Alfa coolant volume

[chris.richard]

Anybody know what the volume of coolant required for the alfa setup in a Hawk is? I just need a rough idea for getting the proportions of water/antifreeze right.
Thanks.

[Andrew Way]

I don't know what the engine and rad hold but after fitting my Ø35mm pipes I calculated there will be 5.5litres in the pipe work from the engine to the rad! Add the mass of copper to this and I've got approx 20Kg:(

[mogul_x]

At least that 20 kg is situated low in the car :)

If nobody else comes up with a definitive answer, I still have a 164 radiator and all coolant hoses / pipes lying around here somewhere. I can try measuring the volume they hold, subtract it from the coolant volume listed in the owner's manual, and add the volume of the X1/9 rad and coolant pipes that Andrew calculated.

[Andrew Way]

I'm probably going to be filling the system at the weekend. I was going to put 5l of anti-freeze in and then top the rest up with water. If you can wait that long I can give you the answer, however you may need to adjust the answer to allow for the following in my system:

1) 6.5m of Ø35 copper pipe
2) 2m Ø15mm copper pipe
3) Alfa header tank
4) X1/9 radiator
5) Lots of trapped (hot) air!

[chris.richard]

I'm not ready to fill this weekend Andrew - I'm still waiting for the samco hoses to come. If only I'd been happy with blue, I'd have saved 8 weeks! Ity sounds like your setup is the same as mine.

[David May]

My 24V Corse I holds 11,5 litres - can't be very much different to a Hawk?

Dave May

[Andrew Way]

12.2 litres but until the engine is running I can't guarantee I haven't still got some trapped air.......

Fitting a bleed valve to the heater is highly recommended.

[chris.richard]

Originally posted by Andrew Way
12.2 litres but until the engine is running I can't guarantee I haven't still got some trapped air.......

Fitting a bleed valve to the heater is highly recommended.

Thanks for the answer Andrew. I've mounted the heater matrix so that the inlet is at the bottom and the outlet at the top, hoping it'll self-flush, and the bubbles will end up in the expansion tank. Since the bleed valve I bought won't fit (See Buy & Sell), I'll try it like that first. The best laid plans....

[Andrew Way]

I'm sure you'll be OK, and the consequences of air in the heater are not a major problem. I expect the air would eventually be forced out anyway. The valve was useful at bleeding “statically” though.

Out of interest what do most people use for a heater? I’ve gone for a mini unit but I’m not convinced it’s the best option although the newer ones now have a two speed fan, wow!

[roger001]

I used a mini unit originaly but even the two speed version did not have enough oomph to demist adequately.

At present I have no unit installed but if necessary will consider an electric unit as on p 196 of the current Demon Tweeks catalogue (item 8)

[chris.richard]

I've used the Suzuki jeep matrix and Vauxhaul (Opel) Vectra blower as suggested by Andreas. My blower has a smaller output hose diameter (22mm) than his though.

[Sando]

My 2p worth

Forget worrying about the heater demisting; rub washing up liquid onto the inside of the windscreen. Keep rubbing in and eventually polish off until there are no streaks.

Your screen will not mist up for months and months. - Promise.
We've been doing it for years in all sorts of hot smelly rally cars and all sorts of damp, cold and miserable British weather, works a treat.

Good on helmet visors too, which is where it initially came from a long time ago when I was a yoof. - Good old Bob Heath for anyone of a biking persuasion!!

Try it and see.
Rob:cool:

[ANDYG]

Will agree with Sando on the "Washing up Liquid", worked a treat on goggles from my Grass Track / Speedway days, in fact, it was the only thing that worked - even better than Bob Heaths spray!.
However, the Stratos windscreen does not lend itself to having washing up liquid rubbed in too easily!!:(

[Arthur]

Hi guys,

If you've got a legal motor, no probs.
If you haven't and you have the SVA to come, you will need and be tested on "an effective means of demisting". Which means that you'll be at the mercy of the tester's discretion.

The fan Hugh used to fit to the Corse was a bit "iffy" for the new SVA. I believe he started using a "cut and shut" Sierra unit.

I reckoned that was too bulky, so used a Ford Escort core, and Nova fan (3-speed fan, quite compact). Fiver the pair from the scrapper, including the box mouldings. Had to make a bespoke folded aluminium box, but no other real buggeration. Fits bonnet side, rather than passenger footwell, so the water is all the other side of the bulkhead.
Water inlet and outlet both at the top, both fitted with shut-off valves (easy bleed, and easy terminal leak fix). Ducting in 3-inch Samco hose, cos I had some, ducting joiners riveted folded Aluminium and Jubilee clips.

Happy building
Arthur.