Copper/brass radiator surprise...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Copper/brass radiator surprise...
Went to have my radiator repaired and found out most shops no longer repair; they replace.
Shop nearest me had drained their tank and had no plans to fill it with 'drano' (his words). He sent me to a shop (20 miles further) that WILL repair. My lower inlet is dented and it deformed the tank. I must have forced it past the a-arm assembly and bent it when I installed in 2014. No wonder it never sealed... it couldn't with the deformity.
He said radiators are now pretty much throw-away. Few shops service the copper/brass units anymore unless they do NOT require re-core. If the core is leaking, they don't stock the replacement cores due to the value/cost of the copper/brass (OSHA has also done away with the manufacture due to the lead/solder dangers).
So, if I have to ever buy another radiator, 'Mike' tells me it will either have to be all-aluminum (better for heat transfer but a pain to repair) OR the throw-away plastic tank/metal core.
World is a-changing'...
Shop nearest me had drained their tank and had no plans to fill it with 'drano' (his words). He sent me to a shop (20 miles further) that WILL repair. My lower inlet is dented and it deformed the tank. I must have forced it past the a-arm assembly and bent it when I installed in 2014. No wonder it never sealed... it couldn't with the deformity.
He said radiators are now pretty much throw-away. Few shops service the copper/brass units anymore unless they do NOT require re-core. If the core is leaking, they don't stock the replacement cores due to the value/cost of the copper/brass (OSHA has also done away with the manufacture due to the lead/solder dangers).
So, if I have to ever buy another radiator, 'Mike' tells me it will either have to be all-aluminum (better for heat transfer but a pain to repair) OR the throw-away plastic tank/metal core.
World is a-changing'...
Last edited by TedH; Dec 1, 2017 at 01:51 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Went to have my radiator repaired and found out most shops no longer repair; they replace.
Shop nearest me had drained their tank and had no plans to fill it with 'drano' (his words). He sent me to a shop (20 miles further) that WILL repair. My lower inlet is dented and it deformed the tank. I must have forced it past the a-arm assembly and bent it when I installed in 2014. No wonder it never sealed... it couldn't with the deformity.
He said radiators are now pretty much throw-away. Few shops service the copper/brass units anymore unless they do NOT require re-core. If the core is leaking, they don't stock the replacement cores due to the value/cost of the copper/brass (OSHA has also done away with the manufacture due to the lead/solder dangers).
So, if I have to ever buy another radiator, 'Mike' tells me it will either have to be all-aluminum (better for heat transfer but a pain to repair) OR the throw-away plastic tank/metal core.
World is a-changing'...
Shop nearest me had drained their tank and had no plans to fill it with 'drano' (his words). He sent me to a shop (20 miles further) that WILL repair. My lower inlet is dented and it deformed the tank. I must have forced it past the a-arm assembly and bent it when I installed in 2014. No wonder it never sealed... it couldn't with the deformity.
He said radiators are now pretty much throw-away. Few shops service the copper/brass units anymore unless they do NOT require re-core. If the core is leaking, they don't stock the replacement cores due to the value/cost of the copper/brass (OSHA has also done away with the manufacture due to the lead/solder dangers).
So, if I have to ever buy another radiator, 'Mike' tells me it will either have to be all-aluminum (better for heat transfer but a pain to repair) OR the throw-away plastic tank/metal core.
World is a-changing'...
Unfortunately, the x2213 radiator that fits correctly is currently on backorder. The Dewitt's version of this radiator in aluminum is available but honestly, I'd just wait for the correct brass repro to come off backorder.
Now.. as to your issue with the radiator shop. We have a local shop here that doesn't seem to have any issues re-coring an old radiator. I'm not sure why but maybe it's a state thing but we can usually get them re-cored if needed.
Willcox
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 102
From: Toms River New Jersey
It's a fact that there are a lot less shops that repair the old copper/brass radiators. In most cases there's just not enough volume to keep them busy. The new cars have been made with aluminum radiators and plastic tanks that are crimped together. When the fail they just get replaced. We still have a couple of the old time shops around here and I had my 68 BB radiator done last year.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 289
Likes: 32
Repairing copper/lead radiators has long term adverse health effects because of the lead fumes when good ventilation isn't used and I have never seen any radiator repair shop that used any kind of overhead hood with a fan to suck the fumes up and blow them away.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 302
Likes: 2
From: Sayville New york
Cap- A- Radiator on route 109 nassau county,long island NY is a old time radiator shop whom can repair any copper/lead radiator including 1908 model T ford . they took my leaking 71 with A/C and made it perfect .keeps 408" 525 hp cool in 95 degree day bumper to bumper traffic. they do beautiful work. old timers 60 plus years old do the actual work!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Cap- A- Radiator on route 109 nassau county,long island NY is a old time radiator shop whom can repair any copper/lead radiator including 1908 model T ford . they took my leaking 71 with A/C and made it perfect .keeps 408" 525 hp cool in 95 degree day bumper to bumper traffic. they do beautiful work. old timers 60 plus years old do the actual work!!!!!!!
I did a quick search and DID find copper/brass replacement radiators for good prices still. I guess there are still some businesses building/repairing but more of the search results include the plastic/aluminum and all-aluminum replacements.
Last edited by TedH; Dec 2, 2017 at 11:01 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 289
From: Spring Park MN
I've seen a lot of rebuild and repair dissapear in my lifetime. I remember when you could get rebuild kits for lots of things that are no longer available. Back in the 60's when I started working on cars, you could get rebuild kits for fuel pumps, water pumps and even solenoids.
There used to be rebuild shops that just did starters, generators and alternators. There were lots of TV repair shops, even vacuum cleaner repair.
It's become a throw away world. Funny thing is young people think we were the throw away generation and they invented recycling.
Mike
There used to be rebuild shops that just did starters, generators and alternators. There were lots of TV repair shops, even vacuum cleaner repair.
It's become a throw away world. Funny thing is young people think we were the throw away generation and they invented recycling.
Mike
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
I had a header tube blow out and I took the header to 4-5 muffler shops to get a section cut out and replaced. No way! I got comments like "I don't know if my guy can weld pipe like that" and "we only replace parts". I finally found a old school shop that did it. Funny thing is that the owner of the old school shop is only about 30 yrs old.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,104
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
just put a new aluminum rad in my 72. Gene said an 89 camaro v8 rad would fit, and it did, but had to spend 3-4 hrs on the elbows. well worth the effort since it cost ONLY $89 and is made in Canada (even cheaper from china but i have my limits)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 767
Likes: 74
From: Blaine MN
I've seen a lot of rebuild and repair dissapear in my lifetime. I remember when you could get rebuild kits for lots of things that are no longer available. Back in the 60's when I started working on cars, you could get rebuild kits for fuel pumps, water pumps and even solenoids.
There used to be rebuild shops that just did starters, generators and alternators. There were lots of TV repair shops, even vacuum cleaner repair.
It's become a throw away world. Funny thing is young people think we were the throw away generation and they invented recycling.
Mike
There used to be rebuild shops that just did starters, generators and alternators. There were lots of TV repair shops, even vacuum cleaner repair.
It's become a throw away world. Funny thing is young people think we were the throw away generation and they invented recycling.
Mike
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Picked up the repaired radiator today. $107 and ready the next business day. The shop rounded the lower inlet perfectly and the bump on inlet perimeter is perfect; even squared the inlet and tank surfaces where it was indented. Plus a nice coat of semi-gloss black paint. Pressure tested before and after. 90-day repair warrant.
American Workmanship!
American Workmanship!