Projects The bucket of ugly! A de-uglifying thread...

Nah, I'd be willing to bet that radiator side frame is soldered a long time ago. Back in the radiator shop days, that was the most common repair I handled on a daily basis, and most shops wouldn't bother to bead blast the tank and frame before soldering, so that was the result. Just tae it to a competent older place and they will do it correctly.

 

Hey BF, sorry for your loss. It sucks when you lose someone (pets included) close to you. The last girl I dated had a really neat dog, and after we broke up, I realized I missed the dog more than I missed her! That dog was so cool. Anyway, looks like your radiator needs cleaned up really well and re-soldered. I'm not familiar with the early hemis, so I have no advice there. Hope you get it figured out soon!

Kiwi Paul, I might have some of the parts you're looking for. I tried calling your shop earlier, but I got your machine. Give me a call if you want. I'm heading out to stare at the mess in my garage that used to resemble a roadster lol.

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Seems my brain might be on the fritz today as well (Who am I kidding, it's on the fritz a lot!). My thought on the radiator is I want to take it to a fairly reputable shop here (Kirk's Radiator shop in El Cajon, Ca) and have it boiled (mostly just to remove that hideous red paint [<begin rant]Radiator's are supposed to be black or polished, people![>end rant]) then re-epoxy the current tab in place. My only concern is the radiators kinda old, don't want to damage it by boiling it out. I like the core / fin design on this radiator, anybody know who supplied Total Performance with their radiators? I REALLY don't like that the mounts are just epoxied/ soldered to this thin side panel though, so I'm thinking about getting a second piece and bending it to go from outer edge of one mount tab, down along the side of the rad., across the bottom, back up the other side and out to the outer edge of the other tab as one long continuous piece to reinforce the entire bottom of the radiator.. Anyone see any flaws with this plan?

 

if it is a good radiator shop with experienced people, they would be the best source of input for those questions, IMHO

 

Good answer ! JW

 

Don't be too concerned about the wall of the tanks and stuff. The way that was done is correct, it just wasn't prepped correctly before the soldering was done. When it is done correctly, the whole thing becomes this sort of weird, kinda hard to describe Monocque kinda thing that is super strong.

There are special clamps that really only a radiator shop that has been around awhile will have to hold this whole deal tight during the soldering operation, so have it done. The break you have is really probably the result of some body saying to themselves "Why pay a shop to fix this, I've soldered XXXX before..."

I don't know that I ever told you guys on this thread before, but I spent two years of my teens building and repairing radiators at what at the time was the Valley's busiest radiator shop. Ya, I've done that too.... If you want the stories, you guys pop a beer for a bit, I'll mix a gin and tonic and I'll regale you for a bit!

 

Okay am I missing something here. What is this radiator out of? What are we talking about here? Is it a bucket we are talking about? We need the whole story if you haven't told it and I just forgot. Which is not out of the realm of possibility. That solder job if done right is should last.

 

BF take the radiator over to Kirks. Talk to Stan only, the dad, Tell him I sent ya. If any one can fix it up he can. What ever he tells you will be the Gods honest truth!!!

 

Tim...My phone has been on the Fritz the last couple of days. Ain`t technology great?? I`ll be around tomorrow afternoon, I think....and I may have a Firewall for you. I got a call from a pal today and he is going to look in his parts stash........Got my spindles switched today and have the ones with the CE arms so I can use them with my dropped 42-48 axle. It will be a bit different, but will work, I think...

 

Hey Kiwi Paul, can you PM me your address? I don't have it anymore, but I could stop by tomorrow afternoon for sure.

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Hey tin bender I talked to GMT today and referred your comments to him, he had a good laugh

 

Gary, yes, this is my T radiator. I've been having some goofy oil pressure problems, and when I crawled under it to pull the pan, I found this joint coming apart on the bottom of my radiator. It seems like a pretty decent quality radiator, but it's been around a while. I really like the fin design on it, haven't seen a new one like it in a long time.

