Well, as a winter project I had pulled the radiator out of our 56 and had a small leak around the neck repaired.  Then had it painted a nice gloss black - looks beautiful.

During the course of installing it today, however, I jiggled it too much and hte tip of the fan smooshed some of the fins around mid way up the rad.  Oh well, no big deal thinks me.  I was wrong

While filling it up, noticed it dripping some of its fresh green blood through where the fins were smooshed, so I apparently ripped through some of the core tubes.....ARRRGGHH....

So the question is whether or not something like that is typically able to be repaired by a local shop or if it would need to be recored?  If it has to be recored, i might just get a new one.... I cant begin to tell you how angry i am at myself for being so stupid!  Literally just picked it up from the paint shop yesterday! 

On another note, is there any trick to getting that f**$#&#* lower rad hose on?  Good grief is that thing a PAIN!

Thoughts?

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

RG- Hey man, try not to feel too bad- you should see some of my screw ups- I could write a book... My .02; if your tanks are good and you've a competent radiator shop in town, I'd get it re-cored. Around these parts, it'll save you a C over buying a new one... /Duck

BOO- YA!!!

Well, its too late now, but I usually tape a piece of cardboard over the fin area when pulling or installing.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

If the core had not been rotten, the core probably wouldn't have started leaking from bending the fins. Go to a good radiator shop, have it recored and be done with it.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Well, I took another look at it and thers no way it could be fixed w/o a recore.  I dug out the receipt from the last time it was repaired, and the shop noted that the upper tank looked swollen, with weakened joints.  I remember now at the time he said that it would probably need to be replaced in a few years ( I was running an OE type 13 lbs cap instead of like an 8 or 9 lbs cap; he said that would potentially cause some distortion of the tank, etc.)  Ill probably just buy a new one and be done with it.  Not sure if I should get one with a trans cooler though (my FOM is air cooled) and just leave the ports plugged in case I ever swap to a modern trans? 

As for the cardboard, thats a great idea... my wife said the same thing AFTER we damaged it!  Now i know for the new one.  I guess the good thing is that my wife admits it was HER fault, as she was under the car pulling/pushing/guiding it into place!  For once, it wasnt just my fault!

Thanks very much to all who replied!

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

No, LOL... Dog was in the house, and the 2.5 year old son was with the mother in law in the front yard.... i was fine taking responsibility until she vounteered!

At the end of the day, it doesnt really matter whose fault it was...together, we should have known better!

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

Paul, I see your not the only one with that idea! Was showed that trick a long time ago. A very simple tech tip.

                          Michael

Michael

Sandy Valley, NV

The cardboard not only saves the radiator core, but it saves the hide on your hands. When you get my age, you don't have much hide to spare.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

   If you have a wife willing to crawl under the car to help with an install of any type I would kind of hold off putting blame on her. She's special and a real keeper.

Missouri Mike

I'd rather be lucky than good.................

    but good ain't bad!!

 

I agree 100%!!  Just to be clear, I wasnt the one who said it was her fault.  I absolutely was fine with it being my fault - she volunteered to take responsibility.  I just thought it was funny more than anything else, because at the end of the day, we just had a good laugh about our mistake!  What are ya gonna do?

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL