Featured Technical Radiator core shortening- Can it be done?

Dilemma one: I have a brand new (old stock) Walker ‘32 radiator. Unfortunately it’s stock height. And, as you know that doesn’t work with a A-body on ‘32 rails. It sits about 2- 2.5”s too high.
So, I need to shorten the core. Yes I realize the intensive labour this will bring but I’m up for the challenge.
I don’t have access to one that (just fits) or the money to do a Re-core so those comments are not necessary. What I’m looking for is some photos of maybe the process? Or header plates that attach to the tubes? or just general advice to follow by.
Steps I’ve learned so far:
40/60 Solder
Lots of flux
cleanliness is next to godliness
No burs
Watch your heat

Before I dive into this beautiful art of copper and br*** any last words?

 

I had a radiator shop remove the lower tank, then I cur 2" off the bottom of the core using a band saw. Took it back for re***embly.

 

Bandsaw seems to be the winner. It’s the process before and after I want to learn more about. Removing and re***embly of the header plate.
might just have to roll the dice and go for it!

 

I'm thinking that it all depends on if you can find an old school radiator shop that is willing to do the work or put it back together.
45 years ago it was comon practice and a lot of shops had what ammounted to bulk radiator or heater cores that they cut to fit with a bandsaw. Now it is hard to find one that will take the tanks out, rod it out and solder the tanks back on.

The process is going to include, removing the bottom plate, unsoldering and removing the bottom plate, cutting the core to the correct length and soldering the bottom plate and tank and shortened side plates back on.

 

The right one costs (1275 up).
A guy putting together a 32 might want the one you have.
https://theshopmag.com/news/johnson-hot-rod-shop-acquires-walker-radiator-works/
https://johnsonsradiatorworks.com/

At least consider before diving in.
If you are going for it, every time I've seen it done they used a torch, had a big water tank to check and like a lot of professionals made it look easy.

Here's a video of the factory. The big thing in your case is the header to the tubes.

 

****stani radiator repair, no shoes required!

 

He makes it look easy.

 

Cool videos! Thanks for sharing them!

 

They are about $3400 aus which is crazy! And a huge wait. I’m getting excited to work on the Roadster over the Christmas break- time to start the process. I’ll video it and figures crossed she works to keep the flathead humming!

 

Can't you make the header plate if you can't save the one from the radiator?
It's "just" punched holes, so if you make a punch and die to the size of your tubes and punch away you can then resolder each tube to that plate then solder the plate to the tank.
I've never done it, but that's how I would attempt it.
I'm willing to see you try

 

My Grandfather did Br*** /Copper Radiator's . It can be done , cut core down , Removing tubes from Tank plate , Time & cleaning all .. then Hardest part is A line all tubs threw tank plate, & going to be Soldering all the tubs around each tube @ same time @ home ,
You need a bath of Liquid Solder @ melting point so you can dip in then the entire end into seal all tube's to tank plate & remove ..All Needs to beVERY Clean , there @ least 50 tubes .. Soldering tank Back on easy part.
This is no diffrent then soldering copper pipe , "Clean" & heat control .

 

Give these guys a call. They work on and recore old radiators from the twenty's on up. They used a stock Model A top and bottom tank and put a new core in it for me several years ago. They're in SW Washinton along I-5 just down the road from you.
HOME : Hart Radiator & Air Conditioning

 

Back in the mid 60s, my dad had a radiator shop. I was about 10 so I don't fully understand some of the things he told me, but from what I can recall, he used to cut down the old honeycomb radiator cores (technical name is cellular film cores) fairly often. Those are the ones where there are no separate tubes and the fins connect together in a shape that leaves voids for fluid flow. His opinion was that the vertical tube and fin style could be narrowed but not shortened. There were just too many places to solder to get them to seal to the header or end plate successfully.

When he needed to make a tube and fin radiator that would fit a certain space, he would order a radiator of the needed height that was wider than needed, then cut down the width and reshape the header ends and tanks. I remember one particular radiator for an MG that a guy was swapping in a V8. It was 4 rows of tubes and only about 18" square when he got through with it. The customer came back and brought him a bottle of his favorite libation, thanking him for doing it when no other shop in the area would.

 

Sell one you have , stick on shelf
I picked up a New Walker Z for F-H
For $350 , I think ouside box , 2 inlets 2 Outlets , after paying for the seller asked what year F H I was building ,
I told him Not a F-H , its a Toyota 2jz
Engine In 32 ,
He questions why the F-H radiator, I told him I never know what engine combo I will use So I will sweet a freeze plug in other 2 opens So later on I can remove for what ever my needs ..
I have Br*** Works also ,
I do not think 1,200 to much for Quality
Less then a New car payment , half for New TV , less then New cell phone
Mouth of eating out , Me rather spend $
On car **** the bs things Like drink piss on ground ,, if Your 10 year old kids or grandkids want
Something & Not handicapped tell them to get a job . I started working @ 7 had car @ 10 , still not rich ,
Bottom pic below was 2005 a private tear/independent
that wanted to compete against pros Modern top fuel dragster at a national event.





View attachment 6591192

 

Where ever you apply the flux, the solder will follow!

 

We had an old school radiator guy shorten our walker in the model A once. Then we channelled the front of the body 1 1/2 “ so you guessed it to get the right look we had to do it again. Pay twice for the same result. Sorry can’t help with the technique but clean clean clean and gentle heat 60/40 solder and spirits of salts to clean.

 

Jordan, here's a detailed explanation of how to do it.....from a member, so you can PM him too. He was on here last year.

 

I couldn't help but notice the big Tim Hortons sign ... I walked past his house in Toronto every school day when heading to Junior High and High School

Never saw the Pantera but he did have a couple of Trans Ams.

 

Chek out these videos from MacroMachines - Probably some good ideas you can use.

 

Thanks for all the help! I’m going to dig in this weekend and get it trimmed up. I’ll post some photos and video of either success of failure Haha

 

If nothing else, since the radiator is unused it should be easier to solder. Good luck with it.

 

My thoughts too! That’s a bonus.

 

It's worth more to sell the tall Walker to someone, and order one of their (or someone's) shorter version. The cost of having yours cut down is going to be much higher than selling it and just buying a shorty.

 

Br*** works built me a new radiator for my A coupe on 32 rails, ran just a bit over $1k just for reference.

 

OP I'm all in for doing your own thing thinking outside the box but cutting a radiator down how are you gonna feel if you destroy a $1200 radiator , I am pretty sure there's many in your area that would be interested in that radiator for 7 00 to $800 then purchase one that's custom-made by Br*** Works Since they are closer to you then Georgia where I think Walker is now,, I have not seen Johnson made one yet .(walker)

 

I don't think many realize that Jordan is in Australia and that shipping and import will at least double the cost of a radiator or any part imported from the US.

 

That.......and that he's a consummate craftsman. Looking forward to his video on it.

 

On the other hand China and India are not far from him and they sell plenty of aluminum radiators epoxied together for hot rods that might not leak out the box but just a couple of years later.

 

When I was in high school, I worked in a body shop that did radiator repairs. One day the boss had me take a tank off. I heated up the solder and took a blow nozzle and blew it off. You can imagine it went everywhere. LOL. He used to remove the top of the core and install new cores. If you aren't really versed with soldering with a natural gas torch, I would rethink this. Best wishes for your project.

 

Thought Washington State,
@jordabennett
This will be big help pen point and controlling the heat around each tube