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MG TD TF 1500 - Why is this area soldered?

I cleaned the radiator to get it ready for paint. I noted that in the center circle, there is a large puddle of solder. Any thoughts of why? Is this something the factory did?

Bruce Cunha


Bruce, there's a factory hole in the top radiator tank, and a metal tab on the bottom part of the upper tank that are attached with that puddle of solder. The solder is essential to tie the parts together, but I must admit that most of the radiators I've owned have a little smoother flow puddle there. Maybe yours was re-cored in its past life.
Richard Cameron

I never really noticed this before but I can see this center dip is not as smooth or well defined as the other dip. Mine is pretty smooth, unlike Bruce's "puddle".



Christopher Couper

Well, I think I will hold on my temptations to smooth it out. as knowing me, I would end up having to to take it to the radiator shop to get fixed.
Bruce Cunha

If you do screw up I had my last core done at:

Gilly's Radiator Repair Shop
2893 Cold Springs Rd, Placerville, CA

I think the original guy is still there. He was smart enough to make sure the stamped plates were put back exactly where they were originally without me even asking.
Christopher Couper

So I got the radiator cleaned and painted. (Just a dusting on the fins). Ready for installation tomorrow.

Bruce Cunha

Resist the temptation to paint the radiator yourself.
Radiator shops use a special radiator paint that promotes heat transfer, whereas ordinary spray-paint will slow that same transfer. I saw a noticeable reduction of temperature on the gauge of one car, when its radiator was stripped of home-sprayed paint and was re-painted by a shop with their proper paint.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

But, do have it painted.

At every car show I see the top tank of radiators shined up, usually with an electric fan to assist with the overheating.

Radiators are black for a reason, it is not because it looks nice next to red.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Tom: Any thoughts on using high heat exhaust paint on the fins? I have used that for decades and it seems to work well for me.
Christopher Couper

I clean and straighten the fins to assure optimal air flow. I use barbeque paint which is heat resistant and just very lighly spray the fins. Just enough to cover the edges that the fin straightener scraped off.

Bruce Cunha

Here is the finished product installed.


Bruce Cunha

Tom I noticed your post. The PO of my car had the radiator powder coated...

The cooling system is reasonably good on the open road but does get hot in traffic or when slow moving. Enough to get me conscious of it and a little anxious.

Is it worth taking out the rad, getting it stripped and repainted (with the right paint) ? There are no leaks etc.

Dave
D Moore

Dave: You don't need to have it completely stripped. It's the core that needs to be stripped so you could take it out and use a chemical stripper on that area only. Might want to seal the rest off with tape and plastic to prevent slopping.

My worry of tanking the whole thing is that you could disturb something in the process and cause a leak.
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 14/10/2019 and 21/10/2019

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