Aluminium radiators?
 

Time to prepare the faithful old girl for another trip....

200 TDI Defender - is it possible and worthwhile to get a Aluminium radiator made?

Bush repairs?

I would stick with an old style copper and brass type, because it's solderable in the event of stone damage. Allysport ones are really well made, but expensive. Britpart ally ones are made like the td5 type - plastic headers crimped onto the matrix, and vulnerable to vibration damage with your sort of usage.
Simon.

Id second that , ali is much more susceptible to vibration damage , and harder to get repaired

You have to be really careful with Ali radiators and stray current - approved coolants that are low conductivity maybe hard to find and mixing is a real no no. I've seen a Ford radiator full of little holes in less than a week after a coolant flush and incorrect coolant added.

OK, normal it is.

Genuine landy one - or any suggestion for another brand or slighter better design or something?

2 months of driving in sand in Sudan in 40+ degrees has made me very aware of cooling systems ;-)

Make sure you check the heater matrix and other hoses are clear. Might be worth replacing the heater matrix.

I didn't know I had a heater matrix ;-)

Where is it located? (feel dumb for asking!) and what does it do?

Edit: OK, its in the heater box. Mine is a bit warped from Turbo heat (heat guard fell off in Gabon I think?) and haven't turned it on for about 3 years, partly because I have been a bit scared to do so!

How would this impact cooling?

On a 300tdi it is back right corner of the engine bay as you look in the bonnet. Behind the heater blower. It has two hoses going onto it from the coolant circuit.

As it is part of the circuit. It would be a shame to put a nice new clear radiator in, while that is still full of crud.

If it was me, I would replace all the hoses and both the heater matrix and rad. Keep the old hoses if they are reasonable for spares on the road.

Dan

I should have noted that I have a full sized intercooler in front of the radiator and a gearbox oil cooler next to it. This restricts airflow somewhat!

To compensate I have a (manual switched) Kenlowe fan on the inside which was great.

Does the oil cooler part of the radiator ever get blocked or dirty etc?

(Brillent Matt Savage design below)
http://www.roamingyak.org/temp/kenlowe.jpg

I would imagine that it should be fine. If your oil is good quality every time you change it and looks good when It is changed. I'd think you'd be ok.

Obviously I am assuming that you are talking internally. The external sections can always get dirty.

The only real way of knowing is to test it of course. Which if it was me and I knew the history of the item, I probably would not bother.