Dino Radiator Leak - Time to Recore!

[Jason Edge]

I had brought up the topic of radiator leaks as a discussion topic for our Chapter Zoom meet-up this past Sunday and thought I would share on our website for everyone and probably do a more formal write up later on.

SO THE SUNDAY BEFORE LAST, me, my wife Cheryl and our Yorkie Presley took a spin down to local frozen custard shop. my 64 Coupe de Ville 'Dino' was running good but Cheryl noticed a bit of steam or misting from under the hood. It was not running hot, in fact just above the 1/4 marks as always. 

BACKING UP A BIT, I had noticed some leaking around the now old radiator hoses and those Tower Clamps. Tower clamps were original, but only allow so much tightening (unlike worm gear clamps), and I had tightened most to the max and still saw a bit of the green after long drives and figured it was time for new hoses and to go back with some of my better cad plated clamps. I also saw some dripping around the drain valve. I have plenty of those, so no big deal.

BUT RECENTLY I saw what looked like some seepage from the lower edge of the upper tank at a solder seam.. nut since it was beneath the cap, not sure again if it was a physical leak. 

NOW BACK HOME AFTER THE "STEAMING" ENGINE BAY,  I fired it up and saw intermittent mists of steam blowing out from the cooling fan air flow. I then looked at the rear of the radiator through the fan shroud and fan blades and saw IT IS LEAKING FROM THE CORE! 

THAT MEANS TIME TO RECORE!

I BROUGHT THIS UP AS A DISCUSSION TOPIC, in our zoom meet-up as I really hadn't done much research, and there was a good discussion regarding repairing, replacing the core (recoring), and old school shops still around that provided the recore service.  I also shared the current listings of radiator service shops listed in this past month's Hemmings Motor News.  A couple of members suggested local shops. Roy Brosi even checked with a local shop the next day and is waiting on pricing.

LOCAL SHOP TO THE RESCUE! For over 100 years there had been a Sapps Radiator Shop in the Raleigh/Garner area but remember they had closed at some point. Someone said they had reopened under a new name. Google quickly determined they were doing business under the name Holmes Welding and Radiator Service.... and here is the kicker... only 3 miles from me!  I have had and sold a few pretty decent used Harrison 3-row original radiators over the years but right now I only had one that looks like it may be leaking and needs the core replaced.

So, yesterday I headed to Holmes Radiator with that extra radiator in hand, and had a very positive experience with the owner Leroy Holmes, who has 40+ years experience, and is someone that definitely knows their way around these old radiators. He immediately started spouting of specs and facts that made me know I was in good hands. He ask me to give him a couple of hours so he could check ordering the cost and get a final cost back to me.   

He called back and said $787 and it would be like new! I was actually thinking (& hoping) $700 to $800.  I know this is not 1980 and you are not going to get this done for a couple of Benjamins like you could 40 years ago.  I also knew I would have spent more to stay original ... but really, really didn't want to go much over $1000!  I gave him the green light, and he said he would order the new replacement core and should have it completed by next week. 

Since it has been a while since I have done any real restoration or repairs on Dino, I will share this as  I go along on the website forums, and put together a tech tip article for future newsletter, and add radiator related information to our Help Page and Parts & Service page. I will wait to get my radiator back before I add Holmes Radiator to our Parts & Service page, but have a good feeling about this.

Stay tuned for more!  Below are a few quick pictures to accompany the write-up above.  Jason. 

Dino's Radiator Leak from back facing side of radiator! Not good!

Top Section at front bottom of upper tanks seems to be springing a leak!

Here is the original Harrison 3-Row Radiator I dropped off at Holmes Radiator Yesterday

Here is this months listing of Radiator Service Shops in the Nov 2024 Issues of Hemmings Motor News. This was shared in our Zoom Meet-Up Sunday.

[Dennis P. DiBari]

Jason,

     Dino looks great.  The engine bay is spotless.

Dennis DiBari

[Jason Edge]

So the radiator went in last night but had previously painted the upper radiator cradle mounts as seen in the picture below. I also cleaned up a few other items before gently setting the radiator in place. I will share some install pictures later but here are the radiator cradle mounts. I was pleased with solution of wrapping them around the box to paint!

[Jason Edge]

Here are some pictures with the radiator install from different angles. I usually work on it at night after dinner and will hopefully duck under and hook up the transmission lines and start installing the radiator hoses tonight.

[Dennis P. DiBari]

Jason,

     Great pics!

Dennis DiBari

[Jason Edge]

Last night I installed the transmission cooler lines to the radiator, and installed the new upper  radiator hose with the cad plated 2 1/16" tower clamps and went to install the lower hose and realized I am completely out of the bigger 2 5/16" lower clamps, cad plated or otherwise!   I tried the 2 1/2" clamps used on the gas tank filler tube to gas tank house and they were just too big!  So, I have ordered some 2 5/16" clamps from a couple of sources so it will be a few days before I can complete this. 

Here are a few pictures with the top hose installed:

[Jason Edge]

Well I got my new lower Tower radiator clamps and the lower hose installed today and water in the radiator and no leak ... yet!  The real test will be when I fire it up. I am sort of chomping at the bit to test it now, but I have two escalades parked behind it and will be taking the 2013 EXT Et2Brute into the paint/body shop on Monday to have the entire front clip repainted. That means the 2002 EXT Brutus goes back into full daily driver service for a week or so until the 2013 is done freeing up my driveway more.  Bottom line I think I will wait until Monday and with weather permitting and no leaks I will be cruising down Main St Garner NC once again.

Until then here are a couple of pictures with the lower radiator hose installed with the new Tower Clamps.

 

[Jason Edge]

Dino has been fired up, pulled out of the garage, taken 2 short trips, topped off trans fluid (a bit lost when lines disconnected to lower radiator tank), and I will drain water from radiator this afternoon then add antifreeze-coolant. We will also discuss in this evening's Chapter Zoom Meet-Up. I also have a bit of video I might show.

[Jason Edge]

We had another good monthly zoom chat yesterday wrapping up our discussion on rebuilding/recoring original radiators. At the end I shared this video showing my 64 Coupe de Ville with the recored radiator just installed.

[Jason Edge]

Yesterday, I ended up taking 4 around town cruises with Dino. One was by Holmes Radiator shop.  I thought they might get a kick out of seeing that that radiator they recored was going back and they all ended up coming out side to check it out. Phones came out and pictures were taken. It was like Elvis & Marilyn had pulled into the parking lot!  

Anyway, I am very happy to have confirmed this shop is still open under new (actually original) management and I can add them to our Parts & Service Page. I can only hope they remain open for many years. I will definitely try to do my part to use their services when I can.  If any of my customers need one recored and cannot find someone locally, send it to me and I will be glad to take it to the  radiator shop. Again, my cost was $780.78 which I thought was fair given the professional service and price of materials (i.e. copper cores).

So with that, I think I can stick a fork in this project and call it done!
I will probably included at least a summary of this in our next newsletter.