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Old 03-13-2020, 02:53 PM   #1
chrs1961815
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Default Restored Radiator Shells?

Where can a purchase a re-nickeled 28-29 radiator shell?
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Old 03-13-2020, 08:09 PM   #2
al's28/33
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Default Re: Restored Radiator Shells?

local swap meet maybe, go to Hershey this summer, should be some there. or look on the internet but most likely you'll have to repair and restore one then have it plated yourself.
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Old 03-14-2020, 07:00 AM   #3
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Default Re: Restored Radiator Shells?

How many hours does it take to restore an original shell?
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Old 03-14-2020, 10:01 AM   #4
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Default Re: Restored Radiator Shells?

A lot if it's rusty. The metal has to be polished out. If it's pitted, it has to be copper plated as much as it takes to be able to polish the pits back out. The nickle can be plated on after all the copper work is done. The time involved is all the polishing that's required.

Here in the US, plating shops have to meet stringent regulations about containment of heavy metal solutions for plating and the solutions are expensive to maintain. This plus the time involved in the polishing work adds up pretty quick. If you can find a plater that will let you do the polish work then you can save some money but not all of them will do that.

A lot of this stuff is done in countries that have few regulations but it's usually for new reproduction parts. Some have good plating jobs and some don't but the thing has to fit like original as well.
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Old 03-14-2020, 10:47 AM   #5
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Default Re: Restored Radiator Shells?

I've never dealt with a repro '29 radiator shell that fit well and I've tried several. Ended up finding an original. Perhaps part of the problem has been in the lower-quality repro radiators that we used to be plagued with. Have any members found that their issues with repro shells were actually more of a radiator issue?
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Old 03-14-2020, 11:51 AM   #6
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Default Re: Restored Radiator Shells?

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funny, for every 28-29 shell I see- I see 5 30-31's!


nickel vs chrome I guess..........
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Old 03-14-2020, 12:16 PM   #7
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Default Re: Restored Radiator Shells?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronn View Post
funny, for every 28-29 shell I see- I see 5 30-31's!


nickel vs chrome I guess..........

Nickle vs stainless actually
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Old 03-14-2020, 01:12 PM   #8
juke joint johnny
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Default Re: Restored Radiator Shells?

Might be worth a call to Bert's They have a lot of rebuilt parts
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Old 03-14-2020, 03:15 PM   #9
BRENT in 10-uh-C
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Default Re: Restored Radiator Shells?

Quote:
Originally Posted by updraught View Post
How many hours does it take to restore an original shell?

How long does it take to catch a fish??


.

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Old 03-14-2020, 04:06 PM   #10
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Default Re: Restored Radiator Shells?

Try to find the best parts you can find for plating less rework and labor,the better the plate job will be ,I been known to have new old stock parts plated mostly on later cars with die cast chrome.
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Old 03-14-2020, 05:55 PM   #11
updraught
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Default Re: Restored Radiator Shells?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C View Post
How long does it take to catch a fish??


.

Looks like you've done one before. Did it turn out any good?
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