Reliant Scimitar SE6A
Nigel treats his Scimitar to a cooling system revamp
The Scimitar’s cooling system has been a concern, with a persistent leak from its header tank and an ancient radiator that’s looked ready to burst for several years – so it needed sorting it out once and for all.
The header tank is an aftermarket ‘Rew pot’, named after its inventor and Scimitar enthusiast, Robin Rew. It’s a great modification for the SE6 and 6A series Scimitar GTES like mine, as it gives an extra head of coolant just above the thermostat and places the filler cap high up to minimise air locks. However, mine has become a problem. There’s been a weep of coolant from the filler neck, soldered into the pot’s top plate. The solder must join the brass neck to steel, which should work with the correct flux, but it’s always been tricky. When resoldering, if I applied enough heat so solder would take, it ran through the joint leaving a gap. Not enough heat and the solder just wouldn’t stick. Several attempts over the years never completely cured the leak.
So imagine my reaction when learning that an RSSOC club member was starting to make alloy replacements for the original Rew pot, with his first prototype successfully fitted to another member’s GTE. The prospect of fixing the leak and acquiring more alloy bling was enticing!
Scimitar owner Max Benton is a highly skilled welder and fabricator, and trades as Maxspec Engineering. He was already making all manner of bespoke exhaust manifolds and turbo flanges, so re-engineering a superior Rew pot from alloy is meat and drink to him. He was about to make the first batch, so I placed my order. Max laser cuts the required parts then TIG welds them together, making a pot that’s stronger and shinier than the original, and should remain leak-free. Clearly this would solve my soldering troubles at a stroke.
And another thing
In another example of the ‘mission creep’ that is inevitable whenever I start working on one of my classics, I figured that I might as well fit a new alloy radiator and electric fan. A trip to Nigel Palmer at Queensberry Road Garage secured a shiny new radiator and a thermostat gasket to fit the alloy pot. After dropping the coolant, fitting the new pot was simple as its dimensions are a perfect match for the original. Fitting the radiator and fan was easy too. Fan wiring connected, I tested to make sure it was blowing the right way, then refitted the
hoses and filled the coolant.
popped out as soon as the system was under pressure. A phone call then another trip to Queensberry Road eventually uncovered the cause. Around 1979, Reliant changed the design of the Otter switch clip, and the diameter of the switch increased very slightly. New radiators are made for the new type, but my 1977 car had its original switch and clip. Nigel says he hasn’t seen these old versions for years, decades even, as they’ve all been replaced. Not mine though, which makes me think the old radiator was probably original – so it’s done exceptionally well.
Back home, I refitted the new radiator and filled up with coolant again. After dealing with air locks and running up to temperature, the system is free from leaks. In fact the old Scim’ isn’t dropping any fluids at all, quite remarkable!
How about cooling? The engine is certainly running cooler than before. The electric fan cycles quietly on and off, and the Scimitar is now ready for anything the British summer can offer! ■ practicalclassics@bauermedia.co.uk