guy told me that i have fin rot,
> which i believe, the thing looks like utter
> ****. anyway the question is he said that i
> should have him recore it because most
> aftermarket radiators are junk. he said
> $250-$270 for the recore and all labor with
> a five year guarantee. i looked and the
> motorsport 4 core radiatoris 250. has anyone
> put in a motorsport 4 core, and how well did
> it hold up. i would appreciate any info.

 

[Ron]

I have 76 280 auto as well. I pulled the rad myself and the local shop did a recore
for $150 - 3row.
While your at it check the hoses,belts. I also changed the thermostat, water pump,
belt,hoses,clamps, pulled off thermo housing and removed/cleaned the sensors
and connections which build up with corrosion;then flushed the system.
I,m glad I pulled the water pump cause it was imbedded with crustations.
The complete cooling system job was around $225.

 

[Unknown User]

Motorsport 4 row

I bought the 4 row from motorsport at one of their 'garage sales' a couple of years ago because it was only 200 then. Anyway I havent had any temperature problems with it, even during a recent 5 hour drive through the north Georgia mountains. I recommend it.

 

[Ranma Saotome]

The same thing can be done for a lot less! Go to a Nova yard and get a 70-74 Nova 4 core radiator. All that must be done is to drill some holes in the sides of the Nova unit. Works well and costs less, COOL!

 

[Unknown User]

> I put the motorsport rad in my 83nt as a
> precautionary measure because when I bought
> the
> car the old rad was missing fins all along
> the
> bottom. I've been driving the car around for
> four months no with no problems, the car
> has been exposed to temperatures @ 90
> degrees.
> It stays cool all the time, with a summer
> thermostat, it always runs around 150
> degrees.
> That's about 1/5 of my teperature guage.

I hate to sound stupid but what is a summer thermostat?? Is that a thermostat rated to open around 150 degrees?? The reason I asked is because I have a slight cooling problem with my 83 280ZXturbo. I have only had the car for 2 years and I decided to change the coolant because I had no idea on how old it was. After replacing the coolant and thermostat my car ran hotter around 250 to 260 degrees. It never boiled over but I did not push it. I have replaced the radiator, lower radiator hose, water pump, clutch fan, fan belt and temp sensor, but my Z continues to run hot. I am not loosing any coolant, there is no coolant in my oil or transmission fluid, my transmission fluid is at the right level and the car runs fine except the temperature just soars up. Right now I have it parked and only take it on rides to the gym which is only about 5 miles away which will get the temp gauge all the way up to 2/3 full scale. It is quite a weird problem, if only I would have listened to the old saying, IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T **** WITH IT.

 

[Unknown User]

Yeah, the thermostat that I have is rated to open at 160 degrees. The normal thermostat is
rated at 180 and the winter thermostat is rated
to 191 degrees. these are all available from
victoria british: 1.800.255.0088.
Your problem sounds like the thermostat, for
10.00 dollars you can get the thermostat with
the gasket sent to you but half of that would
be for shipping.

> I hate to sound stupid but what is a summer
> thermostat?? Is that a thermostat rated to
> open around 150 degrees?? The reason I asked
> is because I have a slight cooling problem
> with my 83 280ZXturbo. I have only had the
> car for 2 years and I decided to change the
> coolant because I had no idea on how old it
> was. After replacing the coolant and
> thermostat my car ran hotter around 250 to
> 260 degrees. It never boiled over but I did
> not push it. I have replaced the radiator,
> lower radiator hose, water pump, clutch fan,
> fan belt and temp sensor, but my Z continues
> to run hot. I am not loosing any coolant,
> there is no coolant in my oil or
> transmission fluid, my transmission fluid is
> at the right level and the car runs fine
> except the temperature just soars up. Right
> now I have it parked and only take it on
> rides to the gym which is only about 5 miles
> away which will get the temp gauge all the
> way up to 2/3 full scale. It is quite a
> weird problem, if only I would have listened
> to the old saying, IF IT AIN'T BROKE
> DON'T **** WITH IT.