Oh now, radiator leaking again !
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Oh now, radiator leaking again !
Hi
My 68 big block radiator started leaking again today, leaving a nice water streak behind. :mad
This happened already last year and I got it fixed at a radiator overhaul place.
The repaired area is still OK, but now it leaks from an other place.
The leak comes from the drivers side collector area where the sheets join and are soldered together. A area of about 1 inch long shows poudery corrosion ( soldering ).
What is happening here ? Am I using the wrong anti-freeze fluid ?
Could the radiator cap pressure relief setting be too high ?
Well, I removed the radiator today and it will see the overhaul place tomorrow. An other 30 $ gone !
I don't fancy removing this thing once a year. :cry
Any thoughts.
Gunther
My 68 big block radiator started leaking again today, leaving a nice water streak behind. :mad
This happened already last year and I got it fixed at a radiator overhaul place.
The repaired area is still OK, but now it leaks from an other place.
The leak comes from the drivers side collector area where the sheets join and are soldered together. A area of about 1 inch long shows poudery corrosion ( soldering ).
What is happening here ? Am I using the wrong anti-freeze fluid ?
Could the radiator cap pressure relief setting be too high ?
Well, I removed the radiator today and it will see the overhaul place tomorrow. An other 30 $ gone !
I don't fancy removing this thing once a year. :cry
Any thoughts.
Gunther
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 795
Likes: 0
From: Madison MS
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (wireless guy)
For $30, the radiator shop isn't overhauling the radiator. They are patching the hole. I would have it re-cored. That should come with some kind of warranty also but it will be more expensive.
dl
dl
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (WESCH)
Wesch, I agree with these guys. If your radiator hasn't been touched since '68, it's long overdue for a recore. You'll be patching that thing every year, at least, if you don't bite the bullet now.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (WESCH)
Might be time for a new one. If you are not into 'original' there are many after market ones available. I know it is a headache to remove it and might be worth just getting a new just so you can avoid yanking it again.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (wireless guy)
Hi
Yes, your right.
I only went for the repair, not overhaul.
The leak did not come from the cooling ribs ( mesh ), but from the flat collector box. The soldering broke loose.
I turned the radiator in to the shop this morning and received it back in the afternoon. Repaired, painted and pressure tested. Looks like new, but I know, it isn't.
It's already back in the car and OK. Drove it extensively.
I managed to remove / install it without removing the hood.
Wasn't difficult.
If it leaks again, it will get replaced.
It's a GRIFFIN copper big block radiator with the pressure cap ( no overflow tank ).
Could this be the original, 30 year old unit, or is it already a aftermarket one ?
Thanks
Yes, your right.
I only went for the repair, not overhaul.
The leak did not come from the cooling ribs ( mesh ), but from the flat collector box. The soldering broke loose.
I turned the radiator in to the shop this morning and received it back in the afternoon. Repaired, painted and pressure tested. Looks like new, but I know, it isn't.
It's already back in the car and OK. Drove it extensively.
I managed to remove / install it without removing the hood.
Wasn't difficult.
If it leaks again, it will get replaced.
It's a GRIFFIN copper big block radiator with the pressure cap ( no overflow tank ).
Could this be the original, 30 year old unit, or is it already a aftermarket one ?
Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 795
Likes: 0
From: Madison MS
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (WESCH)
I'm sure if I am wrong, the other guys will let us know but the GM subsidiary which produced radiators back in the 60s and 70s was Griffin. I don't know if it was the same company that produces the popular aluminium radiators today for the aftermarket though. If it is a Griffin radiator, it is most likely original to the car.
Hope this helps.
dl
Hope this helps.
dl
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: Uxbridge MA
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (WESCH)
I had mine rodded and cleaned last year because of a core leak(a very small drip) near the tank connection. This year the same spot started leaking again. Must be a weak spot that is working loose by the vibrations of the car. My radiator guy said he can place a new core in, but if I am going to spend the $$ for a new copper core, I should buy a new aluminum for another ~$100 and save the weight and the original radiator. I took his advice and will be installing my new radiator soon.
