r redg p38 split rad

ive only ever done 2 x head gasket on diesel one had split in top of rad are they prone to cracking heads or just gasket

Hi James they do seem to crack heads, personally I believe it's after the engine has over heated. A cracked head is I think more likely than a head gasket but you may get lucky. Rads also split due to plastic fatigue and due to overheating caused by any one of water pump, viscous fan or stat being faulty.

hi a friend of mine has seen one with split rad for £1200 i quite fancy for mrs and kids,just wieghing up all reasons for sale and cost of repair (parts) got coils and other little faults but body ,chassis ,interior good

jamesmartin said:

hi a friend of mine has seen one with split rad for £1200 i quite fancy for mrs and kids,just wieghing up all reasons for sale and cost of repair (parts) got coils and other little faults but body ,chassis ,interior good

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I paid £900 here in France for a 96 with an alleged cracked head. Turned out to be the rad, the baffle in the centre of the header had broken off so there was no cooling. Replacing the head is an easier job than fixing my bloody auto box! If you get it, make sure any replacement rad you fit has got the centre baffle, quite a few non OEM ones seem not to have it.

thank you ,if you ever get round to looking at box i may be able to help you with parts ,p38 looks like best bet of getting a vehicle cheapily but with out rotten body of disco 1 and rotten chassis of disco 2,most ive worked on have been fairly free of corrosion,i was hoping for one with dodgy auto but now hoping for dody rad

jamesmartin said:

thank you ,if you ever get round to looking at box i may be able to help you with parts ,p38 looks like best bet of getting a vehicle cheapily but with out rotten body of disco 1 and rotten chassis of disco 2,most ive worked on have been fairly free of corrosion,i was hoping for one with dodgy auto but now hoping for dody rad

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I might take you up on that James. Car still runs OK with the PSI power box removed so I have not been in a hurry, got to finish the chicken pen first
Despite the problems, I still think the P38 is a great car, just needs lots of preventive or curative maintenance