Series III radiator questions

[ernestovumbles]

Hi All,

I've had a small/slow leaky radiator in my 1963 Series III GT. I know the prior owner put in Stop-leak about 3 years ago, and the leaking rate has increased recently.

Pulled the radiator last week and took in to a shop to clean/repair. Just got word back that the original fins are too old/weak to be repaired and would need to be re-cored for about $500

Checking what other options I have.

Are there other compatible radiators available?
My understanding is Series III-V are the same radiator, but my searching I only see series V listed in replacements. (why wouldnt they be listed for series III-V?)
I have marginal/medium technical skills so I am looking for an exact size replacement that I dont need to do any modifications to make it work.

Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

[Pete S.]

Try Lee at the Brassworks in NAPA Valley.

 

[bulldurham]

Maybe have another shop check it out.. I have taken several early series radiators to the shop over the years and have never been told it was to weak
or thin to repair, not that it can't be. If you do have to re-core it , up grade the core.

 

[ernestovumbles]

Thank you.. This would be an upgraded core if I re-core.

Are there aluminum radiators out there to match stock configuration?
I dont think I am smart enough to do modifications if a new one is different than what I have.

Maybe have another shop check it out.. I have taken several early series radiators to the shop over the years and have never been told it was to weak
or thin to repair, not that it can't be. If you do have to re-core it , up grade the core.

 

[ernestovumbles]

Try Lee at the Brassworks in NAPA Valley.

Thanks.. That is crazy nice stuff, but my car is just a driver, and a 24 week minimum wait puts me out for an entire season.

 

[bulldurham]

.Bet someone on this forum has a good one they might sell

 

[hartmandm]

Aluminum options (no personal experience with these):

https://wizardcooling.com/i-3050385...nbeam-alpine-aluminum-radiator-99030-500.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255147045155

Mike

 

[ernestovumbles]

Aluminum options (no personal experience with these):

The personal experience is what I was hoping to hear ;-)

 

[DanR]

Ernesto, Are you in Chicago ?

I have had extremely good results in recoring the Alpine stock radiators.

I have a shop friend (Gerald) in Anderson, SC that will recore with all copper, three tubes and 15 to 16 fines per inch for around $450 plus shipping. Prices do change so I will check for the latest if you are interested. Gerald has recored upwards to 15 radiators for me and I am well pleased with the results.

If you wish to discuss possible re coring yours send me an E-mail to tiger2dan at gmail dot com

Or call my cell number 864-554-zero 8 one four. Please leave me a message if I don't answer right a way,

DanR

 

[Scotty]

Make sure it actually needs to be recored. I had a shop give me the same spiel and ended up at a different rad shop that fixed and redid mine for 95 bucks.

 

[DanR]

Scotty, if you notice not all of the stock Alpine radiators have three tubes for transfer of the water and most will have 9 fins per inch (FPI).

Transfer of water is important, but the fins do the most work at dissipating the heat. That is why I like the additional FPI.

All of my radiators had 17 FPI up until a couple years ago. Now, the cores available only have 15 or 16 which are near double dissipation of the stock.

 

[ernestovumbles]

Thanks for the input all.

I decided to go with getting my original radiator re-cored to a higher spec like DanR mentioned.

It will take a week or so, and I'll see what I wind up with, and I can post a few pics of old and new.

 

[DanR]

Please keep us posted on your project....

 

[alpine_64]

Thanks for the input all.

I decided to go with getting my original radiator re-cored to a higher spec like DanR mentioned.

It will take a week or so, and I'll see what I wind up with, and I can post a few pics of old and new.

While its out make sure you do a thorough flush of the block and heater core... When you put the new radiator back in run a gano filter so the new core doesn't pick up any crap

 

[ernestovumbles]

Got the newly re-cored radiator back this morning.
Hope to get it all put back this weekend despite being cold in Chicagoland..

 

[ernestovumbles]

Grrr.. I had a little time so I snuck out to the garage this afternoon and fitted the re-cored radiator.

All went in with minimal curse words, but the radiator cap doesn't have quite enough clearance to close.

It looks like the filler neck sits a fraction of an inch lower than before and the cap now comes in contact with the body work.
There is a small amount of side to side adjustment but nothing up and down.

Not quite sure yet how to correct this.. possibly a couple washers on the top mounts to space the radiator back a touch, but I cant go too far or I'll get too close to the fan.

 

[husky drvr]

Not quite sure yet how to correct this.. possibly a couple washers on the top mounts to space the radiator back a touch, but I cant go too far or I'll get too close to the fan.

EV,

Have you thought about a small bit of grinding on the lower edge of the mounting slots?

Should work, since you only need a small amount of movement.

 

[ernestovumbles]

Have you thought about a small bit of grinding on the lower edge of the mounting slots?

Should work, since you only need a small amount of movement.

Thank you.. no, this kind of stuff is new to me and I didnt think of that.
Guess I'll have to pull the radiator out again and figure out how to enlarge the slot to be able to adjust it a little.

 

[ernestovumbles]

Thanks for the tip @husky drvr !!
I trimmed a bit of the mounting slots. It fits good enough for now, but it is still a tiny bit too close. I may also try a washer on each of the top mounts to space it back a little bit more.

Had a small leak from the top hose, so snugged things up a tad to fix.

Took it for a short spin around the neighborhood, but the temp gauge never came up.
It may have been because it was only 35 degrees out, or that I only went a couple miles,
but I think I may have a new problem to chase down now.
I'll give it a better test run after it warms up a bit more and stops raining in Chicagoland.

 

[Mike O'D]

Never saw a brake booster there before.