how do i do it? map gas little bottle and plumbers soft solder what flux am i using liquid or plumbers paste stuff its a walker rad and new, if i heat the thing up with a map gas bottle what kind of flame am i aiming for do i clean off the old solder residue with a wire wheel in a grinder also it has a trans cooler in the bottom can i use that as a power steering line cooler thanks
If you can’t do it ??? Take it to a radiator repair shop , they will check it when it’s done also !!!
If you clean with a wire brush be conservative. Too hard, too fast, the brush will leave carbon steel deposits and the solder will never take. Me? I'd warm it and wipe it with clean rags. Tinning is GOD when it comes to solder. I always liked "Ruby Fluid" as a liquid flux. Very clean. You want to tin the stuff just like body work, then you'll need less heat to do the job. Once done, a simple duct tape and low pressure with soapy water is all you need. 10psi is enough to leak test. Pics would help...
Hardware store solder and flux will work just fine for radiator work, and a mapp gas torch will put out more than enough heat to do the job. If you know how to solder copper plumbing pipes together you should no problem moving the ports around on your radiator. Keep in mind that a soldered joint needs surface area to seal right and be strong enough, so it's more of a lap joint than a butt joint.
I believe power steering pressure is higher than automatic transmission, for that part of the question.
Question. Because I don’t know, but if all was cleaned up, would silver solder work? I know it would handle the pressure without issue, wonder about driving vibrations.
Take it from an old fart who has ruined more than one brass radiator because he decided that he would try to solder it up himself rather than take it to a radiator shop and pay a pro to do it right. Meaning, carry it to a good radiator shop with explicit directions on what you want done with a diagram drawn out and squeeze that piggy bank a bit and get it done right.
Silver solder requires too much heat for this purpose. The worst thing you can do is overthink this job if you have the skill set for solder. Same common sense applies as it would for plumbing or body lead. Clean, good fits, manage heat. Still no pics tho?
I worked at a radiator shop 40 years ago, please do as @Mr48chev says and take it to a radiator shop. when we soldered radiators we used an oxy acetylene torch with a number 0 or 1 tip and a very fine narrow flame. Also there are special tinning materials needed that you will not have access to. If you go after that with a propane torch (way too wide a flame) you will get it too hot and create a leak where the tank attaches to the core, then when you are trying to fix that you will create a leak where the tubes meet the bulkhead.... this is a walker Radiator? how much is a new one? 1200 bucks? do yourself a favor and have it done at a good radiator shop
yes walker rad for i think sbf need one for sbc both the top and bottom feeds are now on the wrong sides i thought it would be simple as the 'bits' sit inside and carry no load if you like. the bottom old position would need a 'patch' View attachment 5960611
WALKER radiators were very expensive. If you start soldering on it yourself you will open a can of worms that will cost you big time when you finally realize you should have taken it to a radiator shop and got it done and checked for leaks. "Penny wise, pound foolish".
At full lock it is in the 500-700psi range, while trans cooler pressure probably never gets over 100 psi.
I’ve done only one and was instructed to flare the hole in the tank and tin it. I then tinned the new fitting, slid them together (a pretty tight fit) then sweated them together. I used my oxy/act torch with a pretty small tip. It never failed that I know of.
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