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TR4/4A Radiator...repairable or cheaper to buy new one?

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G

ghawk16

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I'm going to guess this is the original radiator and the bottom end tank isn't supposed to be like this. Can someone confirm with me just to be sure that this is NOT the way it's supposed to look? I guess my question is, should I bother getting it repaired or just buy a new one? I was originally going to go with a Wizard Cooling aluminum radiator with EFK, but have decided to go with stock and maybe an upgraded fan blade(plastic yellow or Macys or 3A). Once it hits 90's here I probably won't be driving around much so I don't get baked in the sun, so I guess overheating shouldn't be too much of an issue so no sense in spending extra $$$ on aluminum. Plus...keeps that original look!

Now to just decide on whether or not to use the 5spd Toyota tranny and HVDA conversion or use one of the two TR transmissions I have and keep the car completely original from the eye of the beholder. Can't see the inside of the engine!
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I had a mishap with a jack back in April...look familiar? I had a local radiator shop swap out the bottom tank with one from another radiator I had for much less than the cost of a new radiator.


2015-07-22%2016.22.34.jpg
 
Hi,

About 2 months ago I had the top tank and filler extension resoldered buy a local shop for 75$. I did not have an overheating problem, just leaks. I use an aftermarket electrical fan and I do not have issues in Maryland.

Roy
 
I also had a dent in bottom tank. Had rad recored and the guys fixed the dent at same time. Much cheaper than new rad and I prefer copper to aluminum for rads anyway. Cheers, Mike
 
Old brass, fix it!
 
When I priced it our, getting a new core cost slightly more than a new replacement. Nevertheless I went with a new core.

OTOH, mine didn't look as bad as what the OP's pictures show though the bottom tank was swollen, probably from freezing.
 
Again, Thanks guys. I'll look at getting it repaired.
 
In 1980 I had my TR3 radiator redone. Just about everyone I took it to wanted to re-core it even without looking at it and I wanted to preserve the hole for the starting handle. (even though I don't have a handle) I found a old time radiator shop and the owner there told me there was no reason to recore these radiators because they were made from a much heavier gauge metal then modern radiators. Drove it for 30+ years and restoring the car again and you know who I took it to. Got lucky at almost 80 years old he was selling everything and closing his shop and retiring. He took it all apart cleaned and re-soldered and painted it. So don't take no for an answer and keep looking.
 
As to your question above, your rad is not an original one. Original radiators left Coventry with a hole for the hand-crank. So this one in your first photo has been re-cored or maybe some previous owner bought a new repro radiator that had no hole for the hand-crank.

Don Elliott, Original Owner, 1958 TR3A.
 
Don Elliott said:
As to your question above, your rad is not an original one. Original radiators left Coventry with a hole for the hand-crank. So this one in your first photo has been re-cored or maybe some previous owner bought a new repro radiator that had no hole for the hand-crank.

Don Elliott, Original Owner, 1958 TR3A.
Click to expand...

TR4 only had the crank hole up to CT9552 (244 before mine!) However, the extended filler without crank hole does seem odd. Didn't notice that before.
 
Don Elliott said:
As to your question above, your rad is not an original one. Original radiators left Coventry with a hole for the hand-crank. So this one in your first photo has been re-cored or maybe some previous owner bought a new repro radiator that had no hole for the hand-crank.

Don Elliott, Original Owner, 1958 TR3A.
Click to expand...

Well, my body number is 16836 so it didn't have the hole, but is a Nov 62 build. I don't think that the radiators without the neck were till later on in commission number. I'd have to double check with my dad, but I don't think this radiator has ever been touched besides fixing leaks at the base of the neck.
 
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