Featured Technical Radiator core shortening- Can it be done?

The radiator you have has very good value in its unaltered state. A new Johnson(formerly Walker) 32 radiator is appx $1600. I would just sell what you have and put the money toward getting the one you need. If you screw up, it may end up being worth almost nothing, and if you get it right...........is it worth it for what you saved. Even solder ain't cheap. Seems like one of those times where its best to just admit you need to spend a little money to do it right.

 

Oh man.....words escape me....you read this entire thread right? Serenity now!

 

The ones that watched the Video can you answer any of my questions ?

 

Benntt goes overboard & above & beyond on whatever project he tackles, & why not he's a young gun with plenty of time & years to spare, particularly on his own project.

 

Fine job there, young blood, fine job.

 

Oxy acetylene welding torch. Tip size not mentioned but clearly a narrow flame, but not a short flame, so presumably instantly hot.

Chris

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/EGgO7QMOIes?si=UW_FRS-t2ciRjXN-

 

Nope, didn't read the entire thread. I was killing a little time before I had to go meet a guy on Facebook who was driving down to Louisville today for some reason, and he offered to bring a part I was buying. It would save me about 50 miles of driving, so I didn't have time to finish reading the thread. Personally I'm not familiar with the OP's exploits and he presented his question as someone who was asking for help and opinions..........like most amatuers (like me) do. The guy is a professional welder/fabricator with lots of experience and a well equipped shop. He was able to do a nice job and it appears that its going to work well for him.........but only road mileage will tell for sure. I would be curious as to how many shop hours it required to make the modification.

Having had a friend who poked a hole in his expensive radiator and brought it to me to see if I could do anything to fix it, I know its not always as easy as it might seem. Anyway, my friend ended up buying a new radiator because he was asking me to do something I had no experience with....and he had less than me. While the video makes it look fairly easy and straight forward given the professional ability that he has, I still think this is not a good option for the average amatuer with limited tools and experience. Might be worth trying on an old used radiator before attempting it on a high dollar one.......then deciding whether to proceed or not.

Anyway, since I was pressed for time, I had to stop reading and thought I would point out that given the value of the radiator, it might be better to sell it and buy a new one. I had no idea that his purpose was to make a video of his skills or that he's a professional fabricator.

Now I wish him well and hope that the radiator performs well for him. I did learn some from his video, and I'm sure others did as well. Sorry that I didn't have time to finish the thread, but I still would give the same advice to any amatuer who had a very expensive radiator and the same problem.

Have no idea what that was supposed to mean.

 

Ok, I zoomed thru a lotta replies and didn't see. But I can't be the only one thinkin "S'up with that 3W?" can I? Or do I have to dig...

 

I don't see it on his YouTube, must be a customer car. Meanwhile, if you want to see cool stuff check out his YouTube channel. Bennetts Customs Co - YouTube

 

Nice Job !!!
Like to seen more of soldering tubs ,
Surprised was done horizontal instead of vertical ,
In video make look to & so easy ,
Its is but not like Video shows ..
Steady Heat temp controls
dipping /applying solder
& clean ...
Does op mention what kind of blade he used , that's one thing that can catch rip
Tubs out of core,
I wonder the hrs , if 10 @ 200 hr =2k
Here H-R shop hr rate 175-250 hr.
But Op not in states probably tac's on another
600-1,000 Plus 30 days shipping .

 

regarding the blade,at one point he is using a whizzer wheel,BUT has mentioned a'new sharp blade' so...

 

Wouldn't have had any idea you would comment without reading it. Just pointing out everything you mentioned had been covered throughout it's entirety. "Serenity now" is an old Seinfeld bit (frustration) and my reaction....again, ***umed you would read it before commenting....all good....my bad. Don't want to get this excellent thread off track.

 

I'm going to comment on the torch used and would suggest there were better options out there. Better as in offering a softer, cooler, less agressive hot harsh flame making it easier to control heat and temperature. Especially for someone with less awareness to the process, the oxygen fueled torch can spell trouble for the inexperienced.
A plumbers acetylene and air torch comes to mind. Or maybe even the O2 and fuel gas Jeweler torch but...while it could end up being a smaller, narrow flame, it's not about size as much temperature control, so maybe?
Did it work, absolutely. But it quickly got excessively hot, that requiring the constant and repeated cool down water bath spray, or holding back the torch with extensive standoff in controlling the heat, and I'm guessing dealing with some solder run off as a result.
I wouldn't have done the black paint though, that effort should be shown off, otherwise it's a black rad not the a interesting story it became. Still, perseverance paid off, and I commend him for doing such a fine job and do***enting the process.

 

Yes, this is what I would like to know also

 

There’s the full video

 

I think both of us had good intentions. You were right that I should have read further, but as I said....It was just a case of not having time to finish reading it and trying to point out a simple solution. Merry Christmas

 

@ekimneirbo A LOT of us didn't know of the OP's abilities and background, myself included.
Hence the ***le of the video, 95% Said It Wasn't Possible.
I have the luxury of being able to spend time reading before posting most of the time, so while I also wondered why you said what you did when you did, you were not alone and you owned up to it. Kudos!

 

@Moriarity he said he 3D printed a couple of plugs & taped them over the inlet & outlet then submerged in a tank of water then put 15lbs of pressure to the rad.

 

I had the video on in the back ground so I wasn’t 100% paying attention. But I believe mark was asking about testing for leaks before the tank went back on.

I believe what he said he did there was spraying soapy water on the back side of the end plate after he soldered it and then blew compressed air at it from the back side.

you could see the leaks where the soapy water bubbled out on the end side.

hopefully that makes since.

watching his other videos I knew how insane he is with metal prep for tig welding and how hyper focused you need to be to tackle some of his other metal shaping projects so I figured he could tackle this.

thankfully he does a fantastic job at making long form videos explaining it all to us for those of us who want to see a bit more than his shorter videos that just give a summary.

I’m sure filming it all slowed him down considerably and then to edit it all together tacks on a good chunk of time. As someone who always has a ridiculous about of specific question and tends to be a visual learner I really appreciate the extra effort making the videos.

 

Agree and absolutely no worries......Merry Christmas right back atcha.

 

Ahhh Ok then, I read the entire thread but have not watched the video yet.

 

The last ones I shortened 2 in were done by North Hollywood radiator on Lankershim Bl in North Hollywood, they charged me $200 as I recall and well worth it. It's really hard to get the lower plate cleaned and soldered up.

 

You can use a good heat gun, I do that sometimes when I do lead work and have to do a touch up in a delicate place.

 

While i've yet to buy one, there have been times I wished I did own a heat gun. But yeah it could work as well and maybe be even better. Lead work, I like the way your doing it. If it came with a rheostat for controlling the temperature you could set it just right in the sweet spot, no risk of getting it so hot it burns or to fluid and it runs off. Just right at that above the mush and below the soup stage.
More I think about it the better it sounds, and It didn't even cross my mind. Imagine that? Save to memory as another reason to buy a tool.

It wouldn't take much to seal and test for leaks. Tape and a hose, welders do it all the time purging pipe, that rad would just be a bit more taping. The soap and water trick, might not show the leaksat a low pressure, and while I'm not trying to sell the stuff, this Snoop will.