Car radiator repair cost...

[zeppelin builder]

Has anyone had a radiator re-cored recently and know what the typical cost would be?

The replacement price from Merc is £1500, but second hand ones are available from about £300, not sure if I should go for second hand or a re-core.

There were a few drip under the car this morning.

k seal ?
fixed a few by,blanking the hose connections and soldering in an old tyre valve fitting , bit of pressure and spray over with soapy water
or dunk in horse trough

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

K-seal, not in my precious!

 

[OJCar]

I've had good service from ScotRad in Gorgie Road Edinburgh.
Did Brass tanked radiator modifications for me and repaired plenty for a friend's garage business.
Their website is https://www.scotrad.co.uk/

HTH

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I've had good service from ScotRad in Gorgie Road Edinburgh.
Did Brass tanked radiator modifications for me and repaired plenty for a friend's garage business.
Their website is https://www.scotrad.co.uk/

HTH

Thanks. I'll give them a call on Tuesday.

 

[Rig Pig]

The SL shop do a service exchange on radiators too.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

The SL shop do a service exchange on radiators too.

I saw that, £450 plus shipping both ways is a bit steep as are all their prices, so about £500 all in.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I took the rad out today, luckily it separated fairly easily from the engine oil cooler.

Plugged up the holes and attached the air line.

Shock bump stops fitted perfectly.

Initially no bubbles at all. Head scratch!

Then I noticed one bubble every 20 seconds or so from the end of the side part.

It looks like the ends panels are aluminium, how do you think they were soldered on to the brass top and bottom cap?

I am tempted to try to get it off for a closer look at the leak.


EDIT - Check checked with a magnet, the side caps are steel not aluminium.

 

[Rig Pig]

Blowlamp time then!

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

It came off easily in the end.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Looks like it needs to go for another swim to confirm where the hole is.

Are you thinking of cleaning up and repairing?

I've done quite a few water pipes with pin holes by mig brazing...it's a lot less aggressive than welding....not done a radiator though. Looks like steel in the picture (going by the rust)

 

[taxi ray]

The grey bits on the end are usually steel, they normally are fastened at the top and bottom, with a small tag. I have no idea what purpose they are there for.
looking at the rad you can see the brass fins that go from top to bottom , the bits in between he fins are usually copper. I would imagine that 1 of the fins has a leak at 1 of the ends that are soldered into the top or bottom tank, which is brass.
I have cut up thousands of these for scrap, mostly it is aluminium and plastic now.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Gave it another dunk and couldn't find the leak, so I will try to get a couple of quotes on Tuesday for a recore.

 

[taxi ray]

Try filling the rad with water and a good measure of anti freeze, for some reason anti freeze seems to find the leak.

 

[500e]

Never got on with blowlamp o/a and small jet set up with soft flame, you can crimp & seal indavidual tubes, tanks and tubes and sides relitivly easy.
A smallish brush with flux on is good to clean & cool as you go, to much heat will end in tears

 

[Rig Pig]

Try filling the rad with water and a good measure of anti freeze, for some reason anti freeze seems to find the leak.

Strange isn't it, I welded up a fuel tank years ago, filled it with water so it didn't go bang and left it on it's side afterwards to check for leaks - not a drop, so I emptied it out and tipped some red diesel in to wash it out, within moments the diesel seeped out of a cold lap!

 

[Melvyn Best]

I’ve used dye and a UV lamp to find difficult to locate leaks in cooling systems that pressure testing hasn’t More... custom rad?

 

[davep10000]

I have used east end radiators before - very old school place, and excellent service.
Will be asking them to look at my 1939 BSA radiator after lockdown.
Good luck

 

[500e]

w
Welding Fuel tanks

 

[keithski122]

w
Welding Fuel tanks

I welded a bike fuel tank years ago,washed it out, sniffed it, chucked a match in it then welded a patch on with my mig.No problemo,the things we do in our youth.

 

[OJCar]

I have used east end radiators before - very old school place, and excellent service.
Will be asking them to look at my 1939 BSA radiator after lockdown.
Good luck

Last Radiator I had Scotrad do was for my 1931 BSA.
( 10HP RWD Saloon)

I presume yours is a Scout?

Gave it another dunk and couldn't find the leak, so I will try to get a couple of quotes on Tuesday for a recore.

East End or Scotrad should be able to repair that as long as the core is not rotted - should be a bit cheaper than a recore.