I am looking at replacing my radiator in my 21T. I noticed that Mac's has 2 flat tube radiators. The first is 829 and is made by Brass Works. The second is $650 and is made by a small radiator shop. Does anybody have any experience with the cheaper radiator?
Berg's radiators. I have heard nothing but good about Berg's. I do have a Brass Works that needed repair due to bad solder at on of the tubes.
Steven
http://www.bergsradiator.com/modelt.html
I have no affiliation to Berg's or Brass Works
I guess, Berg doesn't make a complete brass radiator. Is Brass Works, the only one that builds Brass Radiators?
Berg's does make brass radiators. He may not have any in stock, as he's having trouble keeping up with the demand for both black and brass ones.
Lawrence, I also asked this question on the forum a while back, but didn't get any feedback about the cheaper unit.
I e-mailed Macs with an inquiry stating I'd like to purchase one but wanted to know a little more about it. I received no reply.
Nevin;
You never will get a response from those people.
He doesn't need a brass radiator on a '21 T. The Bergs radiator is the only way to go. I bought one from Berg's last summer put it in, tore out my waterpump and threw it away, put in a new fan pulley and fan belt. This summer I drove my '22 T in a hometown parade on a 100 degree day and it never overheated. When I was done I got out and was nearly able to lay my hand on the radiator. Prior to doing the work, my car became so overheated the solder on the top tank on the radiator melted, the top tank cracked open and I scored a cylinder. I was new to model t's at the time and should have quit when I saw the water all over the top of the radiator but I panicked and tried to drive it that last mile home. At any rate Berg's builds good radiators. And there's nothing better than dealing with the people who build the product.
Thanks for the input. I ordered one on line Monday after talking to Berg, who said they shipped 6 to Mac last Friday. Mac's on line catalog said it was back ordered and the supplier was not making any more. I got an Email today that my radiator was shipped yesterday and should arrive tomorrow.
I also talked about it at the Casual T's meeting last Saturday. Two people had these radiators and loved them.
From my talk to Mr. Berg. His radiator is formed by hand and does not look as refined as the Brass Works but would be fine for a driver as he put it.
I installed the Berg radiator and idled the engine for 20 minutes. Top half of radiator warm, bottom cold. Drove around for 1/2 hour in 60 degree weather, engine ran cold. Motormeter did not show any red.
Things that may matter to you. Modern drain instead of brass, modern sheet metal inlet and outlet instead of cast iron, aluminum core, tank ribs indented instead of raised. One sign of rushing to ship. Paint was still wet when packed.