5K Loose Radiator

[Peter Golledge]

Steve Sherman wrote:
> 
> I was doing a general fluid check & top when I noticed something odd,
> the radiator is a bit loose and has sunken on one end about 1/2".  There
> is a fair amount of forward and back play at the top, probably about
> 1.2" again without putting too much force on things...  No leaks, and
> but this looseness has me concerned.
> 
> In looking around the only obvious thing that I sould see was that the
> bracket that goes from the front of the car frame to the top of the rad
> is missing (the one with a stud that goes thru the top cowling).  No
> sign of it, so I will hit a junk yard for a replacement. 

It is just a bent bit of steel with a couple of holes in it, you can 
probably get by with some steel stock.  Do some Get NEW rubber mounts 
don't use the ones off a junker, they will fall apart in no time.
You can get these mounts for ~ $4 from various vendors including TPC.

> This can
> explain the forward and back play, but not why one side of the radiator
> has moved down.  (I have not crawled underneath yet, as it is snowing
> here)

Has the mount next to the fender gone as well?  It is pretty common
for the Radiator to move down on this side if it is missing.
>
> Any thoughts about what could cause the radiator to sink like this: a
> missing rubber bushing on the bottom?

It is possible has it been replaced?  Many after-market units (including
the one I fitted a while ago) don't have the lower mount correctly
designed.  I had to "modify" mine to accommodate the bottom mount.

Cheers
-- 
Peter Golledge

89 200TQ (Wagon + Sedan), 79 Porsche 930, 89 SAAB 900i