Fitting radiator cowl

[stanfonj]

My '82 lightweight has never had, in my ownership, the plastic radiator cowl. After too many silly near misses with a fast rotating fan I thought it might be a good idea to fit one. So, looked up the part number (577342 according to the parts book), found one on ebay. Also paid silly amount for the special screws to fit it to the radiator.
Anyway, long story short, it doesn't fit. Or rather, when it is fastened to the radiator it fowls the fan at the bottom. Have I done something monumentally dumb when fitting it? I did check it was the right way up... Did I buy the wrong part, despite what it says in the parts book? If it's the right part then either the radiator is mounted too high or the engine is too low - both of which seem unlikely.

[Loulou]

Good evening,

My suggestions/answers are surely ridiculous… but too bad:
- Does the radiator correspond to the LWT model?
- Is the radiator correctly installed in its bay?
- Is the radiator panel properly connected to the chassis?
- Is the plastic protection the one intended for an LWT
- Is the plastic protection deformed or not?
- Is the fan the one for an LWT?
- Is this fan correctly mounted?

Sorry for not being able to do more and good luck.

Sorry for not being able to do more and good luck.

Regards.
Looloo

[diffwhine]

Not sure if it helps, but on the Series 2 Club forum there is a useful thread on cowlings. You may need to register to view.
https://www.series2club.co.uk/new_forum ... 435.0.html

[stanfonj]

Thank you Looloo. As far as I can tell from the parts list and the manual everything is "correct".
To answer your questions:
- Does the radiator correspond to the LWT model?
* It's not the orginal radiator, but it's a standard series 3 one.
- Is the radiator correctly installed in its bay?
* Yes, it's secure and flush on the radiator panel
- Is the radiator panel properly connected to the chassis?
* As far as I can tell. It all looks ok to the eye
- Is the plastic protection the one intended for an LWT
* According to the part list it is, but that same part list page shows a front valance which isn't right.
- Is the plastic protection deformed or not?
* Not deformed, no. But it does now have a bit cut out where it hit the bottom radiator hose... maybe that should have been a warning!
- Is the fan the one for an LWT?
* Yes, 12V, GS version
- Is this fan correctly mounted?
* Yes.

Cheers,
Nick

[Loulou]

Hello Stanfonj,

Well… sorry but I have few useful answers to formulate now.
May be :
- Compare your radiator to an original mounted on an LWT
- In my opinion, the deflector N°5 mentioned on your diagram is not mounted on an LWT

In summary, find a neighbor who has a pristine LWT and compare the two vehicles.

Regards
Looloo

[AR4412]

Hi Nick,

Just a random thought. What diameter is your fan? From measuring two lightweights and two civi 88's with 3mb engines, and a 5mb engine waiting to go in, I came up with this possibility.

A petrol fan, 4 or 8 blade, is 14" ish from blade tip to tip. The cowl hole is 15 3/4" ish. A diesel fan is 16" ish tip to tip, and the cowl hole is 18" ish. (I mention 'ish' as it's tricky to measure accurately on you own with a tape measure when everything is fitted.)

I only mention it was we have a petrol engine lightweight in at work that has, what I believe to be, the larger diesel fan and cowl fitted.

Regards,

[stanfonj]

Thanks. I'll have a measure over the weekend.

This is what I'm hoping to achieve. It shows a lwt same age as mine (very close number) with the petrol cowl.
http://www.land-rover-lightweight.co.uk ... eneral.jpg

[AR4412]

It was just a thought I had having noticed the Lightweight at work with a larger fan fitted. If it isn't that simple then you might have to start looking at engine mounting and/or radiator panel fitment. Thinking along those lines, how may rubber packing pieces has it got between the radiator panel and the chassis? (Item eight in the parts list diagram.) There's no set number, just however many it takes to get the front wing/bonnet alignment right. But too many may bring the bottom of the radiator cowl into contact with the fan.

You can just make out the electrical cable taped on to the body of this lightweight as I was getting the tub and wings lined up when putting it back together at work.

thumbnail_IMG_20200429_170149.JPG (761.25 KiB) Viewed 1558 times

I meant to mention in my last post, that the clearance between the bottom of the cowl and the fan blade on the vehicles we have at work ranges from a fingers width to an about an inch.

Regards,

[ianmaiden]

I had the same problem,I have a later lightweight it seems it was a cross over part (I was told). part number that fits mine is NCR 9494 but please check with other members as they are very expensive.

[Bob Fell]

To resurrect this interesting thread,
Were the later vehicles fitted with diesel fans and cowls as the oil cooler was deleted?
Regards
Bob