Advice needed: my radiator is weeping, what to do?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Advice needed: my radiator is weeping, what to do?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matthew Atchinson on Saturday, November 01, 2014 - 06:43 pm:

Some of you may remember that I had a great NOS radiator that didn't leak and cooled great until someone stole it from the garage when I had the car apart for rebuild. I bought another old one at Rhinebeck for 100 dollars. Seemed great and has been holdin water well when I've tested it (still finishing the wiring so haven't run the car yet). Today I had water in the radiator full for 48 hours. I noticed a slow weeping drip coming out of the bottom of the radiator on the flat narrow tank on the bottom. Is there any way I can easyily fix this? I'm thinking a real thick layer of JB weld all along the bottom might do it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Saturday, November 01, 2014 - 07:06 pm:

AlumaSeal, comes in a bottle,use as directed.
Worked wonders on a 8N block that leaked from every orifice after a 1500 dollar overhaul.
It was the only stuff the re-builder wanted me to use and honor the warranty if need be.
20 minutes run time, problem solved.I used it on my TT for a leak and it stopped it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matthew Atchinson on Saturday, November 01, 2014 - 07:17 pm:

Should I use the liquid bottle or the powdered stuff?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Saturday, November 01, 2014 - 07:24 pm:

Maththew, if I'm reading you correctly your leak is on the bottom of the bottom tank, not where the tubes fit in...if so, I had a similar leak on my '15 radiator and used JB weld and it's been holding well now for a full year. Give it a try. Great stuff. I would NOT put any kind of stop leak inside a radiator EVER.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Saturday, November 01, 2014 - 09:35 pm:

If your radiator is weeping gently pat it on the head towel dry it's eyes and tell him everything will be OK.

If it is the top or bottom tank you can clean it good and braze it


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bud Holzschuh - Panama City, FL on Saturday, November 01, 2014 - 09:49 pm:

I've used JB weld on radiator tanks before and with good results. The key is to rough up the area with sandpaper, make sure its CLEAN (no paint), wash the area with acetone (totally degreases) and after it drys (1 minute ?) apply the JB weld.

Done that way the repair will outlast you.

Don't attempt to do it on the car, best if the JB weld is applied on a horizontal surface.

Good luck!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ed in California on Saturday, November 01, 2014 - 09:52 pm:

If its weeping, have you tried to cheer it up? :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matthew Atchinson on Saturday, November 01, 2014 - 10:03 pm:

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll try the JB weld tomorrow and see if it works. I think my poor T is falling apart weeping tears of happiness because it's almost ready to run for the first time ever :-) On tomorrow's roster is fix the weep, hook up my fuel line, finish connecting the steering column to the pitman arm, and MAYBE get started on wiring the car. When those things are done it's set to test start. Which reminds me, I need to make a post about wirin diagrams in color.....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Jablonski on Sunday, November 02, 2014 - 10:29 am:

Matthew:

Best in my opinion to remove and have a qualified radiator shop do what is necessary. I'm fortunate to have a local shop repair my radiator the right way. Guess the answer is to find a repair shop, not a replacement shop.

Bob Jablonski


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Sunday, November 02, 2014 - 05:48 pm:

a lot of Wrigley Spearmint or Doublemint chew until soft and press over the leak. Let it set in the sun until cured.
Norm


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