XR8 fitted in XB Blows of Water hoses

XB2DrSteve · 21-01-2009, 02:54 PM

I have fitted a XR8 to my XB. To do so I eliminated the AU header tank (no room) and made a fitting on top of the thermo housing to include a pressure cap. The pressure cap is usually on the header tank. The center pipe on the radiator has been blanked off. (This used to go to the header tank) I than ran the pipe on the radiator hose to a replacement header tank. see photo. The problem is that it blows of hoses in a spectacular fashion. I wonder if someone could confirm that the mod I have done is OK or not. Thanks Steve

**Whoosha** · 21-01-2009, 03:36 PM

Nice Mod to do...

: I carn"t think why it would be doing that . Did you have the motor in another vechical or is it from the wreckers ? normally that much back pressure would sugest a head gasket has gone..

**Polyal** · 21-01-2009, 03:43 PM

Thats very cool, was the install hard other than the above?

XB2DrSteve · 21-01-2009, 05:18 PM

The motor radiator etc came from a ute that I scrapped, IT was running fine. All the XR8 ute is now in the XB. This includes Dash, brakes, computers, diff, gearbox, aircon etc. I was talking to a guy that ran stock cars with the windsor and he reckons that you need the center water connection to the radiator. Why does the AU have this center connection??

InfernoSR · 21-01-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XB2DrSteve

The motor radiator etc came from a ute that I scrapped, IT was running fine. All the XR8 ute is now in the XB. This includes Dash, brakes, computers, diff, gearbox, aircon etc. I was talking to a guy that ran stock cars with the windsor and he reckons that you need the center water connection to the radiator. Why does the AU have this center connection??

The centre hose is just for the quick fill...

As for your other problem... you need the header tank... as the header tank provides the cooling system a high point in order to blood air to and from... you DO need this... otherwise you can have massive air pockets in higher places than the bleed off point.

My suggestion is to fit an XG ute header tank, these are fitted on the passenger side next to the firewall. The main fill line goes into a water gallery at the back of the block, 1 barb goes to the thermostate housing bleed off, and the other barb goes to the top tank bleed off on the radiator.

Here are a few pictures from my own ute i JUST got for you... thanks to you, i had to clean off the bonnet... it makes a good work bench :P

XB2DrSteve · 21-01-2009, 07:04 PM

Thanks Blueprint. My new housing is at the highest point so thought it would be OK. Maybe I should try to fit the old header tank where yours is. Do you think that a air pocket would cause the hoses to blow off. Steve

InfernoSR · 21-01-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XB2DrSteve

Thanks Blueprint. My new housing is at the highest point so thought it would be OK. Maybe I should try to fit the old header tank where yours is. Do you think that a air pocket would cause the hoses to blow off. Steve

The air pocket causes cavitation issues and over pressurisation... as air expands to a greater volume with heat than water does.

Any further questions, feel free to ask

BP.

**FrogXA** · 26-01-2009, 10:59 PM

Maybe I'm missing something but if he's got a windsor in an XB he could use the XB radiator and would not have to use the header tank at all. Just use the upper and lower radiator hoses from an XA-XE Cleveland V8. The XB radiator cap will be the highest point in the cooling system. Keeps it much simpler.

XB2DrSteve · 27-01-2009, 05:21 PM

The other reason I asked my question was that a stock car guy with a windsor fitted and the original radiator had his hoses blowing off. He said he needed two hose clamps. He fitted a header tank that in fact was lower than the radiator top and all was OK. I was hoping someone who had also fitted a windsor would help. I do think blueprint, is correct so off to make a new header tank. I am not sure where to fit it though.

autickfordfairmont · 27-01-2009, 05:31 PM

Bit off topic but could you post up some more pics of your build??? Would love to see the interior aswell. Sounds like what I would like to do one day, fit out an old shell (XY/XA/XB) with new/ish gear out of an AU.

Cheers

Col.

XB2DrSteve · 27-01-2009, 06:17 PM

Here are a coupe of photos. Car is in paint shop at the moment, can't wait to get it back. Spent 1200 hours so far.

autickfordfairmont · 28-01-2009, 10:37 AM

Thats one hell of a job. It will look great once its all done. Keep up the good work, and make sure you post up more pics as it progresses along.

Cheers

Col.

RG · 28-01-2009, 11:20 AM

Mate nice work, you need to start a thread in the project cars section. Sounds like an awesome build up.