The Ford Barn

JOANNEM · 10-06-2015, 12:44 PM

My fan blade hit my radiator and knocked a hole in one of the tubes. I got it repaired and had it checked to be sure there weren't any leaks. There are none. When I took it back to have it installed the mechanic thought it looked like crap!
He wants me to get a new one!
Can anyone look at these before & after photos and make a recommendation?
Can I get this radiator fixed so it looks like new?
Or do I need to get another radiator? I was told that this is an original 32 radiator and I am trying to keep my car original.
But I am no mechanic & I am frankly out of my league here!
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

NealinCA · 10-06-2015, 02:26 PM

If you are worried about the repair, you could have a new core installed in your original radiator. Be prepared to spend $750-1000 for a new core.

Maybe this was already addressed, but what caused the car to hit the radiator? I would want to make sure that was addressed before spending anymore on a radiator.

Neal

Krylon32 · 10-06-2015, 02:40 PM

I sell Walker radiators which are a good fit and have been virtually trouble free but if I wanted a very close duplicate to the stock radiator with stock filler and non pressurized I would contact Brassworks.

tiger.1000 · 10-06-2015, 02:48 PM

Joanne, if it's not leaking, nothing that a mist of satin black paint won't fix. I've seen worse; much worse

Don W/Norfolk · 10-06-2015, 05:14 PM

A little time with a fin rake will make it look a lot better. dw

Floyd · 10-06-2015, 08:20 PM

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I am questioning why a real radiator shop would not rake out the fins (as Don mentioned) and paint it before returning it to you. Other than that , you can even get a fin rake at Harbor Freight (I know, I know). Paint it and for sure fix the fan problem first. Second option would have it re-cored by a better radiator shop. Or buy the Walker radiator sitting in my garage. But I think you should fix yours.
Just an opinion

DavidG · 10-07-2015, 05:10 AM

It appears that the judicious use of needle nose pliers is in order along with a fin rake to straighten out the fins.

Mike Conshafter · 10-07-2015, 08:27 AM

By looking at the "after" pic (as in after the radiator shop did the repair work), it's looks like the fins were straightened, tube repaired and painted. I've had 3 radiators with various damage repaired by a local shop and the results are comparable to yours. I don't have fine point show cars so I'm not concerned with them not being perfect. As long as it runs cool and doesn't leak I'd run it in a heartbeat.

If you don't I'm looking for a 32' V8 radiator and would gladly buy your old one.....

JOANNEM · 10-07-2015, 12:30 PM

Thanks for all of the input.
I went to another radiator shop & he said he could sell me a new one or rebuild with a new core. He is going to give me prices on both options.
But he also said that the new radiators are thin type metal and he thought it would be better to rebuild what I have.
But I will have to wait to see what he comes up with.

deuce_roadster · 10-07-2015, 12:43 PM

As Neal said, find the cause first before putting your repaired or another radiator in there. Could be several things, Stay rods not connected, generator bearing failures etc.

Kahuna · 10-07-2015, 07:12 PM

Where is Wasco?

V8COOPMAN · 10-08-2015, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kahuna

Where is Wasco?

Abour 20 miles NW of Bakersfield, east of I-5.

TJ · 10-08-2015, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kahuna

Where is Wasco?

Just north of Buck Owens Blvd.

JOANNEM · 10-08-2015, 09:51 AM

Too funny! Wasco is 27 miles N/W of Bakersfield

bobH · 10-08-2015, 05:25 PM

I guess that makes it NW of Merle Haggard, too.

BTW... Anybody know of a REAL radiator shop, almost anywhere in southern or central calif ???

Floyd · 10-08-2015, 08:47 PM

Bob, In southern California, Oxnard Radiator in guess where, Oxnard. Been around forever. Good ole school radiator shop. They have recored both my 40 and my 32. Perfect work, uses the best material, (there are different quality cores out there) and gets it done. Nice guy. Only place I would go for any radiator or heat exchanger work. 805-483-3447
My opinion

32 ford barn · 10-08-2015, 11:59 PM

I just got my 32 banger radiator recored by Beco radiator in Concord CA. It is perfect. Stock filler and not pressurized. Its been there a long time and their work is perfection. It was $700.00. Jim

firerod · 10-09-2015, 08:54 AM

I would fix the problem of why the fan hit first. Then I would use your radiator, it doesn't look that bad.

alchemy · 10-09-2015, 09:51 AM

Is your car a 100 point car? If not, just that that radiator. It has a story and fits like it should. And I also wonder what made the fan hit?

JOANNEM · 10-13-2015, 09:28 AM

The fan hit the radiator because the cotter pin fell out or there wasn't one!

So far I have taken the radiator to 1 parts house & 2 radiator shops. The parts house said to get it fixed even though they have one. So I took it & got the radiator fixed. Then I took it to another radiator shop and he also said that it would be best to use that radiator because they don't make them like that anymore.
So I am going to try to straighten out the fins & go ahead & use the radiator.
Thanks for all of your advice.
It is greatly appreciated.

