Rockets Wagon

[threedogs]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/331721633...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
These may have come in handy,

[Rocket55]

Now you tell me... Haha

[threedogs]

Mate you want hindsight I have it in spades, only spied them last night looking through Ebay.
@ that price I think they are worth throwing in the tool box, I already have easy outs, etc

[Rocket55]

First job this morning was to install the temp VDO temp gauge, it's a full sweep gauge with a 4m capilary tube. Install was pretty straight forward, went through the fire wall on the passenger side then up along the guard and over to the thermostat housing.



Next up was to remove the 12x1.5 plug in the thermostat housing and tap it out to 1/4 NPT, just used a bit of grease on the end of the tap and the fluid to help flush it out.





I'm finding that the 1/4 NPT adaptor that came with the gauge doesn't screw in very far, but at the same time I wasn't really using a spanner, so I'll give it a crack later and see how it goes. The adaptor is pretty thin walled so i'm not sure how much stick I can give it.

Next up was to get the radiator out, pretty easy really. Drain it, remove the hoses, unclip the bottom half of the shroud and lift it out. It had a bit of mud in the bottom but not very much at all really. Sitting next to the new one (Rapid Cool 3 core)





Next up was out with the fan and hub assembly.





Removed all the belts to take up to the shop, get them measured and get some new ones.



Drained the oil as well. So in the morning, I'll get some coolant, belts and a 1/4 NPT plug just in case the temp gauge thermocoupling lets go. Fill it with oil, belts on, new fan and fan hub assembly install (if it arrives....), radiator in, intercooler on, batteries in and crank it up. Looking forward to that.

[nissannewby]

I thought they had it in stock? 7 days to get from perth to sydney is a little bit shite.

What is your goal with the cooling system overhaul? Dont forget to clean up the inlet and outlet before refitting the hoses.

[Rocket55]

Yep, seems I'm always waiting for these guys. 3 other things have turned up from all over the country in the same amount of time. Goal is to try and control the temps a bit better when towing up hills. I'll see how this goes first, but I can add a bit more advance to the injector pump as this will also bring down EGT's and help with temp. What do I clean the inlet and outlet with? as I wiped it with a bit od brake cleaner and nothing came off.

[Bacho86]

Always enjoyed reading your detailed and informative posts mate!

A question - was there any particular reason you went the vdo guages instead of a combo style offering from redarc? Cheers


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[Hodge]

Very nice Rod.
I've found all NPT fittings I used were very tight, but still had more go on them. Not sure if this is normal or not as they are compression fitting so maybe they are designed to be that way ? Heck I even had a breaker bar to put one on the other day.

I am very keen to see the results of this. Are you going to replace the thermostat as well ? Also did you have much trouble getting to the drain plug on the block close to the turbo ? Looks like a bitch to get to.

[Rocket55]

Always enjoyed reading your detailed and informative posts mate!

A question - was there any particular reason you went the vdo guages instead of a combo style offering from redarc? Cheers


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VDO are a good qualiy gauge (as are others out there) and I just like the look of them. They are also very eary to read both day and night. They also kinda match the look of the oem gauges (black background red/oranageish needle and white numbers)

[Rocket55]

Very nice Rod.
I've found all NPT fittings I used were very tight, but still had more go on them. Not sure if this is normal or not as they are compression fitting so maybe they are designed to be that way ? Heck I even had a breaker bar to put one on the other day.

I am very keen to see the results of this. Are you going to replace the thermostat as well ? Also did you have much trouble getting to the drain plug on the block close to the turbo ? Looks like a bitch to get to.

Ok, that gives me hope. I did watch Pirtek crush a Brass fitting one day down to a smaller size so I am hopefull it will just find it's way in there. I haven't undone the drain plug omn the block yet, I looked for it yesterday evening and found it, but couldn't touch it. I might take the front wheel off today and have a better go at it. Failing that I'll just fill it up and go to a radiator shop and let them "power flush" it ...