Questions... Morphology? Longevity? Water pipes?

Tyrell: You were made as well as we could make you.
Batty: But not to last.

Neither it seems are GTA water pipes.

So I was underneath today ready to apply the final coat of Epoxy121 on the nearside chassis and suspension - all looking so good, ready for the MOT..... just rubbing down the central water pipes that run down the spine in order to paint those at the same time, when suddenly the car starts bleeding Type-D.

It looks like one of the main pipes or the heater pipe has failed above the plate that joins the A-section of the front chassis. Cue a couple of large glasses to collect the coolant and decant back into the bottles - engine was cold and not pressurised, but about 7 litres later it's entirely drained down now.

I can't see exactly where a hole may have appeared but it's the normal location, it needs ramps to see and then most likely an engine out job.

And I was so close too.

Arghhhhhh.

[BIG_MVS]

Bad luck Darren, a sterling effort.

Back to Derbyshire then?

There are some spare stainless sets around, or you can have the old (not leaking) ones out of my "crapmo"...
Takes your mind of the rugby...

??Aussies doing quite well.New stainless in stock.Bish,bash bosh ....ish.....join the queue.Lots failing or showing signs which is not really that suprising after 25 years so dont feel too bad.....Time to die

Sh*t timing, sorry to hear that. New is surely the only way to go as 2nd hand ones, even if they look good, will be another ticking bomb.

after 25 years so dont feel too bad.....Time to die

Yes, like tears in coolant.

Thanks all. Mr Metters, thanks for the offer but I'll probably go new, just to avoid the unknown.

Clee - Does your new version have all 3? What's the overall cost then?

All 3 pipes and they all fit bob-on .Two sets already fitted, two more to do and I have one set in stock .
I did have loads of old pipes,GTA and A610 but just thrown them out as not worth the risk.I had a few sets lightly blasted and they came back with pinholes and bigger so ........
Between £750/1k including pipes,fluids and small no-brainer work whilst the lump and fuel tank are out the way ,gear linkage bush etc .

WP_20150902_012.jpg

Do they always go in the same place Lee? Down by the A-section of the front chassis? Is it always the mains or does the smaller one go?

I've got some of this stuff left over (can't remember the bore but the same as the stubby hoses on the water pump / block) http://www.autosiliconehoses.com/silico ... lours.html

I'm just wondering whether I can cut the pipe and join to the rad hose via a short pipe section as a temp fix. Just to get rolling again.

The only issue is I can't see where it is split so probably a dead end without a ramp.

Normally at the front,main pipes yes,there is a metal clamp that holds them in place and they tend to go near there .Sometimes in the rear ,all usually where they stick out either end .You could possibly sleeve it with a silicon hose,depends how far up the tunnel .

WP_20150806_014.jpg

Thanks Lee . Looks about the place I'm guessing - I think it's where they rest on the metal plate as they divide so your pic looks similar.

I may have a look, just as a temporary measure to get going for now. At least if it was driveable I wouldn't be looking at a flatbed.

Probably been discussed before but......... Is there anyway of manufacturing ( or adapting a stainless set ) a set with a joint so don't have to take engine out to replace ?

Could it be a metal tube joint with a silicon sleeve over top to stop it collapsing ?

I'm sure there is a very good reason why not ;0)

Has anybody done this?

Thanks
Brad

Not really possible the shape and way they fit .+ If it could be done you would have to take the old pipes out to do it anyway
New stainless pipes will outlast the car

[Alpineandy]

I may have a look, just as a temporary measure to get going for now. At least if it was driveable I wouldn't be looking at a flatbed.

I've heard of people clamping old hose over the pipes with 2 or 3 jubilee clips before (just as a temp 'get me home') but can you actually get enough access to the pipe to do that?
Then get the Stainless replacements.

I seem to recall that when I first bought my GTA, someone who was familiar with the cars mentioned that mine had the latest version of coolant pipes as they had a different colour than the earlier versions. Not sure what, if any, the differences are and whether the later ones are more resilient ?

Very early LHD Turbo I have just finished had very different pipes,colour,grey, and were also 'lagged' .....I'll grab a picture .All mild steel though .Sleeving over is possible depending where it is leaking .I had to do this to Tony Smiths EFI conversion Atmo to get it mobile for a while until installing the new pipes .
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5730&start=15