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MG MGB Technical - Radiator elbow too small

I own a 1977 MGB. I purchased a new radiator from Moss. About two years after buying the radiator, I installed it in the car. All is well except that the bottom elbow is too small for the hose coming from the water pump. The unit was made in Portugal.

I need advice on the fix. I have tried several year appropriate hoses and they are all just slightly larger than the elbow. I have tried different kinds of clamps - and they all pinch the hose just enough to allow coolant to leak out of the hose when the car warms up. The classic wire clamp seems to work best, but it still leaks.

Thanks.

B Dubuc

Howdy,

Obviously you can't return the rad to Moss, so I would suggest that the best, and most permenent fix, would be to take the rad to your local radiator repair shop, along with the hose, and have them replace the neck on the rad with one of the correct diameter.
JR Ross

I don't see why you can't return the rad to Moss. Yes it took you two years to install it but at the end of the day the rad that they supplied was not fit for purpose. It is obviously unused and I would think that they would honour their guarantee as its not a fault that developed but one which was there from the start.
Iain MacKintosh

How much smaller? I'd be thinking in terms of a short length of hose that *does* fit going on first, then the standard hose over that. You would need to keep an eye on the tightness of the clip as it is double thickness of rubber, and so one of the spring clamps rather than the screw type might be best.

If the clearance isn't enough to do that, then I'd suggest there is something wrong with the port allowing coolant past, as screw clamps with new i.e. soft rubber should be able to clamp onto it.
Paul Hunt 2010

What does "Portugal" know about building radiators?Its cheap so thats most likely why Moss buys them, Send it back if its not orginial.
rich osterhout

Thanks for all the suggestions. As to Paul's comment, the elbow is just small enough (diameter) so that the hose slides easily on and off - instead of providing a tight fit. When the clamp is tightened, it pinches the hose just slightly enough that coolant leaks out when warm and under pressure. It is very aggravating. I will try to locate another piece of hose and see if the sleeve solution works.
B Dubuc

B. I would be interested in knowing what the actual diameter of the new radiator's upper and lower hose attachment points are. Why is this a problem with the lower radiator hose and not the upper? It would seem that, if this is a problem caused by converting a English system measurement into the Metric system, both attachments would be affected, not just the lower hose.

I will note that, on my factory radiators (three examples over the years) leaking from the bottom hose, at its connection to the radiator, has been a minor problem.

Can you post the dimensions, preferably taken with a dial caliper? If so, please post them. I believe that I have a spare, factory original, radiator somewhere in my spare parts storage area. If I have your measurements, I can compare with the ones I will take and post the results.

Les
Les Bengtson

"the elbow is just small enough (diameter) so that the hose slides easily on and off - instead of providing a tight fit"

In that case I can't see why a screw clamp at least doesn't seal, unless there are imperfections in the elbow itself, like a longitudinal seam with a groove or ridge.
Paul Hunt 2010

This thread was discussed between 24/06/2010 and 25/06/2010

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