Reply To: Re-core 1931 radiator?

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#467182

Kirby,

I’m not an authority, but I’m going through a similar process.  What I get from talking to people who know more about it than I do, is that a ninety-year-old radiator can develop leaks just by being ninety years old.  My honeycomb radiator (a 1930 non-Pierce big Classic with less than 10,000 miles) developed a significant leak, and I took it to Universal Carnegie Manufacturing just outside of Pittsburgh.  They wanted to repair the leak and let me keep the original core in place (marveling at how clean it was).  But when they put the radiator in a water tank and added air, several additional small leaks became apparent which hadn’t previously oozed any coolant.  So I’m getting a new honeycomb core and the peace of mind that goes with that.  I think that, if offered another radiator (same age as mine) I would have been concerned that it had likely experienced as much stress as my radiator had, or more.  I vote for biting the bullet.

Good luck with your radiator.

Chris Cummings