The water inlet of my radiator developed a small pinhole leak where it is braised to the header. I pulled it for repair. found a metal tag from mansion radiator in phoenix 30 years ago when radiator last serviced.
I pulled the hoses from pump to lower outlet and need to source these, but see pic-- the trifurcating splitter has some corrosion.... do I braise the perforations or try find one to replace?
question to the experienced: what else should I attend to while I have this apart?
radiator repair; what else do I attend to?
- michaelbalk330
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:28 am
radiator repair; what else do I attend to?
Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
Re: radiator repair; what else do I attend to?
Hi Michael,
Depending on how thin and corroded this pipe is how I would approach the repair. The part is supposed to be nickel plated, so after your repair, with braze or welding, you can have the part plated. I've also had these pipes ceramic coated for non concours cars to help keep the steel from coming in contact with the coolant. The corrosion is from deteriorating coolant.
A couple of shops make reproduction replacement pipes, but Ferrari seemed to make a different one for every engine and configuration so finding an exact replacement can be challenging.
If the radiator works, I would want to leave well enough alone. Look closely at the seams for signs of coolant weeping in the form of white stains and wetness. If the radiator gets "rodded," its halfway there to getting a new core fitted.
Tom
Depending on how thin and corroded this pipe is how I would approach the repair. The part is supposed to be nickel plated, so after your repair, with braze or welding, you can have the part plated. I've also had these pipes ceramic coated for non concours cars to help keep the steel from coming in contact with the coolant. The corrosion is from deteriorating coolant.
A couple of shops make reproduction replacement pipes, but Ferrari seemed to make a different one for every engine and configuration so finding an exact replacement can be challenging.
If the radiator works, I would want to leave well enough alone. Look closely at the seams for signs of coolant weeping in the form of white stains and wetness. If the radiator gets "rodded," its halfway there to getting a new core fitted.
Tom
'63 330 America #5053
- michaelbalk330
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:28 am
Re: radiator repair; what else do I attend to?
thanks tom--- I brazed today after cleaning the pipe and it came out good.. only 3 small micro perforations to deal with. I like the coating idea for my car. My radiator is OK but have great radiator people here so will get it cleaned and pressure tested after repairing the fill funnel. It doesn't need rodded. silly question but going to ask it: for the radiator, whats the preferred gloss level for the paint? Michael
Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
Re: radiator repair; what else do I attend to?
Semi-gloss black.michaelbalk330 wrote:thanks tom--- I brazed today after cleaning the pipe and it came out good.. only 3 small micro perforations to deal with. I like the coating idea for my car. My radiator is OK but have great radiator people here so will get it cleaned and pressure tested after repairing the fill funnel. It doesn't need rodded. silly question but going to ask it: for the radiator, whats the preferred gloss level for the paint? Michael
Tom
'63 330 America #5053
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- Posts: 1908
- Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
- Location: San Francisco Area
Re: radiator repair; what else do I attend to?
Michael, the top tank of the later radiators is just a cap that separates quite easily by melting the solder. This allows access to all the tubes, which you can scrape clean with a rod. The cap falls back in its place and then you can re-solder it. This will gives your radiator a new lease on life.
john
john
PF Coupe
- michaelbalk330
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:28 am
Re: radiator repair; what else do I attend to?
yes-- I let my radiator guys do a deep clean and resolder that fill piece.--- probably the cheapest thing I have ever done... Took Tom's advice and got a new diverter piece. Waiting on some hoses. decided not to take any chances with it because while it didn't have any holes, it was a bit nasty.. Bill Young @GT car parts helped me out for $65.
Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
- michaelbalk330
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:28 am
Re: radiator repair; what else do I attend to?
today got it all back together..... no leaks, running great. did oil and filter too, new hoses, clamps, flushed coolant twice. Several tricks with the cheney clamps.. they seal fine. 1) grease the screw and turn several times before installing to get them all lubricated. If you dont, you think you have tightened them because of the resistance on the screwdriver but you really haven't. 2) before installing on the hose, I places clamp around a socket sized similarly to the hose and tightened-- so the clamp kept its round shape as it was tightened and fit perfectly on the hose. it helps keep the overall shape of the hose round and therefore similar circumferential tension on the hose.
sorry had to throw a gratuitous pic of my car in the post.
sorry had to throw a gratuitous pic of my car in the post.
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Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
Re: radiator repair; what else do I attend to?
Hi Michael, nothing gratuitous about that picture. Looks like a honey.Nice work as well .Happy motoring. Mike
72,365gtc4,14681,2007 599 GTB