[Waylander]

He also has a massive team of researchers, and gofors, as well as being a serious bodger.


Yes I have found a few of his places, especially the one that can rebuild 968 water pumps with a lifetime warranty for less than 150 dollars

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Bulti]

Found bodger, but what kinda weird animal is a gofor?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Waylander]

Found bodger, but what kinda weird animal is a gofor

 

gofor= go and get, go for, go and get me this.

 

 

general bunch of lackeys to go and fech things...........................

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SamSparks]

Cue Twilight Zone theme.....All NRF radiators have suddenly become unavailable.


Mister-Auto (Brussels) had them in stock, accepted my order and payment, then cancelled within 8 hours and refunded payment.


Popular UK ebay source had 7 available - before ordering I called the vendor. He checked with his supplier while I was on the phone - the supplier told him there were none available. Ebay vendor then withdrew the listing.


I called NRF Europe HQ direct - none anywhere in Europe and they have no idea if NRF would be making/getting any.


Called Hella/Behr Europe HQ direct - none...and they don't even have it in their catalog.


No vendor in UK has a Porsche OE....Porsche GB still keeping shtummm.


Spooky...?


Turns out that NRF used to be owned by Modine (who also bought Längerer & Reich) - hence NRF having LRO stamp on the radiator. Modine spun off (loosely) their 'aftermarket division' which included NRF in 2005 (?). This division when into Chapter 11 in 2009. Was then bought by an Indian Company for E17m (i.e., peanuts) in 2012 (?). So NRF is now Indian owned. And I'm now wondering if Modine have decided to exert their intellectual property rights on NRF causing NRF to remove all LRO branded product from their sales channels....???


So, the only supplier I could find in Europe is AVA Cooling (who are Haugg, Germany). Gotta be good, right!?


Spoke to a specialist rad repairer/builder in UK - they can recore the rad but, if the plastic tank is the problem (which it is), then forget it.


It therefore came down to buying an AVA rad or importing a Modine/Längerer & Reich (or Porsche OE) rad from the States - and bite the $200+ in shipping and taxes...


So, I ordered an AVA from a UK specialist rad shop and when it arrives, if it does, I'll see how it works out....(or not)....


And now, in the true spirit of 'Europe 968' (and with apologies to the Dutch), I'm off to chillout (while, of course, maxin' 'n' relaxin') to some Ibiza Ambient Trance.


Let's Be Careful Out There.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Bulti]

Ok, that kinda sucks, especially since my radiator has developed a small leak... where the plastic meets the alu. D'oh!


As a last resort to try and save the rad, I poored in some stuff that stops leaks and is supposed to lubricate the waterpump... Probably not ideal, but the leak is gone for a few weeks now. We'll see...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SamSparks]

My AVA radiator arrived.

 

It has a lot of bent fins - otherwise looks OK. Should I send it back or are they fixable?

 

Problem with sending it back is that there are just NO others to be found - anywhere (and I mean, anywhere). And no ETAs from anyone. The supplier will discount the price if I keep the rad.

 

Decisions...decisions.....

 

What would you do?

 

 

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[banditsc]

Give it to one of your anal retentive OCD friends and ask him for help straightening out all the fins. May take a while but should be perfect when done.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SamSparks]

Give it to one of your anal retentive OCD friends and ask him for help straightening out all the fins. May take a while but should be perfect when done.

Thanks Bandit. Good to know straightening is a viable option.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[JTP]

I've never used one but there are radiator combs to straighten bent fins. Also there's a bunch of YouTube videos on straightening bent fins.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[banditsc]

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Waylander]

glad you found one, they are like rocking horse poo to find at the moment, so glad I bought a new one last year.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Rap]

I realize you UK guys don't like to call the states but Bill Martin at Autotech Plus parts 968's on a regular basis.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SamSparks]

glad you found one, they are like rocking horse poo to find at the moment, so glad I bought a new one last year.

 

I called another eBay vendor today who showed 10 in stock - he too used the phrase 'like rocking horse poo'. He checked with his suppliers while I waited - they told him none in stock.

 

I'm thinking I'm probably very lucky - seems I got the last one out there. OK, there's superficial damage but that appears to be fixable.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SamSparks]

 

Many thanks Bandit

The pattern on mine is different - concertina-style loops rather than // lines. I just checked out some Youtube vids - and the guy used a jeweller's screwdriver with the same radius as the loop to reshape the damaged fins. Luckily I've got a set of those drivers - and a pair of heat-sink pliers. With those two tools I should be able to get the rad looking nearly good as new.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SamSparks]

I realize you UK guys don't like to call the states but Bill Martin at Autotech Plus parts 968's on a regular basis.

Rap,

It's the shipping costs and customs duty and value added tax (VAT) and local postal service fee collection/handling charges that make buying from the US something of a last resort. Otherwise I wouldn't hesitate to buy e.g., from Pelican Parts (and others Stateside) who have Modine and OE rads in stock and who are good to deal with.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Rap]

Understand, just wanted you to be aware of potential availability.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SamSparks]

Understand, just wanted you to be aware of potential availability.

Rap,

Thanks again. Your suggestion in noted for the future.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SamSparks]

Update:

 

Found an NRF 944 S2 rad at EuroCarParts in UK - last one anywhere.

 

Sent the other bashed rad (from AVA Cooling) back for a refund - the compensatory discount they were offering was stingy and somehow I just was not happy with the thought of putting their rad in my car.

 

New rad has arrived. I'm delighted - It's a genuine Modine / Laengerer & Reich - with the Porsche marks etched off. It's in perfect condition. And at a good price - considerably cheaper than advertised in the US. Just need to check if I need a "Block Off Plate" to blank one of the ports (a cheap item anyway).

 

The rad I sent back - although supplied by AVA - was actually from the Australian company Adrad.

 

It's subtle, but the overall sense of quality in the Modine product far exceeds that of the Adrad. I feel that the Modine product is truly worthy of my car.

 

And so, a month-long saga of frustration comes to an end.

 

Happy days....

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Waylander]

Nice result, you will need the block off doodah I have a brand new one here,

 

I just hope its not about 25mm shorter than the 968 rad, but I think it might be

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SamSparks]

Nice result, you will need the block off doodah I have a brand new one here,

 

I just hope its not about 25mm shorter than the 968 rad, but I think it might be

 

Waylander

 

Many thanks for the feedback.

 

Re size:

 

Pelican Parts (US) list the same part for 944S2 and the 968


Autopartswarehouse.com (US) list the same part for 944S2 and the 968


Paragon Products (US) list the same part for 944S2 and the 968


design911.com (UK) list the same part for 944S2 and the 968


NRF have now re-included 944S2 and 968 radiators in their current catalogue (they weren't there last week): 944S2 & 968 Sizes given as (H x W x T): 500 x 356 x 43.

 

(NRF must now think there is huge demand - it's not much of an exaggeration to say I've had every radiator vendor in the UK call NRF in the last few weeks asking for a 968 radiator. The last to call NRF on my behalf was a radiator supplier and builder in London who reported to me that the NRF guy he spoke to sounded exhausted from hearing requests from what seemed like everyone and his dog).

 

So I think I'm good to go (Doodah excepted)!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.