Different radiator for A.C. 360?

[Tero Huikko]

vadis gives a different part number for radiator and fan shroud for a.c. models...? Nissens catalog states that core in non a.c. is 17mm thick and a.c. has 34mm??

As I have ripped the A.C. from another car I have now "wrong" radiator?
This might explain the overheating.

Does anyone know this for sure?

[MJ]

There is a difference, but I thought it was to do with fixings... Look here http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... php?t=3411

[petefarrell360]

Andy aka Pettaw is the man for AC, his car is one of the few 300's with AC in the UK. I'm sure he'll be along later to answer the question mate!
Pete

[foggyjames]

I think the book you have is wrong...

As far as I know, AC rads are different, but only in that they have a thread for the overheat cut-out switch.

cheers

James

[Tero Huikko]

I don't think so...If you look at vadis carefully it also knows two different rubber bushings for radiators. One 34mm and one 52mm - one for 17mm core and one for 34mm core rads.

I've ordered the nissens rad - will take pics and we'll all see what's the truth.

A.C. fan is controlled by sensor fitted in upper water hose bungle. What does the rad sensor then do? Overheat cut-off switch? Can't see one in my green books anywhere...Does it turn off the engine in case of overheating?

[foggyjames]

The cut-off switch turns the AC off if the car is overheating. It's mounted in the SIDE of one of the end-tanks, so you can barely see it with the radiator installed.

I think the 17mm radiator is the 340 one, and the 34mm (double thinkness...double core) is the 360 one.

Andy (Pettaw) will give you chapter and verse on all this.

cheers

James

[pettaw]

The thin rad is the early 340 1.4 one, they're a bit useless and there's lot of overheated 1.4s around due to Volvo not putting enough cooling capacity in the design. So when they upgraded to Mk3 they put the double core rads in from the 1.7s. In fact, its probably a good upgrade to anyone with a Mk2 1.4 with the small rad to see if you can find a 1.4 or 1.7 in a scrappy and upgrade everything to the later versions, particularly with the hot weather we seem to get a few days a year.

There's no difference between any of them, cooling capacity wise, they're all double core, apart from earlier 1.4s, the only difference is that on normal 360s there's no bush for the cooling fan thermostat to screw into and on A.C rads, there is a bush, but its in a different place to the 1.4 and 1.7 ones. Oh and someone said there might be a slight difference in the connections and he had to file his front panel ever so slightly.

Edit: yeah found the post http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... php?t=3411

[foggyjames]

I'm not sure that's right Andy. I'm sure all 340 ones are single-core. Early 1.4s had a narrow rad, while 1.7s had the 'full size' single core rad, which later 1.4s got. The new radiator I just picked up for Nessy is a full-width 'thin' one.

cheers

James

[pettaw]

I'm not sure that's right Andy. I'm sure all 340 ones are single-core. Early 1.4s had a narrow rad, while 1.7s had the 'full size' single core rad, which later 1.4s got. The new radiator I just picked up for Nessy is a full-width 'thin' one.

cheers

James

The OEM Volvo one we fitted recently to our 1.7 was a full thickness double core full-width one. I reckon its probably an aftermarket thing.

[foggyjames]

All three cars have a different part number for the radiator.

Haynes says all are double-row, but I trust their judgement about as far as I can throw Nibbles (which isn't very far). They list one removal proceedure for B14 rads, and another for everything else, which is curious.

Any word from the Green Book?

I'm sure that the 360 rad (a Blackstone stamped with Volvo...same as the old one) is noticably thicker than Nessy's current or new radiator.

cheers

James

[Tero Huikko]

I just got back home from the car I originally got the A.C. equipment. Removed the rad ---- everything was similar to mine. NO difference at all.

And the car was A.C. equipped from factory. It's a 1987 360GLT.

Interesting...I'll try and sleep now...and forget the whole episode (driving 300 miles for nothing an such...)

[foggyjames]

What year was this car? Andy's is an 86 model year (or 85?), and he complains of it running hot with the AC on. Perhaps they fitted a thicker radiator for later AC cars?

cheers

James