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Thanks, Fuzzy. I'm not sure if it was Stan I talked to last time, but they were honest. They said my radiator was beyond economical repair and to just go buy another one. Didn't even try to sell me one. Thought that was pretty honest of them. Are you going to the Street Masters Christmas Cruise next Sunday?

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Hey Kiwi...I`ll bet he had a good laugh. Hope he is still banging away on stuff. Blownfuel...I still think you could fix that Radiator yourself. You seem like a pretty handy sort.... Tim...I managed to get a Christmas Tree that filled the bill. Man, things are busy. I suppose that it is that time of year.....Chip...We need Upholstery pics....

 

Chip,
It looks like elephant radiator ornaments might be the next big thing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221628023327?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

Oh dear lord, don't let my wife see those.....although it would be appropriate in front of the Hemi.......

 

Blownfuel have you posted photos of your roadster? Don't remember seeing it. But then I don't remember what I had for breakfast this morning. Maybe I should cut down on the cheap red wine, I'll drink to that. Hell there's probably as many pictures of my roadster on this site as there is of Chips. Hemi powered? Anyway I'd like to see what the red radiator goes in. And Tim next time your over at Tinbender's place take a picture of his pile of parts. Shit that's what we all started with.
Gary

 

I finally got mine ready to take apart for finish welding. I've been racing the weather, trying to finish before the snow hit because I need the garage stall for my daily driver. I lost. Thanks for this thread Chip (and everybody else)! I got more done this fall, than I have for 5 years because of the great ideas and motivation.

 

Cool Nobux!

And thank you for the compliment. This thread truly does belong to all the lunatics that have helped create it and keep it going, but if I have written stuff that has got you off the couch and gettin' stuff done on yours, well then that is compliment enough!

 

Nobux I like it and I don't like too much. It sits nice the engine sits nice the windshield slants back just right. It only needs finishing. Put some color on it and remember white is not a color. It needs a little radiclisity. Whatever that means. Maybe a carb. scoop. Anyway I like stat you posted the picture.

Gary

 

hahaha this is probably what started the 70's and 80's ugly trends with everyone trying to out do everyone else with chrome and paint

 

Out painting some polyurethane on the seat frame. First bit of upholstery tonight?

 

BF that's a firm MAYBE!!

 

Ooooh...a tease!

 

So I`m a Lunatic Now?? You must have been talking to the rest of the family......Yeah, Gary--I get the hint, and so does Tim, I`m sure......Chip--Do you have time to post a How To sries on the Interior?

 

Fuzzy, well then, "Maybe" I'll finally get to meet you! I'll most likely be working in the raffle booth (that's where I usually work....I'm the long haired, bearded hippie) if you make it.

Gary,

I think I posted it once, but it's both a little on (definitely has some ugly that needs removed, mostly lack of direction (too many build styles rolled into one) and off topic (late 70's to early 80's build) for this thread, so mostly I've just posted detail shots. Here's the whole car.



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That car is confused!

 

Detail shot of the flames (Motor too, but this is one of the very few photo's their colors show up in). It's not just the red radiator that I wanna change, I gonna black out the radiator and the frame eventually. I really want to replace the wheels, just not sure what with yet. Thinking polished magnesium Halibrand sprints on the rear, but not sure about the fronts.....12 spokes would be perfect, but I won't give up my front brakes to run them (the new bolt on one's just look funky to me). Same with the American 5 spokes. I have a set of wires, but I'm not sure I would like that look either.

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Wow that's a beautifully built T. Thanks for posting. Don't remember seeing it before. Your right though not what we are talking about on this thread. Mine isn't either. Yeah probably overdone some but a great example of maybe '70s stuff. Not sure if I'd change a lot. Maybe a little less red. Starting with the radiator which is probably custom built as mine is. I found a guy that would build what I wanted and paid the price. $350 in early '90s money. More money I never regretted spending.