Technical Radiators

Ain't that the story of our lives?

reminds me of the recent raining soup thread. HRP

 

Yes, his Dad took it with his cellphone, three generations in the front seat. Bob

 

Took a chance with the one that came with my 32.
Got it tanked, pressure checked, and filler neck added for $100. Has a couple of tubes soldered up on one side.
Flathead runs 140° sitting still in the shop. But it's rebuilt and clean as a pin in the water jackets.

 

Can't complain about the 140 temperature sitting still. HRP

 

Yep. With no thermostats, though. Going to have to add some if I want it to warm up to 180. It definitely won't get over that on the road. Keeping fingers crossed!

 

With all the running around I have been doing the banger hasn't gotten over 160. HRP

 

I had a 48 F-1 with the original radiator and a merc fathead...came with no cap so I put my old trusty 9 lb cap on it. The seam leak was spectacular when it let loose!
I cheated when I picked out a radiator for my coupe...Walker

 

I'm with you Rocky,when I buy a new radiator it will be a Walker,i know they last and the one in my old beater Deuce sedan is 30 years old. HRP

 

That’s sort of like my comment on Denny’s 32 grille shell being pretty nice for wall art

 

Been gone a few days and come back to more trash talk'n
Here's another wall hanger.

 

Denny,that radiator is a work of art. HRP

 

My Griffin aluminum rad for my RPU after a coat of heat dispersion powder coating.

It’s basically a shortened A rad.

 

The RPU is looking like it's goning to be your nest build to date. HRP

 

Thanks Danny. It’s my first ever build from scratch.

 

Walker in my 46 Ford convertible for 20 years and going strong when I sold the car. Any other radiator manufacturers that give a ten year guarantee?

 

Yes sir,the Walker in my old Deuce sedan is 30 years old and out of warranty! HRP

 

The Champion aluminum radiator I just bought for my current project has a lifetime warranty.
I've seen enough copper/brass radiators go bad over the years I'm not hung up on them. I can also tell you the copper/brass radiators being built these days are not near the quality those of 30 years ago were.

 

Have known two Champion rads to give up the ghost. Both had lifetime warranty and both got declined. Both died died from leaks at the welds.
One was installed at Home not by a professional shop but still had all the rubber mounts etc. Really nice Holden Monaro. They said it must be installed by a professional then claimed missuse even though the engine was stock. must of been in the car for a few years.
the other was declined on a 74 XG Fairlane. They said no again for non shop install and used for racing. Was a weekend showoff car with a mild 351 no racer. had a fiber glass hood scope for the looks. that rad must of been in the car for five years or so.

If either was stock copper a quick fix would of been no issue.
Its one brand I would stay away from.

 

I won a Champion radiator years ago but never ran it,although the guy that bought the project is still using it. HRP

 

I have a walker in my coupe.

 

I was fortunate to win one of the prizes on the Sunday drawing at the NSRA Nats South in 2011 and it was a Walker Radiator of my choice,

When I talked to the guys at the Walker booth they ask if I was building a car and I told them yes but that you guys not make a radiator for it,he ask what I was building and I told him a 1954 Ford,he smiled and said they had just finished making a 52-54 radiator and I had one before the end of the next week. HRP

 

The moredoor ran a champion with that 283 in it. I never had an issue with it getting hot. Even with the heat down here.

 

1) The Champion radiator is already here.
2) I am a professional shop. If this one fails, I will get a replacement.
3) If it lasts 5 years, I'd be at the same point with the Walker, and there is a chance the Champion would get replaced.
4) I can buy 3 Champion radiators for less money then 1 walker.
5) There are no radiator repair shops around here, all have closed up.
6) This radiator will live a pretty pampered life.
7) I've built dirt track cars, I know how to mount radiators so they live long. Gene

 

Learned a long time ago that when it comes to brakes, steering and cooling always buy the best.

 

It all boils down to what works best for you,I always plan on keeping the cars I build,it doesn't always work that way but that's my mind set.

Going back to the question of the thread we were discussing old/original radiators.

As long as your on the road that's all that should matter. HRP

 

Ha!

 

I see what you did there! HRP

 

Danny, the radiator in my Buick station wagon I am working on over heated due to the radiator and car had been sitting. After finding the 2 shops I used to go to had closed down I went to a huge place in Knoxville where they have been repairing them since 1923.They guy called me after letting in sit in the tank over night and sad it was nice and clean but had 2 small leaks. He asked me if I wanted a new one for $140.I said that not a bad price .He yea but they were the plastic ones. I said hell no please fixed the old one. $80. later here it is in the back of my pick up yesterday. Put it in and no over heating. I am a happy camper. LOL. Bruce.

 

I had an aluminum radiator also develop a leak at one of the welds. I don't know if it was Champion or not. But what would've been a simple repair on a copper/brass radiator turned into a much larger and expensive repair because it had to be repaired by welding. The ability to repair copper/brass radiators with soldering equipment makes them far more repairable. I've repaired many myself, and I am not a radiator specialist and don't have a radiator repair shop, I just have simple soldering equipment that many people have.

 

Blues, your lucky you didn't have one of those Chinese epoxied radiators. They are throw aways.