Honeycomb radiator leak

[John Hamilton]

Any idea how to repair a substantial leak in a honeycomb radiator from the 1930s? If I heat it to solder it the old solder will fall off.

Radiator shops say it's illegal for them to repair it by dropping in into a vat of solder the old way.

I live just south of Dallas. Thanks.

I wonder why it would be illigal other then the lead factor but you cant eliminate the lead factor all togeather. I'd probably try to find someone that wouldnt be so afraid. Maybee some guys around here know the answer. Im just a set of bells chiming in the wind.

[Elden DuRand]

John:

Any good radiator shop should be able to repair it just fine. If nothing else, do what I did with a big honeycomb radiator.

It was full of crud so I had it hot tanked. THEN, it leaked like a sieve. The shop couldn't solder it so I got some stuff called, I think, boiler sealer. It was a metallic powder.

I put the radiator on the vehicle then put a wash tub beneath the radiator. I covered the radiator front with a towel so the engine would warm up then filled it and started the engine.

It leaked pretty bad at first. Then, when the water started warming up and with the engine at a fast idle, I slowly poured the boiler sealer in.

Of course the leak didn't stop immediately and the sealer that leaked out fell into the wash tub. After a while, I dumped the tub into a pail and then poured the mixture back into the radiator.

It took about a half hour of pouring the concoction through, but eventually all the leaks dried up, never, in almost 30 years, to reappear. Surprisingly, the stuff didn't seem to clog either the radiator or the block.

Take care - Elden

[Steve Holbrook]

The Filling Station or Antique radiators A little expensive though, about$1000

[George Andreasen]

NAPA auto stores carry a sealer that comes in a tall, skinny bottle...darned if I can remember the name of course. However it should be easy to spot or describe to the counter man as it is a liquid with bronze powder suspended in it. I used it on a Kohler radiator that just came back from the repair shop and leaked WORSE than when it went in (kid really didn't know old radiator construction at all). This Kohler doesn't even have a water pump and yet within five minutes running...no leaks! And brother this thing was bad, so I was impressed. This isn't some el cheapo fix either...it's considered permanent.

[Craig A]

If it's not leaking REALLY bad there is NOTHING like KW Block Sealer.
NOTHING

You can always lead that portion too.......just make sure the area is DRY......

[ehpower2]

lol i remember i had a student in my class that made my teachers radiator fall off because dumbass tryed to braze it. I fell over laughing. I have nvr seen such a creative way to use a reamer. That kid had his ass reamed.

Sorry for the language but i think it makes the story much more realistic like when it happend. Worst case was that we had to get another radiator. All the fins where bent and smashed flat and guess who had to straighten them all out. It wasnt him i give you that hint.

[John Hamilton]

Why didn't I think of NAPA. The leak is bad but it's worth a try.

This radiator cools a V8-60 Ford which runs an1938 220 amp Hobart welder and it will generate a lot of heat.

Just as a little instruction, you can't solder over 75 year old solder. Sorry, that's just way it is.