---Andy
[Modified by andyg, 8:51 PM 5/29/2002]
---Andy
[Modified by andyg, 8:51 PM 5/29/2002]
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,407
Likes: 2
From: Carmichael CA
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (WESCH)
By all means buy a new cap, plus buy a new thermostat (or just toss it and don't install a new one). You should also consider installing an overflow tank...it's required for any sporting events like drag racing or autocross, but it's an all around good idea if you like to work the gas pedal. When you stomp on it the coolant pressure gets fairly high for a short period of time...without an overflow tank the coolant will get blown out and the radiator will get low on coolant after a few months.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: annandale nj
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (WESCH)
go new! old is old.... you can get it repaired, but in the end its still an 68' radiator. leaks will keep coming till you realize you spent more repairing than replace. as least you'll have removing radiators down pat!!! good luck..
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (Rockn-Roll)
Hi
Why do you prefere a overflow tank ?
The 68 big block 427/435 came originally with the non overflow tank pressure system radiator.
The cap was pressure tested OK by the shop on my request and it's releasing.
Is there any pressure build up in a overflow tank system or is it just kept at static pressure ?
Pressurizing the water raises the boiling point of the water, hence should be the better option for high performance engines.
Why are simple things so complicated ?
Gunther
:seeya
Why do you prefere a overflow tank ?
The 68 big block 427/435 came originally with the non overflow tank pressure system radiator.
The cap was pressure tested OK by the shop on my request and it's releasing.
Is there any pressure build up in a overflow tank system or is it just kept at static pressure ?
Pressurizing the water raises the boiling point of the water, hence should be the better option for high performance engines.
Why are simple things so complicated ?
Gunther
:seeya
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,593
Likes: 631
From: Brighton
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (dladd74roadster)
dI'm sure if I am wrong, the other guys will let us know but the GM subsidiary which produced radiators back in the 60s and 70s was Griffin. I don't know if it was the same company that produces the popular aluminium radiators today for the aftermarket though. If it is a Griffin radiator, it is most likely original to the car.
I don't think so. The GM owned it's own division "Harrison Radiator" which produced both aluminum and copper brass radiators for GM. The plant is now Delphi thermal systems, which is still in Lockport NY, only builds aluminum radiators today. In fact, Griffin buys delphi cores for there racing radiators. So, If you have a Griffin radiator, it's made my griffin and not an original. Don't mean this is a bad thing, just a fact.
Now if you want to re-core and keep this car original, we (dewitts) offer a correct c/b core. You just take this core and your original radiator to the local rad shop and have the tanks transfered.
[Modified by Tom DeWitt, 9:46 PM 5/30/2002]
I don't think so. The GM owned it's own division "Harrison Radiator" which produced both aluminum and copper brass radiators for GM. The plant is now Delphi thermal systems, which is still in Lockport NY, only builds aluminum radiators today. In fact, Griffin buys delphi cores for there racing radiators. So, If you have a Griffin radiator, it's made my griffin and not an original. Don't mean this is a bad thing, just a fact.
Now if you want to re-core and keep this car original, we (dewitts) offer a correct c/b core. You just take this core and your original radiator to the local rad shop and have the tanks transfered.
[Modified by Tom DeWitt, 9:46 PM 5/30/2002]
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,358
Likes: 379
From: Plano TX
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (WESCH)
Hi
Why do you prefere a overflow tank ?
Why do you prefere a overflow tank ?
With an overflow system, the radiator is always completely full. When the coolant heats up and expands, the extra coolant is pushed past the rad cap into the overflow tank. When it cools off, it is sucked back into the radiator.
For a low-cost solution, get the overflow tank for a 78-82 corvette. It fits all years, and is still available from GM for $15. I have it in my '71 and it works great. I also have an aluminum radiator and dex-cool. The dex-cool has been in there for 2 years now and still looks new. I drained it to swap my cam, and it was still perfectly clear. It looked so good I pured it back in after the cam swap.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Oh now, radiator leaking again ! (zwede)
For a low-cost solution, get the overflow tank for a 78-82 corvette. It fits all years, and is still available from GM for $15.
