radiator recore recommendation needed

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Edward 96GTS
Posts: 57
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2003 12:21 pm

radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by Edward 96GTS »

my jag e-type needs a radiator rebuild. any shops, especially in calif, that can preserve the original look re fin count etc?
will also need the shop for ferrari too when needed in the future.
tia
ed
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by John Vardanian »

I had my PF coupe's radiator redone at Mel and Son's (Concord), they are an old local business.

john
PF Coupe
Edward 96GTS
Posts: 57
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2003 12:21 pm

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by Edward 96GTS »

john,
did they recore or just boil it?
same fin count?
did you use a fin comb to repair any bent fins?
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by John Vardanian »

Hi Ed, Mel's re-cored my PF coupe. The early radiators, unlike the outside-plug cars, it is a job to undo and redo. Edges have to be unfolded and refolded, etc. They did a real good job. The bigger rads of the later cars you just melt the solder and the head tank pops off.

I had a S1 Jag some years ago that I had the rad re-cored at Art's off Army Street in San Francisco. They put in what was called "high efficiency" core, which was really nothing more than smaller cross-section tubes and more of them. The Jag cooled much better after that.

john
PF Coupe
enio45
Posts: 826
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2003 6:56 pm
Location: Gilbert, AZ

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by enio45 »

Ref the early 250 cars (58 ellena/250's or other yrs around that time) - i was told that there is unique core for these cars....where there is some type of overlap from the front to back rows....

Not sure how to explain this but is any familiar with this thought process. I was told that basic core replacement cores to not reflect this of your looking for a concourse correct look.

Looking to be educated on this....
Ed Montini
330 GT 2+2 Series II - 8289
58 Ellena - 0855GT - orig drivetrain
87 El Camino SS
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by John Vardanian »

Hi Ed, I have the original 1959 core for my car on the shelf and I can tell you that the replacement core is built similarly, however, the tubes are staggered. What you end up with is something that looks nearly identical to the original, especially after being painted black, but with 15% better cooling-- I did notice this judging from the cycling of the thermostatic fan. After looking thru the tubes of the removed core I realized I didn't really need a re-core. Had it not been for the 15% improvement it would have been all for not.

john
PF Coupe
enio45
Posts: 826
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2003 6:56 pm
Location: Gilbert, AZ

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by enio45 »

thanks John.....that is exactly what i was talking about ref the staggering.

Im looking for an early 250 rad for the Ellena Car and we will take it completely apart and recore it and fix any dings, dents etc to a nicely restored unit.

Who provides correct core for the radiator?

Also - any leads on an early 250 rad anywhere? One thing, i believe my Ellena Rad has the front of the rad bracket for the
blind mechanism.....that seems to be what i have discovered so far.
Ed Montini
330 GT 2+2 Series II - 8289
58 Ellena - 0855GT - orig drivetrain
87 El Camino SS
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by John Vardanian »

Hi Ed, what kind of blinding mechanism does your rad have?

john
PF Coupe
enio45
Posts: 826
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2003 6:56 pm
Location: Gilbert, AZ

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by enio45 »

john, im not sure what is correct - however what came with the car is a roll up type shade - however i have seen others designed more like a shutter.

i don't know if mine is orig to the car or not - what are your thoughts on correctness?

what dictated the change and was the louver the initial design vs the shutter??
Ed Montini
330 GT 2+2 Series II - 8289
58 Ellena - 0855GT - orig drivetrain
87 El Camino SS
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by John Vardanian »

Hi Ed, I have not been able to find a date/period correlation. One thing you can say for sure is that one system is automatic while the other is driver operated. It is possible the the louver type was an option, or it is possible that some fast-talking salesman talked Ferrari (or the radiator builder) into using it and it proved impractical and was discontinued. These are my guesses.

john
PF Coupe
DWR46
Posts: 621
Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:23 pm

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by DWR46 »

The louvers were thermostat controlled, while the shade was manual. If your radiator has a provision in the top front for a thermostat and control arm, you had louvers.
enio45
Posts: 826
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2003 6:56 pm
Location: Gilbert, AZ

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by enio45 »

My rad is missing, so trying to determine what is correct for the 58 Ellena.....

Do you have any pics of what that thermostate and assembly looks like for future reference?
Ed Montini
330 GT 2+2 Series II - 8289
58 Ellena - 0855GT - orig drivetrain
87 El Camino SS
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by John Vardanian »

The other tell-tale would be the wheel under the dash. If there is a wheel there, then that would suggest the car was fitted with a manual blind.

john
PF Coupe
enio45
Posts: 826
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2003 6:56 pm
Location: Gilbert, AZ

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by enio45 »

John....wow, I'm learning a lot quickly - what wheel? Obviously to raise and lower the blind or open the louver...??
Ed Montini
330 GT 2+2 Series II - 8289
58 Ellena - 0855GT - orig drivetrain
87 El Camino SS
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: radiator recore recommendation needed

Post by John Vardanian »

Hi Ed, there should be a wheel about three inches in diameter that raises the blind, then a trip lever lowers it.

john
PF Coupe
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