A/C vs non A/C model radiators?

[Kiltox]

Need a radiator for my shite Panda - cheapest one I can find is this:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PANDA-1-1-VAN-PANDA-1-2-8V-2006-on-MANUAL-NEW-RADIATOR-AC-MODELS-/201134419467?fits=Model%3APanda%7CCars+Type%3A1.1&hash=item2ed48bae0b:g:zCwAAOSwF1dUSjr1

 

My car doesn't have AC, so this more expensive smaller one seems to be what it actually needs:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PANDA-PANDA-VAN-1-1-8V-1-2-8V-2004-on-MANUAL-RADIATOR/191120997864?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D35310%26meid%3D8d5c95ac3a744d48b3fd4367982e15bd%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D201134419467

 

I assume the bigger A/C one will fit because the bumper/slam panel won't be different for A/C cars - what kind of fiery death type conditions am I likely to induce?

 

 

 

[Asimo]

The A/C condenser is normally in front of the engine cooling radiator so it heats up the air that cools the radiator when A/C is in use. Because the radiator is being cooled by heated air it will need to be bigger to cool the same engine.

 

So if you fit a radiator from an A/C equipped car you will have more cooling capacity, which will be a good thing.  

Make sure thermostat works to avoid overcooling.

(Whether the radiator fits brackets, hoses etc is something else)

[Kiltox]

Thermostat is on the "to replace regardless of whether it works" list too so that wouldn't be a worry

Fixings do look a bit different having looked at the photos again though so it might be a non starter

[Junkman]

Here are your radiator fixings:

 

[Kiltox]

 

Autoshite approved repair methods 

[Split_Pin]

Beat me to it.

[Kiltox]

Looks like i can actually get the right* radiator from Carparts4less for just under £36 so that's a goer I think

* it's cp4l so it might actually be a fan belt for a Ford Mondeo

[colnerov]

 Hi, The difference may be that there are mountings for the condenser on the main rad, which you can't see in the pic.

 

 Colin

[DSdriver]

As one of the, how shall I say, more senior people on here I am bemused.

In my day aircon was a luxury and as such you expected to pay more for the extra complexity of parts for it, plus a premium for being such a nonce for having something so posh.

So when did this scene change happen that the young whippersnappers see nothing strange, or wrong, about having to pay more for simple basic stuff like a non aircon rad?

[Kiltox]

Equally confused - but I guess they made more with A/C than without

[DSdriver]

The first car I had with aircon was a Mk1 Citroen CX Familiale. The refrigeration compressor took so much engine power out of the 2.4 motor that it reduced top speed by 10mph and knocked fuel consumption back to about 10mpg.

Apparently the cold air only reached the front seat passengers, when we were in the south of France our friends in the back kept opening the windows and letting all the hot air in. But for them it was refreshingly cool.

[Eddie Honda]

So when did this scene change happen...

1986?

[lisbon_road]

The stuff is on ebay.  Pricing is probably a bit random.

 

Personally, I think that there would still be a risk of the car running a bit cool with the wrong radiator as the thermostat is only so effective, just a point of view.