Mk1 new radiator

[Hilltop]

Hi, just got a new rad for my Mk1 injection through VW Heritage. It's exact same part number and 480 mm in length. It s a bit thinner and lighter than the original but will fit. The problem is with the temp sensor. There seems to be a place to put it either side but either the plugs (there are 8mm nuts) are very tight or it seems they need to be drilled out and tapped to size ? Can anyone help ? Thanks !

[the edmundator]

Take a look at Sean's (GTXTRA) Project Gitanes 2 thread in the projects section, he recently had some issues with replacing a rad on his mk1 GTI.

[Hilltop]

Thanks, I'll have a look.

[Hilltop]

I have now sent back the VWH rad and got a replacement off e-bay which was advertised as a match for the original part number - 171121253D. It is the same dimensions and will fit the car (although return pipe outlet is on wrong side). However the place to fit the temp sensor is different as per photos.

RAD 1.jpg

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RAD 2.jpg

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I have tried to unscrew the plastic 8 mm nut but either it's very tight or needs to be drilled out and tapped to fit the original sensor - or maybe a different sensor is needed ? Help appreciated.

[Hilltop]

Brief update - did some searching under part number (171121253D) and buycarparts.co.uk came up. It's a company based in Germany and is associated with another similar company called Autodoc. There were images of the radiator and it looked very similar to my original. A bit sceptical but the price was very reasonable so I took the chance. Initially I thought communication was poor - but I later found emails in the spam folder. The part took a week to arrive but it was a direct replacement with resivoir inlet on right side of the rad and correct fitting for the original temp sensor.

[moser]

Ive used buycarparts before and found them to be excellent. best bit was tracking the package across europe!