The difference a local shop can make vs. a chain..

[livinginthepast]

Following up on my Bugeye radiator follies...

As I mentioned a little over a week ago - One of the large muffler and radiator shops had shipped my radiator out for repairs. They came back with an estimate of over 500$. I was stunned (esp. because the usual suspects sell reconditioned radiators for about 250/300$).

So I took BillM's advice and went to one of his recommended radiator shops this morning (South End).

I was immediately introduced to the man who would do the work. He walked me through a BA-JILLION options, including updating the radiator to accept the most common caps, different drain tap options, etc. Showed me all the evidence of work needing to be done, showed me the materials he would use to repair the radiator, showed me the dents and bends that he would take out, and made this a personalized, very satisfying experience. And all for about the price of a Moss reconditioned radiator and still barely more than HALF the price of the chain operation.

Thanks, BillM, for the recommendation.

 

[Billm]

They are good folks and will just solder up a leak if that is all that you want!
Bill

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Sadly radiator shops are quickly becoming a thing of the past, and repairing them is becoming a lost art. The two longest operating ones here locally both closed their doors in the last few years. Glad you still have one in your area and they did such a good job for you.

 

[spritenut]

I keep preaching to go to your local ma/pa owned shop.
They will do what ever you want, all, part or just a patch.
Upholstery, radiator, tire, etc. And you will probably save money in the long run.
Sure BJs sells tires for $10 less each but does the kid installing them know anything about an MG? The owner/operator may not know about MGs either but he will take pride in his work. Do show him the lug wrench though, tell him no impact wrench.
I am a carpenter by trade, nails find my tires weekly, most shops will not plug a tire these days for "insurance" reasons, my local guy sort of got tired of plugging my tires so he gave me a plug kit and showed me how to do it.

The upholstery shop will charge less than what you spend on the parts from the usual suppliers and you get a better job. The radiator shop is the best place in town to take a leak, that's what my guy's sign says :wink: he also told me how to boil out a gas tank, I now boil out my tanks and all it costs is a bit of propane on the barb-b grill.
When your local guy takes care of you, take care of him with cash, don't whip out a credit card as this costs him money too.
The guy who covers my seats saw that I had a rip on the drivers seat from the seat belt, he fixed it for nothing even though it was done 9 years earlier.
I bet no supplier would replace anything after 1 year.
Sheet metal for patch panels from a local shop will save you hundreds of dollars, they will even make bends for you for a small fee. I had them make most of the frame on my Healey 3000 for under $200. Spridget box beams are made for me as are floor pans for chump change and when I was doing the Bugeye for the priest, they donated all the metal, same with the blast shop, they donated the blasting for the Holy sprite, the upholsterer made the tonneau for it.
It all comes back if you keep it local and independent.

 

[Guest]

he also told me how to boil out a gas tank, I now boil out my tanks and all it costs is a bit of propane on the barb-b grill.

Soouds dangerous, please do explain as "boiling" here is just an acid etch and flush.

The local radiator/tank specialist here hire idiots. I had to take a tank I sent out back home, strip out the liner they installed and reline it myself.

He said he couldn't get the liner past the baffle and only half the tank was lined and full of rust loose rust flakes trapped in the lining where it wasn't flushed good.

Good thing you got a good shop.

 

[jvandyke]

I've heard of boiling a tank on a grill too. I did my Fiat's tank this spring, not boiled just chains rattled around, then degreasers and acid soaks, then used the POR15 system on it. Turned out fantastic, cost about $40, but it was quite a bit of work.

 

[smaceng]

Bill,
Are you updating a downflow radiator with more tubes?
If so, and this applies to anyone else with the information, what type and model of radiator core was used?
What was the outcome?
Thanks,
1275 in my BE
Scott in CA

 

[spritenut]

My radiator shop explained exactly what he does when he boils out a gas tank.
Extremely complicated though.
"You fill the tank 3/4 with water, put a flame under it until the water boils."
"you may want to use large nuts as an agitator because you can retrieve them with a magnet where rocks are hard to get out."
I boiled out several tanks, 1 had 3" of sludge on the bottom, it floated up and poured off leaving a perfectly clean tank.
I used the gas grill, it smelled like old gas while boiling but it worked.

 

[Guest]

and that works for rust too?

 

[livinginthepast]

Bill,
Are you updating a downflow radiator with more tubes?
If so, and this applies to anyone else with the information, what type and model of radiator core was used?
What was the outcome?
Thanks,
1275 in my BE
Scott in CA

Hi Scott,

We went with a three row core on mine; I'll get the details to you when I have the receipts avail (I'm at work now). Once I install, I'll let you know how it all turned out.

- billw