10-06-2015, 02:26 PM	#2
NealinCA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central Coast, Calif. Posts: 839	Re: 32 radiator If you are worried about the repair, you could have a new core installed in your original radiator. Be prepared to spend $750-1000 for a new core. Maybe this was already addressed, but what caused the car to hit the radiator? I would want to make sure that was addressed before spending anymore on a radiator. Neal

10-06-2015, 02:40 PM	#3
Krylon32 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,484	Re: 32 radiator I sell Walker radiators which are a good fit and have been virtually trouble free but if I wanted a very close duplicate to the stock radiator with stock filler and non pressurized I would contact Brassworks.

10-06-2015, 02:48 PM	#4
tiger.1000 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hertford (UK) Posts: 905	Re: 32 radiator Joanne, if it's not leaking, nothing that a mist of satin black paint won't fix. I've seen worse; much worse

10-06-2015, 05:14 PM	#5
Don W/Norfolk Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 127	Re: 32 radiator A little time with a fin rake will make it look a lot better. dw __________________ I love this country; it's the damn idiots running the government I'm afraid of.

10-06-2015, 08:20 PM	#6
Floyd Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 468	Re: 32 radiator Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I am questioning why a real radiator shop would not rake out the fins (as Don mentioned) and paint it before returning it to you. Other than that , you can even get a fin rake at Harbor Freight (I know, I know). Paint it and for sure fix the fan problem first. Second option would have it re-cored by a better radiator shop. Or buy the Walker radiator sitting in my garage. But I think you should fix yours. Just an opinion

10-07-2015, 05:10 AM	#7
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: 32 radiator It appears that the judicious use of needle nose pliers is in order along with a fin rake to straighten out the fins.

10-07-2015, 08:27 AM	#8
Mike Conshafter Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Detroit Posts: 140	Re: 32 radiator By looking at the "after" pic (as in after the radiator shop did the repair work), it's looks like the fins were straightened, tube repaired and painted. I've had 3 radiators with various damage repaired by a local shop and the results are comparable to yours. I don't have fine point show cars so I'm not concerned with them not being perfect. As long as it runs cool and doesn't leak I'd run it in a heartbeat. If you don't I'm looking for a 32' V8 radiator and would gladly buy your old one.....

10-07-2015, 12:30 PM	#9
JOANNEM Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wasco, CA Posts: 126	Re: 32 radiator Thanks for all of the input. I went to another radiator shop & he said he could sell me a new one or rebuild with a new core. He is going to give me prices on both options. But he also said that the new radiators are thin type metal and he thought it would be better to rebuild what I have. But I will have to wait to see what he comes up with.

10-07-2015, 12:43 PM	#10
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: 32 radiator As Neal said, find the cause first before putting your repaired or another radiator in there. Could be several things, Stay rods not connected, generator bearing failures etc.

10-07-2015, 07:12 PM	#11
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: 32 radiator Where is Wasco?

10-08-2015, 09:51 AM	#14
JOANNEM Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wasco, CA Posts: 126	Re: 32 radiator Too funny! Wasco is 27 miles N/W of Bakersfield

10-08-2015, 05:25 PM	#15
bobH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: so cal, placerville, vegas Posts: 1,394	Re: 32 radiator I guess that makes it NW of Merle Haggard, too. BTW... Anybody know of a REAL radiator shop, almost anywhere in southern or central calif ???

10-08-2015, 08:47 PM	#16
Floyd Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 468	Re: 32 radiator Bob, In southern California, Oxnard Radiator in guess where, Oxnard. Been around forever. Good ole school radiator shop. They have recored both my 40 and my 32. Perfect work, uses the best material, (there are different quality cores out there) and gets it done. Nice guy. Only place I would go for any radiator or heat exchanger work. 805-483-3447 My opinion

10-08-2015, 11:59 PM	#17
32 ford barn Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norcal Posts: 125	Re: 32 radiator I just got my 32 banger radiator recored by Beco radiator in Concord CA. It is perfect. Stock filler and not pressurized. Its been there a long time and their work is perfection. It was $700.00. Jim

10-09-2015, 08:54 AM	#18
firerod Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 413	Re: 32 radiator I would fix the problem of why the fan hit first. Then I would use your radiator, it doesn't look that bad.

10-09-2015, 09:51 AM	#19
alchemy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: middle of Iowa Posts: 647	Re: 32 radiator Is your car a 100 point car? If not, just that that radiator. It has a story and fits like it should. And I also wonder what made the fan hit?

10-13-2015, 09:28 AM	#20
JOANNEM Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wasco, CA Posts: 126	Re: 32 radiator The fan hit the radiator because the cotter pin fell out or there wasn't one! So far I have taken the radiator to 1 parts house & 2 radiator shops. The parts house said to get it fixed even though they have one. So I took it & got the radiator fixed. Then I took it to another radiator shop and he also said that it would be best to use that radiator because they don't make them like that anymore. So I am going to try to straighten out the fins & go ahead & use the radiator. Thanks for all of your advice. It is greatly appreciated.