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Hi there I brought a second hand car(1974 Valiant Regal) privately for 14 grand and the the next day it blew a top radiator hose. Got it replaced by a mechanic and it blew again is believed to be a blown head gasket. Where abouts do I stand with getting my money back??

Having spent a lot of time under the bonnets of some old vehicles I could suggest some things: (1) check the radiator cap is the correct one (it should relieve the pressure) (2) check the top hose radiator fitting is in good condition (should have a raised rim and the rim may have rusted away, check the securing clips are OK as well (3) replace the thermostat (4) when replacing the hose the system must be bled of any air ( get all the bubbles out) (5) check the water pump is OK, (assuming its belt driven check belt and correct belt tension) (6) replace water and add anti freeze/rust inhibitor.....that's just some things, if the head gasket is blown that could reveal problems with cracks between the cylinders/head cooling jacket.

Hi there thanks for the help I know the garage had replaced the top radiator hose with the correct cap and replaced the overflow line to. Also the radiator fitting is not rusted away and still intact. Bubbles have been bleed out with new coolant in the radiator. Would a closed thermostat cause a hose to burst I am wondering? I will try to check the water pump at some stage. Would a blown head gasket mean that cracks are inevatable or just highly likely?

Hi, that's good all those basic checks have been done, the thermostats can be checked if you remove them (drop the thermostat into a bucket of very hot water to see if it opens) I think its best to change it to be sure, a faulty thermostat will cause over heating and pressure build up, cracks can happen and warping of the head can also cause a blown head gasket but I would check the basics first as head removal can get expensive, I would wait for the engine to cool before attempting any investigation as steam and scalding water could be ejected (safety first). perhaps the mechanic can pressure test each cylinder to determine if further work is required.

Hi there turns out the right engine mount was broken and the engine was torquing the hose around causing it to break. Itseems like there is no actual problem with the cooling system. Thank you very much for your help.

That is really good news, sometimes a simple solution, the Valiant was a very popular car in the 1970's...enjoy :-)