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First report from radiator shop

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drooartz

drooartz

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Got a call from the radiator shop today. Nice folks, and quick with the news. Here's the skinny on the radiator and gas tank.

Radiator
The radiator is completely rotted out. Said they tried to steam it, and it started leaking from everywhere. I guess that explains some of the overheating issues! So it gets a new core and a few other little bits here and there welded up. I'm actually happy to be putting in a new core, one more thing I won't have to worry about.

Gas Tank
Still working on cleaning out the tank, but they did discover the cause of a clanking in the tank. Parts of a locking gas cap were in the tank -- the guy figures someone lost the key at some point and pushed the cap into the tank. Very interesting!
 
Drew,

I have a down flow that is brand-new that I do not need. I am waiting for the supplier to pick it up, but I will gladly sell it for what I paid ($142+Shipping).

Let me know
-Tony
 
... if Drew does not want it, it is up for grabs... I would much rather see it go to good use rather that let the seller have it back (they just raised the price $30). Just let me know!

-Tony
 
I think the stock radiator is two row, and can be replaced with a three row. I may be wrong, but it is worth checking out.
 
Drew..what are they charging for the tank work...are they just flushing or does it have leaks...I need to do same with
my TR3 but was just thinking about buying a new one the guy on ebay sells for $274...THANKS
 
I just got a couple of Midget radiators back from the shop - cleaned, pressurized, repaired...good to go... which Moss number corresponds to yours?
 
BIBBER said:
Drew..what are they charging for the tank work...are they just flushing or does it have leaks...I need to do same with
my TR3 but was just thinking about buying a new one the guy on ebay sells for $274...THANKS
Click to expand...
I can tell you step by step how to seal the tank yourself even if it has holes as mine did with the redkote that the radiator shops use that leaves a red plastic liner in the tank and it cost less than 40 bucks and have enough left to do another tank, if you have the time.
 
I'm going to have them re-core the radiator (price was reasonable), so I don't need yours, Tony (either Tony, actually). Thanks, though!

I don't know the total bill for the tank yet. I'll be coating it myself, though, they're just doing the cleaning up part. That's the nasty part. The coating part is cheap and not difficult, my next project. The tank didn't have any leaks, just full of gunk and a bit of rust from sitting for a long time.

Kim -- did you use the RedKote I see for sale on eBay regularly? Looked like a great deal.
 
Exactly my issue as well...lots of gunk from sitting
10+ years...I'm running it off of the washer bottle right now good for about ten minutes...I'm thinking the new tank for $274.00 may still be worth it in the long run...still interested in what they end up charging for the cleaning....THANKS
 
I only have used it once but it was pretty straight forward and simple to use. There is only one part and it worked well. I took my tank off and first filled it about half full with hot water and some dish detergent and gravel and shook it for about half an hour then washed it out clean and then poured in about 1/2 gallon purplecleaner and 1/2 gallon water and somw more gravel and shook it for a while and left it over night. Next day I washed it all out again, then poured in about a pint of acetone and some gravels and shook it again then cleaned out and poured in a little more acetone and shook around to remove any water(they mix) and poured that out and allowed to dry (drys fast) Then poured in the red coat and turned the tank at all different angles and drained excess back into can and allowed to dry. There was no waste to get rid of ,soap and water, purple stuff, is all biodegradable and can be poured out anywhere, and the acetone evaporates, any redkote spilled turns into plastic and can be tossed in garbage. Put lid back on can quckly after coating tank and it can be used on something else(if it gets too thick it can be thinned with acetone. One quart can is enough to do a 20 gallon tank(thats what can info says but if you are careful you could probably do more. I was going to buy a new tank, but decided to risk the redkote and was impressed. Por-15 and Cream are too pricey and have multiple parts and I wasn't interested in that. My only concern was for the screen in the tank getting clogged by the redkote so I made a hole and a gasketed patch panel to go in and remove the screen. I put an external glass cleanable filter right before the fuel pump to catch debris.
 
Only picture I have Drew. I have found that purple cleaner in its undilluted form to be very good at cleaning metal and after sitting overnight it kind of etches it and makes it take paint or whatever really good, but don't just leave it or it will rust, also the straight purple will ruin a paintjob and eat your skin after a while so be careful with it, but its easy on the environment. I imagine most shops can't use much stronger stuff with all the rules and such. Its what I soaked all my greasy nuts and bolts in overnight and did well.
MVC-199F.jpg
 
No worries, Barry. I wanted to keep the downflow anyways, and realized that it probably needed a new core. I don't mind fixing the old original parts at all.
 
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