Radiator Rebuild?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
Radiator Rebuild?
Radiator has a pin hole leak on hot days in my 76. Can I pull the rad and have it rebuilt by a good shop and expect a good result, or should I just being buying a new one and carrying on? Not interested in moving to aluminum or anything, bone stock this car will stay because I like it that way.
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 43
From: Choctaw Country
rad
Absolutely, depending on how bad of shape it is inside will detemine what you come out with. I've had several rebuilt over the years and usually come out with good results. Sometimes though you have to pony up for a new one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
Bar's leak might stop it. Is this leak in the core or tank? Quality cores are becoming hard to find. I priced a rebuild on my '77 at the oldest shop in Dallas. Over $350.00 for a Chinese core with stock BTU capacity using my old tanks. Needless to say the original is in a box in the storage building. My new radiator is keeping the '77 cool even when it is 104 degrees, like today. I agree on keeping it stock but it is too hot here to go that route. Good luck with it. mike...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
Wow $350, don't blame you for going new. It's less cost with me than my lack of confidence in new parts. I've had some bad luck. Sounds like you're happy. I'll price out a rebuild here and see where it goes. Having a hard time seeing in there to totally isolate the source, but it is very small. I hate leaks though, and it just will get worse. I'll try the Barr's short term. Thank you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
I priced the cost to rebuild my original copper/brass radiator in the 72. It's not cheap like back in the day. I was quoted over $300. I installed a Dewitt's. I put 1 in the 92 5 yrs ago, really made a difference in my temps. The new 1 was a drop in fit too.
Unless you're concerned with keeping your car completely original than a new quality unit makes sense. Aluminum is lighter and does a better job.
Unless you're concerned with keeping your car completely original than a new quality unit makes sense. Aluminum is lighter and does a better job.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
A good radiator shop, at least around where I live, can desolder the tanks and rod out the core, then put it back together and pressure test. If the core is too far gone for them to chance a repair they will guarantee, they can get a new core and use the original tanks.
My neighbor and I just had them do a radiator for a 1950 John Deere Model A tractor. You could almost cool a top fuel car with that thing. 2 of us elected to use a cherry picker to set it back on the frame. New core for THAT one was NOT cheap either. $350 would have been cheap.
My neighbor and I just had them do a radiator for a 1950 John Deere Model A tractor. You could almost cool a top fuel car with that thing. 2 of us elected to use a cherry picker to set it back on the frame. New core for THAT one was NOT cheap either. $350 would have been cheap.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
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