Radiator: Buy New or Patch Old?

[dogtired]

The radiator on my 1948 8n sprang two leaks the other day. The leaks are about an inch a part and about the size of a pencil lead. I am weighing the options of either buying a new radiator or patching a 70 year radiator and hoping it does not spring any more leaks. A new radiator is really not that expensive. $128.00 on Amazon or ebay with free shipping. Or. Risk patching a 70 year old radiator and hoping for the best. Any one have experience with this? Any thoughts and opinions are welcome. Thanks. Lee.

 

[Rick in Iowa]

id fix the old one. new radiator for $128 cant be any good.probably wont fit right either.

 

[9njunkie]

I run into the same issue all the time on tractors I get in here. The old copper and brass original radiators are WAAYYY better than any new replacement.

Find a radiator shop, patch it, coat it, and have it pressure tested. Once fixed and good pressure verified and coated it will go another 70 years before it gives another problem.

We have it done all the time, the first rad's that I had patched and tested and coated 20 years ago are still being used today with no problems.

 

[HFJ]

if it comes to it, i'd sooner pay a good radiator shop to do a complete recore if necessary than pay for a new one.

if u end up going that route, be sure to specify industrial? ag? use, not automotive. auto style's fins plug much easier with debris on a tractor.

 

[steve19438]

"good radiator shop"

there is a local shop near me that has been in business for over 50 years. second generation owner. I have taken three original radiators there over 30 years. one he fixed the other two he would not touch cause he could not guarantee the fix would hold.

 

[Dean]

BTDT multiple times.

If you can find a GOOD radiator shop in your area (tough to do these days), have your OEM radiator repaired. The OEM radiators are MUCH higher quality than ANY of the aftermarket radiators, even the so-called good ones.

If your radiator shop tells you than he cannot (most likely will not) repair your OEM radiator ask if he can recore it. If you choose this option, DEMAND a flat-fin industrial core.

If your radiator shop declines on both options, you need another radiator shop, which, again, is becoming an increasingly difficult option.

Dean

 

[Richard from SE AZ]

The radiator on my 2n also leaked so I decided to buy a new repro one. I had to drill out some of the mounting holes that were about 2" off. Then when I put the hood on the filler neck was so long that my cap was about 1 1/2" above the hood. It looked silly so I had my original repaired and hung the new one in the garage. It's still there.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

Any and all original parts on these old tractors should be saved at all costs -you won't regret it. Most 'new' parts sold today are junk. Most are made from an aftermarket sample, not from any original Ford drawings, and thus they also have no Quality Control in their manufacturing. Even if you need to buy a used original off of fleabay and get it recored, it is better than buying anew part, IMHO... and I believe in supporting our local parts suppliers too, but will salvage an original part whenever possible.

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)

 

[ratface]

I would first try pouring a bottle of stop leak in there, don't buy the cheap stuff, they sell a kind between $10 and $15 dollars that works most of the time , you would be amazed how well the good stuff works, go to NAPA and buy their premium radiator stop leak, it just might get you another 20 years. I have use it in my 8N successfully and keep a bottle on the shelf.

 

[maxwell99]

My local radiator shop repaired the radiator on my old Ferguson,
Told me my radiator was much heavier than a new one he could order for me,

Told me not to tighten the radiator cap, but leave it loose, so pressure would not build up, I have run it like this for years works great, no problems,

I also use a front radiator grill screen to keep debris from getting to the radiator,

 

[Dean]

I too have been "lucky" so far.

For 50+ years there was a VERY good radiator shop about 4 or 5 miles from me. It's been gone for over 15 years now but there is another about 30 miles from me. The owner is getting up in years so I expect it will not be around much longer.

Realizing this, I've had 2 or 3 vintage Ford radiators repaired, and another two re-cored within the last several years and put on the shelf as spares. Hopefully, I will never need to deal with an aftermarket radiator again. BTDT.

Dean

 

[TerryB Illinois]

A couple of questions come to mind. What is the difference between a repair for a leaking radiator and a total recore? What's the cost that can be expected for both?

 

[HFJ]

a repair seals holes. a recore replaces the tubes and fins. call your local radiator shop for prices, altho they'll probably tell u they need to see the radiator first.

 

[dogtired]

Took said radiator to shop. They said when they patched one leak another would spring up. Would not guarantee it would hold. Was tired of waiting since I took it in on Monday and this was Saturday. There is one more radiator shop in town. I am going to take it too them Monday. Thanks. Lee.

 

[lonestarjeff]

If you don't have any luck with a radiator shop, don't give up on the old radiator. When I restored my 8N back in '02 it had several leaks. I decided to try epoxy after cleaning the leaky areas....just dabbed it on with a toothpick. It's not a pretty repair, but it's still holding pressure today.