Which rad for 3.5 V8?

Rad is going and I want to replace it with a genuine part. Parts catalog says ESR76 is the original part, but it doesn't have a drain plug and ....

ESR203 seems to be a newer, cheaper, similar part.

Unfortunately I can't find anything saying ESR203 supersedes ESR76. Any thoughts? Contacted LRseries and they said "It'd probably fit, but..." which isn't quite the level of confidence I was hoping for on a £200-300 part

you can get esr76, for £110+vat and esr203 for £150+vat.does it haveoil cooler and are the threads the same etc might look the same ?

I'm in exactly the same quandry. From what I read ESR203 is upwards from VIN FA428919,but I don't know what the difference is. Mine is very simple...Top Hose on Passenger side. Bottom hose on Driver side and expansion tank hose on Driver side.

As mine is an RRC drop in,I reckon ESR76 is the correct one. Haven't ordered one yet as it's just after Christmas and the credit card needs to recover...

Not sure if a Defender rad would be the same as a RR classic but Britpart do a rad (same configuration as 'Harleyman') suitable for both the carb & EFI 3.5, with two small outlet pipes from the driver's side of the header tank for both the expansion tank & inlet manifold return. If you use the rad for EFI you simply close one off & just connect to the expansion tank & if yours has a fan cowl/shroud you may have to modify it in places to clear the top of the fan blades.

Thanks Norseman,but I THINK that the RRC rad is bigger,but don't quote me.

Would it not be easier and cheaper to have yours recored.

I don't know much about recoring, but I think I'll look into that as an alternative. I've got the number of a local shop that can do the job so I'll ask what they charge.

My current rad is similar to what Harley described - top hose on passenger side and bottom hose on driver side with a couple small ports for expansion tank and manifold return. No oil cooler. I am being peculiar about avoiding Britpart, so I'll go genuine.

I bought a bearmach 4 core HD rad for my disco, was 180 new

I read that it fits d1 and rrc, and defender "with some trimming"

It has no oil cooler.

Cheers

ruffday said:

Would it not be easier and cheaper to have yours recored.

Click to expand...

yes.

ruffday said:

Would it not be easier and cheaper to have yours recored.

Click to expand...

Good advice, after having to frat about with the cowl (fit) & eventually giving up & obtaining a replacement used one I wish I had taken the recore route myself. 'Oh well you live & learn

ESR 76 turned up this morning. It's only a Britpart one,but will do untill I can get time to get my other one recored. (Nearest place is 20 miles away and not open Saturdays).I'd rather have that in there than steam billowing out....It's only a toy so its not the end of the world.

Dimensions are the same,but it has 2 small pipes for expansion tank and apparently inlet manifold from what I read? The old one is blocked off in the rad. So does anyone know where on the inlet manifold it's meant to go ?

Alternitively is there a T piece part number that I can join em both up and push both to the expansion tank.

Cheers

Had what I assume is the same BP rad fitted to my RRC last summer, seems to be a well enough made unit & I've had no problems so far but had to change the fan shroud/cowl for a 3.9 model in order to clear the top of the fan blades. As mine is an EFI the second pipe had to be blanked off but hopefully someone with a carb engine will be able to advise you re. the inlet manifold connection.

Think I've found the inlet manifold connection,its currently blocked with a piece of hose with a bolt in it.....

I dont have a cowl on mine,just a kenlowe bolted to the rad,so should be a straightforward swap...... Famous last words.

classic rad 575971 oem part number

with air con u want rad NRC4448 oem part number also.

Just for the record, I used part number ESR76 and it's identical to the original. I was disappointed it doesn't have a drain plug, but it fit without mods.

I still wonder whether I could've used the newer rad (ESR203) and gotten something that easily fit AND had a drain plug, but I was skeered to get one that didn't fit.